I can understand why you pushed it, it was a fantastic soaring day!
On the way home I throttled back to about 2200 rpm and and flew at 40 knots. This normally gives around 200fpm down, which is about what the T31 does as a glider. Following a cloud street I was getting 400fpm up and then hit what was probably the most powerful thermal I've ever picked up. The old cosin vario was pegged at over 2000fpm (it's max) and I was at cloud base in seconds. Unfortunately I had to get home for work, otherwise I could have played for hours!
It would have been nice to have said hello, maybe another time? What were you flying? A T21?
SS