WRE 2012 – World Record Encampment

You can read up on the World Record Encampment at www.ozreport.com

I agreed to drive for Dustin Martin this week and sure enough, despite weekend rains, Tuesday was the day.

The plan was for me to go out from I-10. If he decked before Uvalde, then he would go back with others. Anything after Uvalde and I would be doing the retrieve.

On radio btween Junction and Sonora

I first got them on radio when I was 10 miles west of Kerrvile. I did not catch up with them until Sonora. The first time I had a visual was Eldorado.

When coming up on Sonora, I could hear Glen decking it south of I-10. I imagine he had a rough retrieve behind many locked gates.

I last saw them in the cloud street above the car.

Trusty chase vehicle - 42 mpg and a solid HG rack.

Dustin had been flying with Jonny Durand the whole flight so at Eldorado I asked if the really needed a 2nd chase at this point. I could tell that it may be competitive, but at this point, they weren’t going to leave a friend without a retrieve and they were too far out to make an attempt the following day.

So for a finish, they relieved me of my chase duties, flew 477 miles to Lubbock, and I got out of about 14 hrs of additional driving plus I got to see some beautiful parts of Texas under amazing skies.

Oh well, less driving and more beer for this guy!

The wind was absolutely howling when I left them. The clouds were streeted and thin. Jonny reported he was doing 30 mph while thermalling. When they went on glide, it was almost impossible to catch up.

This shot is west of Eldorado looking to the southeast. It was beautiful, but if you were on the ground, looking to tow or fly, no way – w i n d.