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March 20, 2020, 1:59:06 pm EDT

The big fat convergence line

Larry and I go long - 220+ kilometers

Steve Kroop|Wilotree Park

Steve Kroop|Wilotree Park

Flytec 6030|Steve Kroop|Wilotree Park

Flytec 6030|Naviter Blade|Steve Kroop|Wilotree Park

I was off first again but while I found 400 fpm right off tow at 1,600' I soon lost it at 3,000' and had to come back to Wilotree Park for a second tow.

Larry and Greg were nearby finding light lift.

I took 70 fpm to 3,200' (I wanted to be extra cautious given that Greg had just landed out). Moved over to a better cu and went up at 350 fpm to over 4,000'.  Soon I caught up with Larry.

The sky had been full of cu's all morning and while there was a blue hole on the course line to the north northwest toward the 8 kilometer cylinder around Dunellon, we could head north to more clouds and keep upwind of the blue hole.

We climbed to 4,500' but were down to 2,100' as we approached the Turnpike after an 11 kilometer glide. We worked 80 fpm and then at 2,700' moved to the northwest to find 200 fpm. That got us to only 3,800' as we were approaching the Villages and Wildwood, an area with few landing options.

There was a cloud street to the north and I went there while Larry headed more westerly. While he struggled I found 185 fpm to 4,300' and then headed further west to join up with him as we climbed to 4,700' north of Lake Panosofkee.

It was still touch and go as the lift was erratic.  Back to 4,300' south west of Marian Oaks I was soon down to 3,000' at its southeast corner with Larry a bit further west. I found 250 fpm to get me over the treed area at 4,600' and noted that there was some construction going on in the farmed area to the northwest.

Down to 3,500' at the northwest corner of the cultivated block I was concerned about the lack of landing areas to the north and northwest as I was flying over our mountain bike trails at Nayles. I worked 80 fpm and then 150 fpm and drifted with the 14 mph southeast flow climbing slowly to 4,700'. It was a great view of all the houses and golf courses below.

I heard from Larry that he was getting low, 1,500' a little to me west. I nicked the Ocala airspace, high above it, on the western side and ignored making the safety turnpoint at Dunellon. I worked 30 fpm, than 125 fpm then 133 fpm to 3,800'. I wasn't able to get comfortably back above 4,000'. I had to pick and choose among the landing options ahead. Larry was down to 1,000' by Dunellon and it was not looking good.

A little further on I looked back and there was Larry higher and just behind me. We were heading northwest toward better looking cloud streets.

Down to 2,200' I searched around in -50 fpm after going through 700 fpm down. Giving up on that and with Larry just slightly over head and heading west I went to good looking fields to the west south west and found lift at 1,700' while Larry found lift also at 1,700' to my west.

It turned into 200 fpm with only a 5 mph breeze and I climbed to 5,000'. Things were improving. We were west northwest of Ocala.

We headed north for Williston getting to 5,400' on the way. Our goal was the Live Oak airfield about 240 kilometers from Wilotree Park. We get together to the west northwest of the Williston airfield and find lift that averaging 430 fpm to 4,500'. Larry found 700 fpm to my north a bit.

We head north toward a good looking cu and I climb at 380 fpm to 5,800'. It's 4:30 PM. The streets are more structured with a south southeast wind at 12 mph.

At Newberry I find 230 fpm to 5,200' at 5 PM. I mention the small field fires to the northwest to Larry. Later he says that looks like the convergence line and we should head for the fires. We do and find ratty lift north of the fires at 180 fpm to 4,900'. Larry gets higher behind me.

We now follow the convergence line of clouds. There are no cu's to our west. There is a slight west flow on the ground. The cu's clear out to our east for the most part. This is the cloud street we really want to be under and it goes as far as we can see to the north. We decide not to fly to Live Oak as that is west of the convergence line (which is being pushed slowly east). We'll just stay under it.

I'm flying with just the Naviter Blade and I'm getting a black low battery notice. It's getting more insistent. I don't know what I'm supposed to do about that in the air.

We approach toe Suwannee River northwest of Hot Springs. I'm down to 2,600' with almost northing but trees ahead around the river. Larry is high above me as I worked 60 fpm then head north to get deeper under the street.

Gliding 5 km over the trees and watching the few fields to my east that look possible for landings and down to 2,000' AGL, I find lift that averages 80 fpm. It look like I can either go back to the east if needed or hang on to this and make it to the fields to the northwest if required. There is a fire to the west that is feeding the cloud above and Larry is over it.

I hang on completely enjoining the ride over the river and trees as I slowly approach safe landing options. The wind down low is 4 mph at 130 degrees.

At the north end of the trees north of the river I find some friendly vultures and we all climb out at 230 fpm to 5,200'. Larry is just ahead of me about five kilometers at 6,300'. At the top of the lift the Blade dies. (Steve Kroop and I are working on why that would have happened). It's after 6 PM.

I'm under the convergence so I don't worry so much about not having a vario. Larry has a Blade and his 6030, so he's working off his 6030.

After a glide of 12 kilometers I turn the Blade back on and see that I'm at 4,000'. Pretty good.  I'm still at 3,900' 3 kilometers later when the Blade turns off again.

Another 14 kilometers and I turn on the Blade again. I'm down to 2,100 west northwest of Lake City, just south of interstate 10 just west of interstate 75. I look at all the fields below and pick out the biggest. We don't know if the wind is from the west or the south. The Blade tells me 7 mph from the south. I don't see any wind on the ground.

I can't get down and fly back and forth for miles over multiple fields trying to get close to the trees on the upwind side. I noticed about five houses spaced along the field on the western side. The cattle are restricted in an area to the northeast. It's easy to stay away from all the fences.

Larry is north of I 10 but sees a mine area which dissuades him from continuing on. It is almost 7 PM. He decides to turn around and land in a huge field. I land at 6:45 PM.

Right after I'm down three ATV's show up with grandpa and the grand kids. I don't let them get too close. They are happy and surprised to see me. The field belongs to one family with lots of different parts of the family in widely spaced houses. None actually encroaching much into the field or putting up fences.

At sundown the driver and I head north to find Larry in the dark. A dozen folks have visited him, hopefully not too close. We get takeout from Chili's on the way home.

A rest day today. It looks just as good if not better.

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