Monday was a sparkling day so I decided to head off for my first fly walk of the season. Late (as usual ) in leaving home so the only plan I had was to explore the area between Yetholm and Yeavering (where Id been so impressed a few weeks ago ). It was well after 1 when I parked at the top of the ridge above Yetholm, with a vague plan to follow the Pennine Way path and decided to walk up Staerough Hill (with the intention of gliding over the valley and hopefully onto the up slope of the hills to the S ) Met wind was forecast to be N so it should have been a simple soar then turn and fly round the hill, but when I got up it was W. The W face was steep but I couldn’t see whether gliding off the S side was feasible, and when I soared along to look, it was “maybe “ at best. Slope landed, and back to the top to glide along the N face, and when I got to the col, I was lower than it - and landed below where the car was (and further away from where I was heading ! )
So I restarted at the bottom of the valley and set off up the path into the hills . Its really good walking with good paths and open hill sides, so I was across the border after about 1 km and on up to Coldsmouth Hill, where the views of where I’d intended to go where fantastic. However the sunset was a clue that Id need to leave that one for another day, so a lovely long glide to land beside the car. Not exactly an epic but a lovely start to the fly walk season.
