Miller Stroud <<vrodtn>>
writes:

Well, all I can say is, "I told you last week it was coming."
Parkin Arkansas towing site is located (90°38.7840'W, 35°19.2240'N).

This area is in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Nothing but fields for two
hundred miles north and south, and forty miles east and west. And I mean
nothing! Roads are rare, forget about seeing any humans. But what it does have
in my humble opinion  is some of the best thermaling and cross country
potential in eastern Arkansas.

On Sunday Brent, Bob, Beth, and I, proved my point. Brent got barely under
ninety miles and I got 145 miles in 4.5 hrs. Cloud streets as far as your eyes
can see. Landing fields as large as some counties. Sounds like Texas doesn't it.
It's freaking awesome.

I pinned off at 2200' into very burbly lift. The first 2000-3500 ' was a little
work and took a while. Got down to 1700' before slipping under a fat cummie and
climbed out to 5000'. Downwind were nine cummies in a row and within easy reach
of each other. Lift was 300-500'fpm and route but smoothed out in the afternoon
with 800fpm increases.

Winds aloft were 15 or so and before Brent could launch. I was twenty one miles
downwind. I became the spotter.

I can't emphasize the importance of preflight using Google Earth. We plotted out
a 150 mile course to the NE and that put us at Cape Girardeau, MO. The Cape had
the only airspace that could be of concern and thank God I looked. I ended up
passing about two miles west of the airspace using my Garmin to track my
progress. I arrived there at 3800' and dang it, I was content on ending it
there.

It was late, great fields, and the rolling hills were coming up and that would
greatly extend the retrieve. We got home after midnight as it was.

One thunderstorm of concern did pop up to the east and I monitored it as I
progressed northward. It was about twelve miles out and Beth pulled up the radar
to confirm it's lack of movement. It didn't move but it did expand causing Brent
to deviate and end his flight.

I saw only one bird during the flight. At one time I was at 5000' and had seven
dust devils directly below me. Two were absolutely huge in diameter. One ravaged
a group of farmers on the ground and they scattered like ants.

I averaged thirty six miles per hour and most of the flight on glide showed
ground speeds to be in the high fifties and low sixties. Expect high winds on the
ground due to the open terrain, but it is smooth air.

We keep inviting people but no one ever comes. All I can say is your missing it
guys. I've got two weeks off after next week and I'll say it again. Expect
another 100 miler or better. Send me a request and I'll send you the IGC file.
Thank you Beth for the flawless retrieve of both of us and Bob for the tows.