Riding this afternoon we came across these two visitors to the upland meadows, where the grass had been mown and the hay made just in time to create a fine smooth landing strip.
From above the land looks relatively flat. So I suspect that the two glider pilots, having carefully avoided standing crop which they are trained to recognise from the air, had a little surprise. The field on which they landed slopes fairly sharply uphill. Even this photo is deceptive, for Brena had just plodded uphill carrying me up the parallel trail. At least they managed to land into the breeze, making their task easier.
Brena appreciated the distraction. A stop to take photos means the opportunity to graze lush upland grass. She will make a fine travelling horse as she eats at every opportunity. Our journeys may not be fast however she will be well nourished. After all a travelling horse does need to eat a great deal, a lesson first pointed out to me nearly twenty years ago as I prepared to spend two months riding across Transylvania and Moldavia.
The pilot was waiting for help to come. And it did come, in the form of a vehicle pulling a very long trailer into which the dismatled glider fitted, when we rode past again half an hour later.
Sometimes I hear a faint whistling when out riding. Looking above, there is a glider a couple of thousand feet up. I think that they only make any noise when flying fast between thermals. But today the sky clouded over and thermals, presumably, were stifled.
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