Just fill the ballast tanks with gas, dump it when you get low and light it,
for a sure thing next time.

Gary Boggs

wrote in message
oups.com...
First day of the Avenal contest this uear, the call was 25 mile turn
area task around just one turn (Buena Vista). I struggled for over an
hour and finally made it to about 25 miles north of the turn. Found
myself on a low ridge covered with oil wells. Flew down the ridge and
didn't find a thing. Looking grim when, right in front of me, a
gigantic gas burner suddenly ignited. It looked like the burner on your
kitchen stove, except this one must have been 20 foot across. I
emmediately dove for it and hung a hard left when I got the surge.
Giggling and cranking, I rode that sucker to 8000 AGL. Feeling good
about my secret thermal, I decided to go deep into the turn-area, so I
flew 20 south, made the turn and centered up for another pass on my
secret thermal. I could see it clearly, glowing in the distance. Like a
sailer returning after a long cruise, I headed for my beacon on the
hill. Things were working so well, I put the nose down and came smokin'
in. About a mile out, my secret thermal, my beacon, my gas

burner,---------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------****
OFF

I landed at Belridge, so much for sure things.

Best wishes for 2005, see you at Avenal, Parowan and Montague.
:) JJ