The conditions look excellent. The motor gliders launch first. I'm ready to go, I'm determined not to miss out like yesterday. A light mist begins to roll in. I launch into a light wind at 6:30am. As I climb out over Burketown I can see a thin veil of mist covering everything. It looks incredible. In the distance I call see several MG's. It looks like a white sea with large waves rolling through.

I head for the coast flying low with the least amount of throttle to conserve fuel. I can see the main wave in the distance. As I approach the coast I start to worry that the cloud hasn't hit the coast yet. As I'm flying, I'm staying close to the river and I'm looking all the time for vehicle tracks so that if I should land it may be possible to get a vehicle in to retrieve me. I don't see many tracks though. I finally reach Kangaroo Point at the mouth of the Albert and can see the wind gust of the MG still a way out to sea. This is not good. I'm 30k's from Burketown with maybe enough fuel to get back. I don't think I can hang around here waiting for the MG to hit the coast. I decide to risk landing here and hopefully relaunching when the cloud gets closer. This is my only option if I want to catch another cloud. I'm hoping that where I land is not too moist otherwise the mud will be a problem.

I kill the engine as I setup for a landing. I land ok. The ground is real soft and sticky. This is real bad. I broadcast to the others that I have landed at the mouth of the Albert. I stay in my harness and watch the sky. I find out later that sand flies feasted on any exposed flesh. After about 10mins I see the cloud is approaching. There looks like a small lift line in front of the main cloud, its marked by wispy cloud forming very low. Its approaching fast! Now I'm in a hurry. I restart the engine and get ready to launch. As I'm running mud is flinging off my shoes and hitting the propellor with a loud CLACK. I start to climb when the engine sputters briefly at about 30ft. My heart stops as I quickly scan the area for a suitable landing. The engine seems ok. My focus quickly shifts from the ground to the sky as I try to pickup the faint wisps marking lift. I just want to get on the cloud now so I get out of here. I finally hit the lift band and climb quickly over the cloud. I kill the engine, relax and enjoy the view. The cloud is well formed but small. I feel like I can drag my fingers through this soft white stuff.

I can't imagine anything looking softer. The cloud is completely smooth. Normally with cloud you see tendrils of wispy cloud getting thicker. This looks like its solid and smooth but you can't make out the boundary where the cloud starts. I look back over the cloud I see the coast receding fast as I head back to Burketown. There is a fog bank ahead that doesn't appear to be moving. Hmmm, Whats going to happen when this MG hits the fogbank. This cloud is moving fast I'm only 10k's from Burketown now. I hear over the radio that Ken has landed 20k's out on the saltflats. I also hear a glider pilot saying that he is flying with 2 hang gliders. That will be Angus and Tustra. I'm pleased to hear everyone is airborne.

I watch as the air between this MG and the fog bank starts to mist over. The lift is dying with this cloud. I'm down to 1000ft. The MG I'm on appears to be getting fatter. I'm at 800ft now and going down. I broadcast my updated position on the radio as I set up for a landing 6k's from Burketown. I can see people fishing in the distance which is comforting to see.

Back on the ground now, I stay in my harness and wait. Maybe the fog will clear. Maybe I can catch another cloud.

After about 10mins the fog clears and a soft breeze develops. No MG's are visible now, the sun appears to have burnt off all the clouds. I have an easy launch and head back to Burketown. As I approach Burketown I see a hangglider on the ground right next to town. Its turns out to be Ken who relaunched from the saltflats.

I land back at the airstrip. Its 8:30am. As I secure my hangglider I see 2 hanggliders motoring back. Its Angus and 2stroke. They both got onto the cloud after relaunching. Ken and Angus both had engine outs causing there outlanding. 2stroke landed next to Angus to keep him company. Angus and I both had 2 launches to get home. Everyone had an exciting time.