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The planets seemed to be having some trouble with alignment. Saturday was ok in Ojai, but Pine was a bit windy from the NW with a 9K lid. Edward was guiding a big crew from Sylmar but thought their trucks might be full. Hot weather for a hike to the Nut House. Tom Pipkin was badly hurt on Saturday, so our group enthusiasm was low and I couldn't find anyone who wanted to fly. Sharon offered to crew. There was a weak offshore trend at the surface, so I opted for Sylmar, hoping for an onshore / offshore convergence seam. A little late getting out the door. On the road a little before 9 am. On launch by 11. We can get to launch at Sylmar in about the same time it takes to get to Pine, if there is no traffic and you don't go the LZ first. I've always gone to the LZ in the past to check in, but since most of the Sylmar pilots were in Ojai and I don't land there anyway, we opted to go direct. It was hot on launch. Light over the back at 11, but starting to switch by 11:15. Initially a little from the east, but then more straight up. Good cycles by 11:45. One of Joe Greblo's students, Brad, was set up and waiting for better launch conditions. He provided wind dummy service about a quarter till noon. I followed a few minutes before noon. Flew through a few scraps on the way down the spine, mostly small and punchy, nothing worth turning in. Down to the last point and it looked like a flush might be in the cards. There was a light flow from the east so I opted to play across the canyon. Arrived well below the towers launch needing a thermal and got lucky. Scratched up and got a few hundred over the towers and went west bound with the flow from 36. I'd brought my camera, but Pipkin was on my mind and my bump tolerance wasn't up to letting go in the choppy air. Had Sharon's GPS, but didn't have it mounted well so I never looked at it. It did log my track, which is fun to look at afterward. The track log has few holes because the GPS got wedged beside my belly pack on occasion and apparently lost the satellite aqusitions. Got between 36 and 38 a couple of times. Thought I might be able to climb up the spine toward the back ridge, but wasn't sure about the heliport rules so I opted to stay out front. Came in low on the glides needing to get something right away, but always did. Eventually got far enough west of the Heliport to to play for the back ridge. Got back to some towers with some buildings, but could only get to 4K at best. Finally left eastbound with 38. Came in lower on the middle connection due to the light headwind, but got to the towers ok. Down on the low point on the spine below launch, but wiggled up. Tried for max altitude at launch, but couldn't get above 4K at 1 PM. Headed over to Trash and worked what I could eastbound to the Little Tujunga Canyon crossing. Went on glide with about 35. A bit low, so I initially headed directly across for the closest intercept at Limerock. The wind seemed to be less than typical and the glide was good so I adjusted my course for a more aggressive upwind intercept and came in on the back side of the ridge climbing up from the Herreres Ranch. Got around front and searched east but no luck and out of altitude so I had to head out. Got lucky and found a thermal down low out front and tracked back up the spine. Another low crossing at Big Tujunga Canyon with the associated marginal connection on the other side. Wiggled up and found a thermal that went to 38. I could step back to the higher terrain on the back ridge, but I hadn't been able to get much over 38 so I figured my altitude was worth more out front and went eastbound for the next spine. Got back to 38ish again, but the next jump looked iffy so I opted to give the high ground a try after all. Spend 5 or 10 minutes searching along the back ridge, but couldn't seem to make anything work and finally came back out front with a little less than I benched back with. Topped at 38 again and took it east. Couldn't make it work over the ragged broken spines with non descript triggers. Kept reaching around to the east below Lukins Mountain, but the terrain behind the Verdugo Mountains rises so I was getting pinched. Down below the level of the houses built up the side of the mountain. Threw in the towel and started looking for a place to land. Eyed the residential streets up on the hill side, but opted to head out and look for something toward flatter terrain. The options out front looked worse. No school yards or fields and the narrow residential streets had power lines. The last few streets near the top of the housing line were newer with underground utilities. I had enough altitude left to reach back up to the lowest street without power lines. Light drift from the east, so I approached uphill to the east. Picked up a light cycle from the west on short final so I impacted slightly downwind uphill without enough energy to rotate the flare. Bounced off the back protector to a standing position and the canopy came down in front. Collected a little road rash through the light gloves on my left hand and my heals were bruised for a couple of weeks afterward. About 10 past 2. As I was picking up, I eyed a patch of green grass in the front yard of the house on my downhill side. Lynn came out form her back yard draped in a towel to check it out. She and her husband Jim had been in their pool when Jim spotted me scouting out front for a place to land. I asked her if I could pack up in her yard. Lynn was excited to have drop in guest. She offered a beer and invited us for a swim. Gave Sharon a call on the cell phone and Lynn vectored her to the driveway about 5 minutes after touchdown. Lynn and Sharon are about the same size so one of Lynn's swim suits fit pretty good. Jim does part time real-estate appraisal and is a seasoned head coach for a prep school JV football team. There hospitality was terrific and we swapped life stories. The heat was oppressive, so we stayed in the pool till 4:30 and finally got on the road about 5ish. Stopped at the hospital to see Tom Pipkin. He'd hosted about 25 visitors during the day. There were still a few stragglers, but I think we were the last of the weekend. His spirits were good considering his predicament. The surgery went well, but it is a bad break so it will be awhile before they know how effective the reconstruction will be, and there is risk of infection. Tom took the first of two phone calls to let us know about the loss of EJ. Devastating news followed by fluxing emotion. My initial thoughts were of Sierra, and Susie, then his mother. Although I don't recollect meeting Sierra, having daughters about the same age was a common bond for us. His passing will haunt us for years to come, but I'll try and force myself to reflect on the boundless positive energy he continually injected into everyone he touched. Home about 8:30
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