the corn leaves were left over from last year, probably stirred up by spring tillage.
The flight was really good. I got off tow in some pretty good lift, and got up around 6000 feet before departing to the south of Ames. I was definitely hopeful for a good day after about a 400 fpm climb at the airport. I did declare a goal to somewhere in MO that wouldve given me the state record. I was never really confident that I would be able to make it there but figured what the heck might as well have a goal.
After departing the airport I cruised for about 15 miles before picking up another thermal. along the way lost around 2000 feet. caught another nice strong thermal, which seemed well organized and was generally easy to stay in. I veered to the east a little to make sure I avoided Des Moines Class C airspace and saw a few airplanes out flying around. Heard a train as well. As I passed directly east of Des Moines I caught the best thermal of the day (for me). It was so incredibly good that I was even able to stay in it while turning to the right! The vario was wobbling between 600 and 1000 fpm up for most of the time in the circle and I felt like I was on an elevator. That is where I saw the corn leaves, mistakenly reported as cornstalks.
I continued to the south, over Red Rock Lake and in the general direction of Knoxville. caught a few more good thermals with strong climb rates, but also suffered from the associated sink. I eventually found myself down around 1500 AGL headed towards a large area of black fields followed by some not so friendly creek bed and trees. I decided that if I was going to get some lift it was going to come off the fields and otherwise I was going to have to land. I worked all over the fields but couldnt find anything that would give me a lift so down I came and landed in a nice uphill area that had been recently tilled but not planted yet.
I made a quick call to Matt and my crew and took a few pictures. no one was home at the house I landed by so I walked down the road to get another landing witness for my Silver Distance application. The old fellow was really friendly and came down to check out the glider and helped derig in the field. That was really appreciated as the wind made it somewhat challenging.
All in all it was a great day. Probably didnt take full advantage of all the soaring that couldve happened but any day that I get to land out and make it back for supper is a good day.
Here are some pictures from the day. The only in flight photo was crossing red rock lake. thats a lot of water to be over without an engine!
http://picasaweb.google.com/cherokee373Y/Soaring51808
I must have violated it on lots of occasions....
