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Extreme Wind at Texas Fly Today
Extreme Wind at Texas Fly Today
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KiddenAround
210 posts
Nov 05, 2008
8:05 PM
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Sure wish I had time to go to all the lofts, but today, I did get the privilege of getting to visit two.
Andrew Leighton's set up was nice and organized, but the winds were ferocious and we sighted hawks nearby at least 5 or 6 times. He was apologetic even though everyone present understood and even expected the worst.
30 miles up the road at the loft of Alex Hamilton, the wind was just as bad, and although there weren't as many BOP's, one hawk did slip into the kit and take out a competitor. Alex shrugged it off as part of the dues we pay for flying meals on wings . . . .
His birds fought the wind for over an hour, and during the brief moments that the wind stopped for a bit, the birds did roll. The hawk was so stealthy that the pigeons didn't even seem to notice.
After the fly, Alex served up a meal of hot dogs, sausage, chili, chips, baked beans and chocolate cake. The cameraderie was warm and friendly as everyone enjoyed the topics of birds, horses, camping, politics and ways to *try* to train wives. lol
This was my own first time to meet roller competitors and I was impressed at the warm friendliness and helpfulness of the groups. Andrew and his wife were sweet and most hospitable, and everyone seemed ready to jump at the chance to help the next fellow. I enjoyed the pesonalities and senses of humor of the judge, J.V. Broek; our host Alex Hamilton, Dennis Plant and Mark Taylor.
I was really impressed at the way Alex handled the fiasco of the weather and hawk problem -- he gracefully shrugged it off as just exactly what it was -- nothing more than a a bad break and certainly no reflection on his birds' abilities or skill.
But frankly, I have to admit that in the end, I was most impressed with Mrs. Hamilton's chocolate cake.
:)
You can see results of the Texas flies at:
http://users.ticnet.com/hamiltonac/nbrcfly2008.htm
I was too busy gabbing and didn't take nearly enough pictures, and the wind was so bad that I didn't bother to take pictures or video of the birds, but here are a few from this awesome day:
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-- Laura
Professional Thrill Seeker
Last Edited by on Dec 12, 2008 7:47 AM
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brudahpete
87 posts
Nov 05, 2008
8:26 PM
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Great pics! Sounds like a mix of both good & bad though. At least people got together & swapped stories.
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Santandercol
3347 posts
Nov 05, 2008
8:33 PM
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Great pics,Laura.Fall is a tough time to fly BRs not only in Texas.I have pushed to have summer flys in our area but after the W/C,there is not enough interest with only a total of around 10 flyers over such a broad region.That is one good thing about the large population base in the U.S.
Lots of Roller Folk.
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Kel.
Rum-30 Lofts
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Electric-man
2104 posts
Nov 05, 2008
8:59 PM
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Thanks for the pics Laura!
I got to travel throughout Kansas recently and meet the flyers and see there kits perform on the FF. Other than watching my son win the United States Junior Open wrestling championship last year, it was probably the most memorable thing I can remember doing in the last 10 yrs.
This is an awesome hobby with "real" people. If God permits, this is what I will be doing until they cover me with dirt! Once I get my region covered, I'm gonna make a Texas fly!
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Val
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Jimbo113
92 posts
Nov 05, 2008
10:01 PM
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10-4 on the wind!!
I'ts about midnight here now and the wind is still howling outside!!
Jimbo
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"We Don't Rent Pigs"
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TT
GOLD MEMBER
128 posts
Nov 05, 2008
10:04 PM
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Laura,
Compliments on the camera skills.
Awesome!
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Tony.
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Electric-man
2106 posts
Nov 05, 2008
11:18 PM
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Man, I'm sick of it! Been windy for a week and more in the forcast for tommorrow! Just had a severe storm pass over. Couldn't see 10' out the back door for awhile. All kinds of rotation and a tornado spotted about 20 miles SW of here. They said it was headed straight for us, but it went back up before it got here. Hail covered the ground twice in the last couple of hours. Get ready in Missouri, its coming and its nasty!
Got a state fly in about a week and a half and its windier than crap every day. Doesn't look like its gonna break on the 7-day either! Gettin nervous! LOL
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Val
Last Edited by on Nov 05, 2008 11:21 PM
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brudahpete
88 posts
Nov 06, 2008
5:11 AM
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I hear ya with the wind complaints! Just went over to Bob's (showlow) on election day and saw his set up, It was blowing like 45 mph! BTW Bob has some really nice stuff in his loft! Super nice guy too.
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PR_rollers
GOLD MEMBER
1895 posts
Nov 06, 2008
7:22 AM
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Laura nice pics Thx I really enjoy them ..any chance you have some of that left over chocolate cake. :)
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Ralph
Last Edited by on Nov 06, 2008 7:23 AM
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maxspin
305 posts
Nov 06, 2008
7:37 AM
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Laura,
Nice pictures.
One of the things that I like about competition flying is going around to the different lofts. I have always found everyone to be very friendly and helpful.
Some would think that all we do is argue, based on some of the discussions on the forums. We all need to keep that in mind as we have these "conversations".
We are all much friendlier in person than we can appear on the forums.
Have fun with them
Keith Maxwell
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fhtfire
1632 posts
Nov 06, 2008
8:43 AM
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Nice pics Laura....That road with the trees...looks like the Forest Gump road when he was a kid and started RUNNI'n....
Doesn't wind suck....been stung by wind to many times to count!!
rock and ROLL
Paul
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Ballrollers
1584 posts
Nov 06, 2008
9:04 AM
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Thanks for the pics, Laura. There's nothing like the comraderie on fly day. It's the biggest part of what competition is all about. We were just at Alex's place for the convention, and you are right...definitely class. If his wife's chocolate cake is anything like her fried apple pies, I shoulda been there! LOL! Tough break on the wind. That's ouir worst enemy on fly day. Hope to see YOU posting a score sometime soon!
Cliff
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KiddenAround
212 posts
Nov 07, 2008
6:06 AM
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Hey, Kel -- I have to admit that I have never paid attention to birds of prey and did not realize that they migrated, since in my area, creatures hang around because it really never gets cold here. I am wondering why in the world all the competitions aren't moved to a time of the year when you don't lose your birds while practicing, and then, by George, right smack in the middle of competitions? It has been my experience that training a bird to trap in successfully and then spending hours and hours studying and switching around and culling to determine the top birds is a LOT of work to hand them over to the food chain!
Since I am new and not familiar with most of what is going on (but I'm learning slowly . . . ), are there any plans to change the dates?
Congratulations, Val!! 'lectric man! What a once-in-a-lifetime experience, huh? Watching your son win the US JR Open Wrestling Championship? What's he doing now? Still competing? That is so awesome! My son and his baseball team won the world two years ago (Tyler, TX) and they all got a huge ring like the Superbowl rings.
I came through Missouri in February this year with my two dogs and a load of horses, caught the flu from my dear friends in Kentucky before I left there, and that was a chore, driving from MO to TX with the flu!
You're right -- real people -- I am enjoying the Roller world, even though some may believe that I don't fit in. (They gave me heck about that the other day!)
Hey, Jimbo -- what does "we don't rent pigs" mean?
Thanks, Tony -- sometimes I forget what I came to shoot, and wind up snapping all the beauty around!
Brudahpete -- if it wasn't blowing 45mph, it sure felt like it, or more! Wind kept whipping my hair in my eyes, and sometimes, I saw the birds actually fly backwads!
Hey, Ralph -- are you kidding? Leftover cake? lol But I did recognize that cake and I make it frequently myself, so if you make it to a Texas fly, I'll make one and bring it, even if I have to strap it on the back of the Harley!
You're right on the money, Keith -- yes, I think sometimes we squabble online when we wouldn't ordinarily do that in person, but really, I think everyone basically are good people, don't you?
LOL on Forrest Gump, Paul! I'm always doing that, too -- seeing things I thought I saw in a movie. Have you ever ridden you bike to Tombstone, Arizona? Man, I love that place! It's like living on a movie set or back in the 1800's.
De Nada, and gracious, Cliff! I didn't get to meet Alex's wife, but I'm even sorrier that I didn't get to experience those apple pies! (I love to cook, can you tell?) Yeah, the goal is to be competitive one day. We're working on it.
Good luck, 'Lectric Man, on your upcoming flies!
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-- Laura
Professional Thrill Seeker
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KiddenAround
264 posts
Dec 12, 2008
7:50 AM
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I finally took the time to add the pictures from our visit to Walter Teal's place (Texas Fall Fly) and moved them to the front of this slideshow. Not much, really, but hope you enjoy seeing his place and his birds through my lens:
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K.A. Thank you for sharing your pic's... Walter Teal is a class act with very good pigeons. I'm very proud to call him my friend... Thanks again ..Kev
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Customkev
40 posts
Dec 12, 2008
11:28 AM
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K.A. Thank you for sharing your pic's... Walter Teal is a class act with very good pigeons. I'm very proud to call him my friend... Thanks again ..Kev
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