How I mark Spring

My spring starts based on the clouds, not the sun’s crossing of the equator. Warmer temperatures, combined with still-moist air, means cumulus at nice altitudes.

Friday was it. Day one of the 2013 season. Everyone has been jonesing since fall; conditions like this means appointments are rescheduled, gliders are freshly-waxed, and there is a waiting line for the towplane.

Tail Dollies from all the gliders aloft

Conditions were wonderful. We spent most of the time between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, and made it about 160 nautical miles round trip.

Cloud surfing, aerobatics, all the good stuff.

Highlight of the flight: we happened on 4 golden eagles at about 7,000 feet. They were playing the same game…darting around the clouds, climbing, diving, twisting, and rolling.

One of them was 800 feet above. When she saw us, she folded her wings and bombed for us. Breathtaking! Beak pointed nearly straight down, she fell like an aerodynamic rock, then extended her wings, flared, and streaked 15 feet off my left wing. I swung hard round, and we chased each other for a while. She is more maneuverable, but I’m faster. A fun matchup.

One of my new soaring friends

The eagles are masters of this space…they have no enemies here, and no fear. On this first day of spring, they had no purpose except stretching their wings and making the sky their playground. In that last point, a lot like me.