I went to Coolidge on Saturday to do some aerotowing. I arrived aroung 9:30. The air got pretty ratty early, and after the tug haled a couple gliders in the air, the decision was made to stop operations for a couple hours. We all had a relaxing lunch.

Upon returning from lunch, it was evident that the conditions were shaping up nicely for some thermaling experience. Phoenix pilots Paul and Dave preceeded me in the lineup. Paul launched and specked out. Dave followed Paul with an even more amazing flight. Now it's my turn ... I decided to tow to 3k with the possibility of pinning off early. At 1500 feet I hit a big thermal, and I decided to go for it. Bill Holmes radioed "Did you break a weak link?" I responded "No, I pinned off into what I THOUGHT was a big thermal," as I was sinking out fast. Bill was quick to point out the error of my ways "SUCKER ..." I lost between 200 and 300 feet before finding that elusive thermal. I worked that thermal and other nearby thermals for a while and got up to 3200 feet. My first real thermal flight of the year! Of course all good things must come to an end. As I made the cocky call boasting my 3200 foot altitude, I hit sink ... BIG sink ... 800 to 1000 down. I searched the area to find my missing thermal ... nothing but 800 to 1000 down. In fact, it was at least 800 down all the way back to the LZ from 3200 feet AGL to 500 AGL. My flight ended with a beautiful landing and some humility. It was a little lesson in "pride comes before the fall" or in my case "pride comes before major sink."

Summary ... only about 30 minutes of airtime, but it was my first real thermaling flight of the year. I had a blast flying and spending time with my good friends from Phoenix.