I don't need much encouragement to fly down to big bend country so decided
to attend the grand opening of the newly repaved runway 3/21 at Marfa, Texas
this afternoon.

Judging by the extremely large turnout, as a percentage of the local
population, Marfa Gliders and the Marfa Airport have tremendous local
support. There were numerous representatives of Presidio County and the
village of Marfa as well as a lot of general public. After the ceremonial
ribbon cutting by a Cessna 180/150 towplane everyone set on the sandwiches,
drinks and cake.

There was a dusting of snow on the Davis Mountains and a chilly north wind;
enough to make me fill the need of a hooded sweatshirt, but probably real
nice weather compared to the Northeast US right now. The amazing thing, for
January, was that the sky was absolutely filled, horizon to horizon, with
nice puffy cumulus clouds; not at summer altitudes but still at around 9,000
MSL. Burt Compton was pretty busy giving rides and I did not ask him how
the soaring was, but it sure looked good.

Larry Pardue 2I