01-- Zero One
April 26th 06, 11:18 PM
There I was. just exiting the start cylinder at Perry, SC contest 3
years ago when it all started..
Getting into position had been a struggle since I was the last one in
the class to launch. It was a hot day in South Carolina and looked like
it would be blue. I really wanted to stay within reach of the gaggles.
Picked one of the best looking gaggles right off tow and started
climbing with them. Others joined below. Although I had been hydrating
and really needed to go, peeing would have to wait.
When the gate opened, white fiberglass train started north toward the
first turnpoint. With no one below I connected the catheter to the pee
tube. OK, let it go. Don't lose sight of the planes ahead. What the
@#$%#@$!!! I felt back pressure and the catheter was quickly
approaching the size of a grapefruit!!! Luckily no one was near me
because I am sure I was all over the sky trying to figure out what was
going on. Quickly evaluating the possibilities of either a profound
blowout or the difficulties of trying to disconnect and somehow dealing
with the aftermath wasn't looking too good. Was just about to turn back
to fix the problem and relight when I realized that the catheter was
actually deflating slowly. Obviously the hose was somehow pinched or
something. Once I realized that it was indeed deflating and that I
could pee slowly enough with enough pressure to take care of my needs, I
continued on course.
That could have been the end of the story, but of course there is more.
Half an hour later, approaching the first turnpoint, getting low-ish,
deviated over better terrain with more landing possibilities. I hit a
burble. 1 knotter. better than nothing though. make a turn.
Concentrate, Larry. Center this one! What is that? Those people down
there look like ants walking along. Holy S***!!! They are ants. fire
ants.. walking along the canopy rail inside the canopy!! I start
killing them as fast as I can. And again I am all over the sky.
Thoroughly spooked but eventually managed to center the thermal,
continue on my way, and finish the task.
Upon landing, I found that the problem was... The glider had been
sitting in some grass prior to launch. A stalk of the grass had found
its way right to the exit hole of the pee tube and ants had filled the
inside of the pee tube, effectively blocking it!!! Luckily I had a one
of the self sealing connectors in the end of the pee tube or I may well
have had a cockpit or a catheter full of "****ed off" ants!!! Still
gives me the heebie-jeebies thinking about it!
-- zero one --
years ago when it all started..
Getting into position had been a struggle since I was the last one in
the class to launch. It was a hot day in South Carolina and looked like
it would be blue. I really wanted to stay within reach of the gaggles.
Picked one of the best looking gaggles right off tow and started
climbing with them. Others joined below. Although I had been hydrating
and really needed to go, peeing would have to wait.
When the gate opened, white fiberglass train started north toward the
first turnpoint. With no one below I connected the catheter to the pee
tube. OK, let it go. Don't lose sight of the planes ahead. What the
@#$%#@$!!! I felt back pressure and the catheter was quickly
approaching the size of a grapefruit!!! Luckily no one was near me
because I am sure I was all over the sky trying to figure out what was
going on. Quickly evaluating the possibilities of either a profound
blowout or the difficulties of trying to disconnect and somehow dealing
with the aftermath wasn't looking too good. Was just about to turn back
to fix the problem and relight when I realized that the catheter was
actually deflating slowly. Obviously the hose was somehow pinched or
something. Once I realized that it was indeed deflating and that I
could pee slowly enough with enough pressure to take care of my needs, I
continued on course.
That could have been the end of the story, but of course there is more.
Half an hour later, approaching the first turnpoint, getting low-ish,
deviated over better terrain with more landing possibilities. I hit a
burble. 1 knotter. better than nothing though. make a turn.
Concentrate, Larry. Center this one! What is that? Those people down
there look like ants walking along. Holy S***!!! They are ants. fire
ants.. walking along the canopy rail inside the canopy!! I start
killing them as fast as I can. And again I am all over the sky.
Thoroughly spooked but eventually managed to center the thermal,
continue on my way, and finish the task.
Upon landing, I found that the problem was... The glider had been
sitting in some grass prior to launch. A stalk of the grass had found
its way right to the exit hole of the pee tube and ants had filled the
inside of the pee tube, effectively blocking it!!! Luckily I had a one
of the self sealing connectors in the end of the pee tube or I may well
have had a cockpit or a catheter full of "****ed off" ants!!! Still
gives me the heebie-jeebies thinking about it!
-- zero one --