The AHGA's XC Contest 2009

On August 1 the worst possible thing happened to Linny & I.The flight started off great.Launched at 12:25 pm.it didn't take long to top out at 14,200'M.S.L.After gliding about four miles to the N.W.topped out even higher 16,300'.I was runnig late so I didn't put my oxygen on.After gliding 20 miles,found a good to 14,300' then glided directly over Williams.Worked back up to 14,500' took pictures of the town,just N. of the freeway.Linny was high tailing it up I-40 and didn't get her first visual on me till 47 miles.At Red lake she was able to stop and get a visual.Back up to 14,500' N. of Red lake,my harness working great.Crossed over to Rt. 180 where the large power lines cross.At 13,000' I made big mistake of sending linny down the power line road.Did I say Big Mistake.On a really nice glide,Linny radios up hey just got a flat tire.Radioed back you have got to be kidding.No not at all.So with out hesitation & with 4,500' A.G.L. Landed, drag chute assisted.I broke down the glider down,hide it in the trees,took only what was needed.Linny & I had radio contact,some 5 miles away.After two & a half hours of hicking at a pretty good pace,I reached Linny.We were in the Dodge that was bought to haul our travel trailor.It didn't have a jack when we first bought it.I been trying to get one but hadden't,so we were really screwed,Big time.Still 2 1/2 miles to Rt.180,and Linny had a bad knee.Beer didn't even sound good,even to Linny,can up believe that,on a hot summer day.It's getting late,the sun is low on the horizon.Run for a while then walk,run/walk.I had to leave Linny behind,for the moment,bad knee.If I didn't get to Hwy.180 before the sun goes down,our chances of getting a ride go way,way down.From where glider was, to 180 was 7.6 miles.I'm sore & weak.Waving my arms in a crossing motion when a car came by. The thumb does nothing.The second vehicle, was a 28 passenger Grand Canyon expedition Bus.It pulls over and stops,I ran over to the bus,out of breath.Told the lady briefly what happened.She was very nice to help us.Opened the gate,drove back to get Linny.She was wide eyed when she saw the Bus.So Joann is her name,gave us a ride all the way back to Flagstaff.The sun was setting as we drove away.My Mom calls this the Luck of the Irish.I feared spending the night out there no real food,I had some power bars.No place to sleep.You know how people are these days.We wre very lucky to get a ride.The next day,drove the other truck out there.Got the glider on the Dodge,on the way back 180, at the gate,looked back,another flat.Drove back in to town,hit Sams Club.Two brand new tires,$400.00 later,including fuel.Went to auto,got a jack.Drove back out there,changed the tire.Then drove real slow out of there.What a nightmare.The single worst experince ever flying X-C. Got Joann's # met her,Linny and I at Flag Brew the next week,payed for all of her drinks,she saved us Big time.Thats all,happy Landings,Andy Rockhold.