What is a Thermal

Have you ever been out side on a sunny day and have felt a slight breeze
in your face and the the wind changes to your side and back to your face.
What you have felt is a thermal. A thermals is a rising column of air created
by convection heating. Birds have been using this source of lift to gain altitude
for ever. Flying a sailplane we can tap into this free source of energy.
I have been hooked on this for years. It is a great feeling when you find one
and your sailplane starts to rise. After a while your sailplane is down wind
and you are at the base of a cloud this is known as Specked Out.
You can fly up wind and find another thermal and stay up for hours.
When I have a day like this, it does 't get any better than this.