Saturday, 2/5/05
Skyport to Castle Ridge to the main Polo Field
2nd flight, Skyport to Parma
Tandem with Sam on both flights
Diablo's old XL Firebird Flame
Link to [Sam's Flight Index]
The day looked like we might have some high clouds which typically moderate
and distribute the heating for smoother conditions, so I asked Sam if he wanted
to fly. He can be a little like Eeyore in his disposition. Ooooo
Kaaayyy, I guess I'll goooo....
Posted an 11:15 meet, but when we got to Parma, there were only cars without people. Frank didn't sound good on the phone so we dropped our toyota on Gibraltar just above El Cielito and told Sam we were going to hitch hike up to launch. He didn't understand what that meant and thought we were going to do some kind of "hiking". Despite the road being closed there was plenty of traffic, so we caught a ride in a few minutes. Bruce and Don were scouting an alternate route to the Santa Ynez Valley where one of them lived. Don did wood carvings on root burels so he wanted to stop and check out each scrap pile on the way up. We finally got to launch a little before noon.
No one was there. Sam was feeling a little apprehensive, but calmed down ok while we were getting ready. He'd flown from the Skyport once before on a threesome with his mom, and has plenty of flights in the costal ridge lift. It was cycling in about 2 to 8, so launch conditions were easy. Once we were airborne, Sam was OK. Got to 39 at the R&R and went east.
Like most passengers Sam likes the glides more than the thermalling. Unfortunately, the day required occasionally working some scrappy stuff. He was getting cold but I thought he could hang in there a couple more thermals so we could pull the glide home, but we started encountering east wind on Castle Ridge and opted to take a glide to the beach instead.
Landed at the main Polo Field. Edward was close and boosted us back toward Parma. Diablo came east to Castle Ridge before giving up and turning back, and Tom Pipkin turned at Ramero. Tom looked like he would make it back to launch, and the timing seemed ok, so Edward ran us up to the Skyport for round 2 (had to bribe Sam with Longboards if he flew again).
We were too late and it started shutting down. Pipkin flushed from the Round House into Saint Mary's, and we dribbled toward Parma. Sam had about 3 spoon fulls of his clam chowder, but liked his Shirley Temple.