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| 22/10/2013
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| Autumn Gold... |
...of mists and mellow fruitfulness.
Friday dawned with mist, and lots of it, proving that Keats 'Ode to Autumn' was very apt. Even more so when turning into High Grundon Farm to see all the fallen apples on the ground in the little orchard.
Photo courtesy Mike Jenner
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Saturday was a little better weatherwise, but still no flying first thing. This wasn't a problem though as there is lots to see and do in the area.
As with all the annual meets for the PRBA, we now have a perpetual trophy for each and the Autumn Gold meet is no exception. The trophy was made of beautiful handmade leaves spiralling down as if falling and interspersed with little balloons.
We decided that the new Autumn Gold trophy would be an annual challenge and have input from the pilot winning it, where he/she could set the challenge the following year. This being the first year Alex chose a hare and hounds and was going to wear bunny ears and a bobtail; sadly (or not so....) the flying proved inconsistent to such a challenge with only Martin Read and Alex taking off together in the Virgin Megastore (G-OBUY) balloon for a short hop up the valley. As this was the only flight of the weekend, and the fact that Martin did technically land the closest to Alex - being in the same basket, the trophy was awarded to Martin.
We welcomed newbie PRBA'ers onto site - Mike and Bronia Jenner from Northallerton, and also Katie and Martin Green, and Steve and Katrina Long. We must also thank Mike for the cracking photos, thank you!
The quiz was on a theme of trees and was handed out with the express instruction of no cheating by using t'interweb - free WiFi on site. But this did not expressly mention the use of books so Katie and Katrina won the quiz with 37 points out of 40, with a little help from the printed word. Janice Stace took home the booby prize of a stalk of sprouts for her very honourable, non-internet/non-book attempt of 18 points.
This was the third new meet venue we have used this year and it certainly came up trumps! The site was great, a nice level field, easy access, lots of electric hook-up points and water taps for every two pitches, doggies welcome, and not to mention the lovely clean and warm toilets/showers. We stayed in one of the three cottages on site and have to report what a fab. place it was, well worth the price for the weekend. It was such a hit that we have booked the site out again for next year - 17th to the 19th October 2014, get it in the diary! (www.highgrundoncottages.com )
Thornton le Dale is certainly one of Yorkshire's prettiest villages with lots to see and do. It is also close to Pickering to the west and Scarborough a little further away to the east; spoilt for choice.
Elaine and Alex |
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