Model slope soaring and towing with Wilga

Unfortunately the day has come where TF had to be returned back to her owner. This good bye wasn't easy at all. I'm so spoiled now that it's really hard to step down and fly other gliders.

cleaning before return

Ziggy proudly presenting his present from Michael

We drove to Adelaide Friday night, dropped off the glider in Graham's hangar at Gawler and stayed one night in town. Saturday was Australia Day. Last time we were in Adelaide Ziggy got a haircut and it was one of the best he's ever had. He booked an appointment for that Saturday and since I was also overdue we did the same for me. Two guys and two haircuts later we looked like this:

It's a pretty long drive just for a haircut but I'm sure we can find an excuse to visit Adelaide some time soon ...

Saturday evening we drove to Normansville and stayed with Ziggy's long time friends Mike and Janine in their beautiful vacation home with ocean views. We had a great time over there and enjoyed their hospitality big time. The boys also enjoyed the golf course the house is situated at and found a much better use for it. Every evening they've flown their models there and I was chasing kangaroos that were coming pretty close enjoying their evening meal at the golf course.

On Sunday Mike took us to the ocean site where they are slope soaring models. I have never seen it before. I could be sitting there for ever just watching the gliders flying with the ocean in the background. We were really lucky and spotted dolphins very close to the shore. Unreal views. I've taken tons of pictures and just couldn't decide which ones to pick so here is a few:

We came back to Horsham Monday night. The Horsham coaching week was already well under way and we started towing with Wilga on Tuesday. I did a few tows with Griffo and he was ready to go solo. Everybody congratulated him but according to the old Polish tradition I was the only one allowed to slap his behind really hard.

We also installed new tires. This wasn't hard at all but took us almost 4 hours. All these split pins and lock wires as far as the eye can see ;)