Thank you (again!), Lyle, and for more reasons than you might expect.

As usual, Lyle, your words are too kind but I thank you for them. They are very much appreciated.

It’s very interesting to me that you mentioned you fly off sod farms — it brought back some very fond memories for me. For reasons I cannot entirely recall, my father and I were left to our devices for a few weeks in the midst of a muggy Vancouver summer. That worked out well, as the plan was to head off to a soaring competition shortly thereafter. So it made for lots of time to practice.

We were somehow twigged to the fact that there were sod farms south of Vancouver in Ladner, if I recall correctly. The owners of said sod farms were more than happy to have us there and the fields were ideal: beautiful, open, flat expanses of emerald green grass interrupted only by the watering rigs. They even came out and mowed every week or so. There was healthy mutual respect between the owner of the farm and us glider guiders — it was nearly a perfect arrangement. We packed a picnic lunch each day and flew ourselves silly.

My father passed away a few years ago, but one of the fondest memories of being a kid was that summer on the sod farm spent with him. Thanks for triggering that great memory and I know Pop has already staked out the local sod farm in his celestial neighbourhood, wherever that might be.

I have a feeling that you may be in good stead for at least a few years on the sod farms in your area. Good luck and please keep in touch! Best regards…~TCG