It was a good weekend here at Quest Air. The winds were out of the
south on both days. On Saturday lots of thick low clouds with a drop or two of
rain so I waited until things cleared up a bit around 2 PM and took off with a
blue hole over us and lots of shading around us.

I pinned off at 1,300' AGL and worked the light lift drifting to the northeast.
As I climbed up slowly I spotted a Black Vulture (Buzzard) high above me heading
southwest. I also saw a small cu forming in that direction just on the south end
of the field at Quest Air. I wasn't that high but it looked like a good idea to
follow the bird toward what looked like better lift.

When I got under the cu I found that one bird was now half a dozen birds above
and below me. We all climbed out.

My task was to head south as far as possible given the conditions and still make
it back to Quest Air (downwind). I spotted the birds heading south again and I
followed their line for a good ways. And again they brought me to a great spot
which again was populated by a number of Black Vultures.

The birds can obviously spot each other and therefore know where to go to find
the next bit of lift. I can't see them as well as they can see each other, but
when I do spot them it is great to be able to fly with them.

On Sunday it was blue after the fog lifted and the cu's (which have formed every
day here since we returned) didn't start forming until around noon. They were
high and thin unlike Saturday.

I pinned off at 1,000' AGL at 1:30 in 5 mph southern winds (once again). Again
the lift was light but the cloud base was high. I pushed forward after gaining
1,500' and lost all my gained altitude and more by the time I found the light
(but better) lift under a cu just south of Quest Air. Lots of lift under every
cu and it was soon easy to get up to over 5,000' and head up against the
headwind. By the time I got south of Lake Louisa, the wind had picked up to 14
mph and the cu's were drying out to my south. I decided to head back as I
climbed so slowly by the lake.

It's great to fight the winds and see what I can do without the help of that
natural force.