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Diablo was jonesin after the long rain spell and collected Edward from Ojai for an early go. Sharon & I got on board in Carpinteria. The morning inversion needed to break so getting slowed by the commuter traffic provided opportunity to socialize. We were a past the estimated 8:45 at Parma and loaded SA and Bob H a little before 9. Got harassed about "local only" traffic from the road crew foreman on the way up and burned another 15 minutes waiting for construction crews at a couple of work zones. On launch about 9:30. Clouds were forming down low. There wasn't much movement up the hill, but it was up with no trace of down. Kicked rocks for awhile and watched the morning evolve. Clouds without defined bases started forming higher up on triggers like the Factory, and the cycles grew healthier. Seemed like it was soarable by 10. Airborne about a quarter past. Pulled a poor glide toward the Round House. Hung on above the Rock. Got a 2 or 3 hundred over the antennas a few times, but finally grew antsy and started searching further out front. Not a wise move on a day that favored higher ground. Took some zero sink across the spine below the Round House and flushed across the Monastery. It was buoyant, but didn't have enough umph. Soft touchdown near the breakdown tree. Called for Edward 5 or 10 minutes before we were on the ground, but he didn't leave launch for another half hour. Didn't bother to pack up and commandeered SA's Red Eagle Truck. Watched Brendan and Bob P approach. Diablo reported eastbound with 6K from a convergence up behind the R&R. Collected a couple of HGs and got back to launch with 8 bodies about noon (6 pilots and 2 crew). The second round was working better, but still weak down low and Brendan went direct to Parma. We got near the mid 3s at the R&R, but couldn't tag cloudbase and finally gave up. Left the Factory with 35, collected a few hundred at Shadow Peak, and climbed up in a nice smooth thermal at Montecito Peak to 43, then someone turned off the switch. Got to Ramero Saddle above the road cut, but nada. Dribbled down. The west had been building so rather than tack out over the front knob we faded left down the SE finger and reached across to come into the first Castle Point a few hundred below the top. Flushed out hoping for anything, but not encouraged. It was buoyant, but we were steadily burning altitude and eventually had to toss the anchor and turn back for a sprawling estate on 192. Reached over the horse corrals in a sweeping turn and lined up during the flare on a short grass strip along the driveway between the fence and the old oak trees. Going way too fast to run, but it was slightly downhill on smooth slick grass so we had fun on the slide. We picked up and were off the property in our helmets and gloves. One of the ranch managers came out to speak with us about 10 minutes later. Obviously, they would prefer we use other options, and avoid startling their high dollar horses. Sharon got Bob Hurlbett on the phone. Bob had landed at the Practice Polo Field. Bob dialed Ron Faoro who just ditched work after a hectic frenzy the day before. Ron collected us before we had our odds and ends stowed. We collect Bob, switched to Ron's truck at his house because his chase car was low on fuel, and were past the road work and back on launch before 2 PM. Tried to load Brendan on the way but he opted to drive 50 miles to a hike up The Grade instead of risking 0 for 3. The back country was going off and drawing hard at launch. The towering development was getting a push from the NE to shelf out overhead. Our windshield collected some big raindrops on the way uphill, and the R&R was just starting to shade in. Ron led the way and we all got up at the Factory. Sharon & I topped about 46 and cleared Montecito Peak without a boost. Ramero got us back to 36 and we reached across The Saddle to arrive on the western point of Castle Ridge just below ridge line. We were drifting away from the hill, which is not a good thing because if the hill was wicking, we should have been drifting in. Tried the middle knife edge spine and the next one also, but nada. Faded over the eastern spine of Castle Point (point 2) with 25 and across to a low bump in front of Point 3, but it was all smooth sailing. The drift was from the west but weaker as we got lower. We reached out, barely got around the corner of the mesa and bobbed over to the bump between Polo Ridge and Snowball, coming in about half way up. It was SW with some ridge lift for glide extenders. We tired a figure eight, but the math didn't work with the wing banked up. We reached pretty far out but saved enough to get around into the wind for smooth touchdown in a field about a hundred yards short of the NW corner of Carpinteria High School. Packed up quick hoping to catch a ride out with the UPS truck, but the driver was gun shy. Cut through the High School and left Sharon and the gear at the Boys club on 192. I hoofed it to Dariesa for my Toyota, collected Sharon, dropped the gliders at her house, switched vehicles after dumping her golf gear and other play toys, and headed for Ron & Bob who were kicking back with a bottle of wine enjoying the rain shower on Santa Clause Lane. Diablo reported in with the day's mark on 126 short of Fillmore. The happy hour was fabulous as Ron indicated in his posting. Took in the Sunset at SA's. The range was wet and golden with colorful green and brown contrast in the last rays of the day. |
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