RE: First thermal?
I had been launching via high start a Gentle Lady, 2 - 3 minutes max or whatever it was, so long ago....
I was in N. Texas in some pastures. One time there happened to be some hawks circling, I managed to high start close to them.
Once off of the high start I started their way and could actually see the glider "bump" up! So after I got that visual I knew what to look for.
I have built more gliders than powered planes since then....