- "Spring is Just Around the
Corner"
- By David Shelton
- CFIG, Penn State University Soaring Club
- 03/17/01
The airport was silent. Patches of snow were scattered about.
The cold nibbled at my hands and face as I repaired my sailplane
trailer. Suddenly, something drew my attention skyward. Above
the runway, a hawk stretched its wings and carved delicate circles
in the sky. Each turn was a struggle to hold onto precious altitude.
He worked hard and waited... and waited... and waited a
little more. I knew that feeling. Would his exhaustive work be
rewarded with an easy ride to the cloud base? Would the sky gods
take his thermal away? He waited for the unknown outcome.
I was standing in the open with my head tilted back&.observing.
The experience reminded me of flying model sailplanes. Then,
I felt a subtle change in the wind. It was a familiar change
that modelers know best, and I knew what would happen next. One
turn at a time, the hawk inched higher and higher. The rate of
climb steadily increased. As if signaled by a divine cue, a pair
of seagulls joined the dance. Several minutes later, I squinted
to watch the gaggle, which now appeared as a trio of dots.
Spring is approaching, and soon, we too will carve circles.
Soon, we will climb to the clouds. We will discover the beautiful
moments, which draw us into the sky. Have a great season everybody!
HARRIS HILL SOARING CLUB HOME
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© 2004 Ryan Smith