The forecasts presented a puzzle. The winds weren't strong enough
to force a task to the north, but they where a little stronger than one would
like to have a long local task like around the Green Swamp. Add to that NAM and
RAP disagree on the winds, which is usually not the case. After going back and
forth we decided to travel up northwest of Interstate 75 and then head north to
Lake City, a small private airfield (185 km) A couple of pilots needing to stay
local would attempt to go around the Green Swamp.

There were a few thin wisps around as we prepared to launch at noon. The
forecast was for no cu's but that is so rare on a day with southeast winds. You
definitely want them if you want to go around the Green Swamp.

Larry had focused on going as early as possible and was first off. I went second
at 12:02 with Greg Dinauer and Will Ramsey a bit later. I pinned off a bit early
at 1,500' in 200 fpm to 3,000'.

I followed Larry to the north to Groveland but we didn't find much. There were
hardly any cu's to the north. I turned back to go toward a cu back over Quest.
Greg was turning in lift a bit to the southwest. I was the lowest.

While Larry and Greg thermalled to the northwest of Quest I headed for the cu on
the south side. As soon as I got there, bam, 600 fpm up. A few turns and I
called out to them although they could easily see what was happening. It wasn't
long before I left at 4,000'. They were right behind.

There were now a few cu's to the north. I went just to the northwest of Groveland to them, and
bam, another 600-700 fpm thermal. I left at 4,600' with Will and Greg circling
below, headed west-northwest to find Larry under another cu and we left together
at 4,600'.

There were a few wispy cu's way to the north I went for them. It was a 10
kilometer glide at 17:1, so I got there reasonably high at 2,700' to get under
the cu in lift that averaged 200 fpm. I wasn't going to be convinced by the
first two good thermals that I needed 600 fpm to stay up. Larry came in low from
his line to the east and we were soon joined by Will and Greg. I hung out at cloud
base so that we could be all together.

The wind was mostly out of the east at 8 mph. Our task was to the north, but we
needed to get further west to clear Ocala airspace later to the north, so going
with the wind a bit was no problem. We worked weak climbs south of the Okahumpka
service plaza on the Turnpike then headed west-northwest under more substantial
cu's to get toward the intersection of I75 and the Turnpike. Down below it
looked like a huge traffic jam with everyone leaving the state to go back home.

Looking to the north and northwest from our perch over I75 under the cu's there
were no more cu's. There was a thick inversion with white moist air under it. I
wondered if the day was about to be over.

After a 10 kilometer glide to the northwest I was down to 1,900' northwest of
the truck stop on highway 44 and I75. Greg was way below me surfing the high
tension lines. Will was just behind and I got a glimpse of him circling and went
back to join him. Larry was three kilometers to our east on the east side of I75
slowly climbing.

Larry joined Will and I as we climbed at almost 300 fpm to 4,600'. We had the
treed expanse of Marion Oaks to our northwest along the course line. We wanted
to get high enough to keep ourselves safe. Greg was climbing up below us but
would only get to 3,800'.

The three of us together worked over Marion Oaks and found lift along the way.
There are a huge set of open fields on the west side of Marion Oaks and I wanted
to be sure to get there high as there is another required jump to the northwest
from there.

Leaving the lift from 4,400' we headed for the open expanse. My glide ratio fell
to 9:1 with a 9 mph tail wind. The vario averaged 370 fpm down. By the time I
got to the northern edge of landable fields I was down to 2,700'. The next
landable field was 5 kilometers to the north first over trees and then over
houses. I wasn't willing to risk it. I didn't see the fire that Larry spotted
when he went across at 3,000' and found a boomer.

Turning back I went on search for some lift coming out of the open fields below.
Will was with me but hadn't ever been here before. Down to 1,400' the 50 fpm
thermal helped but we were drifting quickly to the northwest from the northwest
corner of the open fields at 1,900'.

Turning back again against the east wind, I went on search again assuming that
we would be landing soon. Bam. 500 fpm at 1,200'. I climbed to 4,000' in lift
that averaged 300 fpm. Will didn't quite get the best part of the lift, didn't
quite get high enough to head north and soon landed. Greg had also landed in the
open fields.

As I took off over the non-landable areas the sink was very light I was getting
20:1 to the northwest as I headed for the edge of the 8 km cylinder around
Dunnellon that keeps us out of Ocala airspace. Larry finally came back on the
radio to say that he had been very low and drifted west way into the cylinder
but was getting up again. I kept finding spots of pleasant lift and just
turning in it to enjoy the air and the day.

A few cu's formed to my west. Larry was under them and rocketing up at 600 fpm.
He climbed to 6,000' a few kilometers up the course line from me. They were a
bit far for me to get to so I kept heading north-northwest. Larry and I were in
good radio communication. Earlier interference issues were now passed us and
Larry was spotting thermals in front of me.

No cu's but good thermals as I headed for Williston and slowly caught up with
Larry while climbing to 5,100'. The wind was 7 mph out of the southeast. There
were little backyard fires along the way and Larry found one over a lumber mill
southeast of Williston. I came in and joined him after a ten kilometer glide at
17:1 and we climbed together at over 400 fpm to 5,900' just east of the
airfield. We could see the carnival down below north of the field that we
usually land in.

We headed north on what turned out to be a 20 kilometer glide. The last 5
kilometers was over a forested area with high tension lines. I was down to
2,900' on the south end of this area. I could see what looked like an open field
to the north and thought that I could make it there. Larry was just ahead and a
tiny bit higher.

I crossed over the northern edge of the forest at 800' and headed for the
northern edge of the field to set up my approach. Larry called out 100 fpm north
of the field, but I was too low to join him and told him so. As I came to the
north edge of the field down to 600' AGL, bam, 400 fpm. I turned and was rocked.
It was rough as guts, but I really didn't want to land in this field.

I was screaming and screaming up at the same time. I couldn't leave the lift but
I didn't want to be in it. Larry came back under me and it was nice to have a
partner in hell. I told him how rough it was to let him know I wasn't completely
in charge of where I was flying.

We climbed to 3,100' then Larry spotted the cu that was forming from our thermal
a bit to our east. That one got us to 6,100' at over 300 fpm. We were just
southwest of Gainsville and we could see a huge expanse of trees ahead. After
our close call over trees we charted a course over more open areas to the north.

The wind had turned south-southwest. There were now and then the isolated wisp
of a cu. We kept heading for them and they worked because they only appeared
when there was lift and soon disappeared. There were cu's to our west but out of
reach, but approaching us.

We now were able to stay high and climb up to 6,000' again. Cu's kept popping up
in front of us. The cu's from the west got closer and we were able to tag a
couple for light lift. Climbing to 5,600' we went on glide from 17 kilometers
out and made it easily with Larry in first.

The Lake City field is a private airfield and very nice. You land going right
over the house low.

https://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:davisstraub/6.4.2018/16:02