tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25800250374351773152024-03-19T04:27:11.127-07:00Hawaii Thermal Research, Pemberton Testing FacilityA log of ongoing experiments in continental aerology conducted on tropical primatesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2580025037435177315.post-48979486219920396352012-08-12T08:52:00.001-07:002012-08-12T12:24:20.456-07:00Vindication, Hook Set, I am all InReluctantly I signed up for a comp. I was told by by my fellow airmen that it would improve my flying and I would learn something from the experience. Boy did that seem like a reach but I bit and signed up.<br/>
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As you may have read from the other logs my luck was just not kicking in and the mentoring other than Mr. Cortella was very minimal unless you pulled the pod of an ace that was willing to share some info. I got mixed info on the use of my good old garmin which still appears to be the industry standard even if its a back up.<br/>
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Task 5, the last one, my last chance to get up and go to at least one way point. I was in line and again dressed for battle. I looked over the fence and spotted CanadianMark, he was not in uniform. I said,"You not flying?" He replied "Not yet" and looked to the sky. Several wind techs and even more pilots had already launched. I poked my head out to get a look at the sky up and behind launch. There were only 3 or 4 gliders getting up. I immediately said thanks to Mark and stripped down, it's hot on launch.<br/>
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After 20 minutes with Larry readying my wing I left the hill for my final chance at task. The right side was not going off for me again but I hung in there and scratched my butt off. Finally I was above the crap and getting decent thermals, GPS was working and I had one eager ball.<br/>
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The start cylinder was ready to enter and exit so I headed off using the little circle to get the tangent that would lead me toward the 'Owl Peak' first point. I was high on my way into it but not enough. I dug in and finally I was turning with some of the big dogs. WayPoint 1, I was phsyched.<br/>
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I watched as a few headed across. Knowing my glide was not as good I continued to turn. Damn this is rowdy and a hell of a work out. Time came for the 2nd ball to start kicking in. It never came and the solo nut screamed lets go!<br/>
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I left my highest elevation ever looking deep into the valley where the big dogs have been playing all week. I wish I could have got my camera out. The multitude of glacier covered peaks were breath taking. Some day I would like to get to those bad boys but that will have to wait for the third ball.<br/>
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Getting closer to Miller Peak, point 2, I noticed the wind direction and the ridge that was approaching. I remembered Jorge's famous words, "Always go up the finger on the sunny side". Another glider was trying to do the same thing and others started to come into focus. Veering away from the cylinder did not seem right but sometimes you got to Zig in order to Zag. Cresting the ridge set my vario into strong beeps. Again I reached a point in which to turn. I was turning with one of the big dogs who later told me I was doing a great job. I had been worried that I was screwing him up.<br/>
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We turned together for a bit and then he peeled up further and I needed a few more turns. I should have followed him, he had disappeared. I could not see him anywhere. During our conversation later he caught an express to the heavens, I should have looked up, way up.<br/>
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I was alone in a strange place, I had tagged #2 and was looking across a huge valley to the other side. It was recommended to go back to Owl to bench up and then cross the valley again but furhter in to catch #3. I left Miller excpecting some rotor from the shady side.<br/>
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I arrived at the base of Owl. I have been here before and started scratching up. It was rocking and then it was dead. I was getting up but I felt beat up, this is hard w**k. I tried a few more passes then headed for a spot Dave had told me about. That did not work. I was furhter from the goal LZ now with only 2 waypoints. OH, don't get me wrong I was high as a kite just to get 1 but I got 2.<br/>
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With the thought of getting lower and the ominous river below I set out to find a barren field. I was getting a few beeps and then set Bruce up as my next waypoint. According to the Flymaster i had plenty of glide to make it so I left the scrags and boulders of the ridge to the hay field LZ. <br/>
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I was greeted at the LZ again by the smiling face of Larry but Dave was there too. They had been cheering me on as I passed over head. Needless to say I was pretty phsyched to have gotten where I did. <br/>
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I am not sure why people even ask, "Don't you get bored?" I used to say "Hell, no!". But now I just say ya you probably would not like it.<br/>
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I got some points ya. The party got moved to Mike's house and the awards were hadned out at midnight. Denise Cortel is the Canadian Champ and I thanked him again for all the tips, just wished I had gotten them earlier.<br/>
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Gotta go. Signing off from our favorite breakfast joint, Black Bird Bakery.<br/>
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It's Time to Fly, no points today, Getting my Gear and Going High!Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07508629374134042936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2580025037435177315.post-18162117343529329652012-08-11T09:18:00.000-07:002012-08-11T12:14:21.277-07:00Task 4: two in the dirt, one with a half loop, one in goal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This will be an informational update only. The funny story about a bear, a cooler and a Russian will come later today. The Task 4 day was super light. The views from launch are spectacular, but unfortunately my camera skills are lacking. Flystrong and Bonnie could do this place justice. And this computer I am using is not the easiest to see or type on so I want to make sure you all know that Alex is working overtime fixing these blurbs up.<br />
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Larry wind teched straight to the lower LZ, which did not get anybody up and running. Finally Alex (Nicole's Alex), with skills and zen like ability, got his Aspen 4 above launch. Feet started shuffling to the start gate. Jorge was off in his Peter Pan like launch. Dave was ahead of me but had a knot and stepped aside.<br />
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I launched perfectly and was getting lift straight off launch. But it was short lived, as the vaccum cleaner over the rock scrag sucked me to the tree line, the fate I had suffered the day before, and I headed toward low launch. This time me and at least 20 others were scratching, most to no avail. I did not know it, but Dave was just over my head and still scratching when I hit the dirt at the bombout LZ.<br />
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So Larry and I were off to Bruce, the goal LZ, to wait and watch for our team to arrive. Hey Joey, Larry finally bought me a Root Beer and you know it was pretty damn good. Almost washed away the saltiness of having dirted out. <br />
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Dave was the first to arrive after finishing only one loop of the trek to get him to 35 overall and Jorge came winging it in after doing the full tour to place him at 27 overall.Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07508629374134042936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2580025037435177315.post-85211282357296342052012-08-10T08:37:00.001-07:002012-08-10T12:06:36.893-07:00Larry Gets Paid for Time ServedTask 3 was initiated after a moment of silence for our fallen compatriot. It was a light day and the task they called was to be a long one but within the valley. My task was just to get up past Owl and at least take a peak at where the Big Boys fly.<br />
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The window was short so a long line of pilots were trying to squeeze into the start gate, sign in and then lay out and go. Larry was 'fluffing' wings and wishing he could fly. Suddenly a word from the driver commander, "Larry, we got enough drivers, you can fly." A big old smile from Larry was still glowing as I left launch.<br />
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Jorge finally fixed my GPS in a way that I could get to work. When I took my first turn toward the usual lift, it was working. I arrived over the rock scrag kinda low and got lower. Soon I realized those pebbles below me were actully big freaking boulders mixed with logs protruding like some old Rambo trap.<br />
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I barely made it out of there and headed toward low launch. Figures, I finally got the GPS working and couldn't get my ass high. Dirtying out in the regular LZ was now the plan. I did get a few beeps and screamed down to low launch that I was sorry for cloggin it up. There were some pilots there just looking to get a sledder to the regular LZ. I finally hooked a Punaluu snot rocket and it took me high enough to get back to the bigger lift.<br />
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Now, with the GPS working but the thermals not, I decided to just go tag the start cylinder and head up valley to see how far I could get. I was low the whole way and was glad I did not put on the heavy gloves but distressed at seeing a big gaggle on top 9of owl benching up to head to the next way point that I could see way off in the distance.<br />
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I got around the base of Owl low with absolutely no hope of getting higher from this altitude. I looked at the fields below and the river that swallowed a pilot a few days before. Play it safe, getting low, go land. I headed for a grassy field that had a glider in it already.<br />
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I got a ride back to the car and text Larry & Dave. I did not hear from Larry but did finally hear from Dave. He missed goal but tagged most of the waypoints. Dave was telling me his story over a beer. He was planning on an early ditrt but got lucky.<br />
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He was scratching low on the back of Owl with Sampson, who is a big flier here in a wheel chair. Finally a secret door opened for Dave that lead him up to a 8800 feet. He headed for the first turn point, Tender, which was many K away. He hit just under 10000 feet to make a turn at Tender and then headed to Camel Hump. Dave was lured by a gaggle of pilots to a point of no return. But, you know Dave, he was not going to go down in a field with them below Camel Hump, he pushed it just a little further for a few more meager points. <br />
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So, I picked up Dave and got this story. We headed for Vanloon LZ. I got out of the car and turned to see Larry smiling again. "What did you land here?!" Larry just smiled. "He finally spoke in his slow way, "No, not here." Deep down inside I was so jealous but when he said not here I was relieved but still happy for him. He then pointed down the road and said, "I landed in a field about 2K away". "WHAT!!!" This was about 10K further than where I set down for my longest jaunt. "Good for you, you bastard!" Larry was so happy he almost had a beer, but being a gentleman and relizing there was only enough for me, Dave and several other pilots, he declined.<br />
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Today is another day. I got my GPS working, winds are suppose to be a little stronger and I am wearing my warm gloves. Hopefully tomorrows rant will have me further down the road.<br />
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From Black Bird Bakery, "It's Time to Fly, Get Your Gear and Go!"Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07508629374134042936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2580025037435177315.post-38193313699616692722012-08-08T18:25:00.000-07:002012-08-09T12:11:59.174-07:00A Solemn Second Task<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I thought I had my GPS finally figured out, with some help from Riss: he jammed through it really fast and then showed me how to manually go to the next point. All right, I got this! Well, I got up again, super high, with Jorge as my wing man. I looked down at the GPS, and it was pointing to go to the third way point even though the start gate was not open yet. Shit! I can do this manually. NOT. Couldn't get it to work again. I am guessing the crack I gave it at Manics, many moons ago, must have rattled the inside, and when you reach elevation it goes quirky. I said the hell with it, and just tried to get high again. <br />
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It was tough going, but I decided to head low towards Frazer to bench up. Struggling in rocking wave-like thermals, I was going up, and got quite high, but not enough to peak out over Frazer.<br />
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A level 2 weather warning was called by a pilot over the regular LZ, as they described higher winds and an occasional dust devil. The predicted weather issues that we were all warned about at the start were taking form. The Whistler Express was starting, and I could see dark clouds coming into the valley, with one forming overhead. I headed out over the valley and made a buoyant descent to Bruce LZ, a familiar place. I landed amongst several other pilots who were calling it gnarly and also seeing the gray skies creeping towards us. Dave landed at Bruce as well after tagging a few way points.<br />
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Kaaawa Larry has become our private limo driver, showing up out of nowhere just as we land. Just for you, Joey! Still no root beer, but Reaper did have a few Canadian cans of good stuff in his cooler that I was willing to relieve him of.<br />
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We packed up and headed for the goal LZ to watch the Big Dogs come in. The storm was approaching at a faster rate than had been predicted. Larry and I watched a pilot soar over us towards the storm to tag the last waypoint before turning back to the goal LZ. Reaper stated that there were a few pilots still not accounted for. Larry and I moved down the LZ for a better view of the valley and we had three in our sights. They were having a hell of a time trying to get to the LZ.<br />
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Streaks of lightning lit up the valley, and a few drops of rain hit the LZ. The Task had been called. Two pilots made it to the LZ, and just about kissed the ground they landed on. The pilot that had headed back to Owl to tag the last turn point was getting higher and more out of control. We watched him start to get lower as he pushed out into the valley. He got lower and then started to disappear from our sight as the Whistler Express gusts came screaming through at 30 mph or more.<br />
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Pete had already mobilized knowing the pilot was in trouble. The rest of us followed down the one road out. What a change in the weather, though it had been predicted and was well visible from the sky, with pouring rain and gusts that you could lean into. This was not going to go well for the pilot. I thought I spied him in a field, so I jumped out of the car and ran to find a strawberry cover that was whipping in the wind.<br />
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We headed back to headquarters and got a report that a pilot had landed in the river. We have been looking at this river from above and driving alongside it all week. No way was anyone going to survive a plunge into this swift flowing glacier fed river. Time went by, and the information started to filter in. An eyewitness saw him plunge into the river after his glider appeared to do a straight down plummet. His wing wrapped him up and he was gone from their sight.<br />
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The race was suspended Wednesday as they searched for the pilot. Any last hopes were dashed when they found his lifeless body. Pete was present as they pulled him out from under a log jam but then he slipped away downstream, and the SARS boat crew retrieved him. Pete took it hard.<br />
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Quite a few of us decided to get a flight in, with the next day’s weather not looking so good. It was a scratcher, and flying over the fated river was eerie. We all landed in the regular LZ, and it was quite a sight to see so many examples of Alex’s new ride coming in. That purple color is really the best, but just to let you know, the nickname for it here is Fruit Loop, so be prepared for some cereal comments, Mr. President!<br />
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With two tasks done, Jorge is ranked 30th, and Dave is 36th overall. Of course Dave is in serial class with his Mantra 4, and Jorge is in sport class with his Aspen 4. I scored the start cylinder and that was it - I had a score but now it's gone.<br />
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So this story is being filed in a solemn mood. There was no excuse for this loss, though we've all seen how sometimes goal seems to take precedent over judgement. As everyone here has said, a few points, a glass vase, or a big pat on the back are not worth your life. Everyone, please fly safe, have fun and live to fly tomorrow.<br />
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Our regards and condolences go out to the pilot's family. May his final flight be peaceful. Aloha.Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07508629374134042936noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2580025037435177315.post-56885069274520435142012-08-06T08:07:00.002-07:002012-08-06T10:15:13.938-07:00One Ball at a Time<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3anngJmjEcAqPwyrW5ev5Rr5XWZNPJOr8N17QSqz7zwsPvVuRvU5pzkQDEIvjSwONrMRbDT0kX81Lt4Wf5qecyHU60EP0dxZ8GsH40ukyrcy9lPd5CWv0CGG8bNdtQCkjhAk6zr1S6j4x/s1600/LeftNutGrew.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3anngJmjEcAqPwyrW5ev5Rr5XWZNPJOr8N17QSqz7zwsPvVuRvU5pzkQDEIvjSwONrMRbDT0kX81Lt4Wf5qecyHU60EP0dxZ8GsH40ukyrcy9lPd5CWv0CGG8bNdtQCkjhAk6zr1S6j4x/s200/LeftNutGrew.JPG" width="200" /></a>I got my first task ever on Saturday, the practice day. Still not sure how to work the GPS tasking part, but I launched any way. Another perfect launch and got up quick.
There were not too many pilots flying this day so the crowd factor was not too bad for me. I finally had enough elevation to make the first little hop down the ridge to Fraiser peak. I said little hop - about the distance from Kahana to Kualoa. Like crossing the bay it has been a hard one. The right lie and enough thermals to keep you afloat till the 'Bermuda Triangle'.<br />
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I did not even make the first turn point, but was happy of the progress I made grabbing these thermals. After landing, I heard from a few pilots how hard it was today up there. I didn't think it was that bad, then I had a look at the crotch of my pants which had a hole. At first in dismay but that soon turned to excitement. Finally, one ball is finally growing back!<br />
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Saturday night we went to Whistler to pick up KLarry. Reaper, Harvey, Dave, Larry and I were cruising Whistler in the BRONCO.<br />
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First day of the comp I had had some help with the GPS. Now having the way point cylinders and tracking on, maybe I would make a stab at a waypoint. Another great launch and got to my highest elevation, 7,200 over launch. The start cylinder was just a squeak into the valley so I knew I could get that.<br />
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I looked down at the GPS - it wanted me to go to the 4th way point, 'CamelHump'. The fat fingered gloves I am wearing did not make it easy to operate and I tried several times to adjust to the proper waypoint with no avail. I lost a bunch of altitude and watched most of the pilots drift off toward a very long away point.
I gave up on the GPS and diverted my effortrs to getting back up. I circled and sank for over an hour Never reaching that 7K again so I tried to push on to see if I could get some more growth.<br />
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While making my way up towards Fraiser I spied a glider and reserve in a tree below me. Oh, I had left my radio in the car so I had one of Reapers with a low battery so I had it off. I turned the radio on to find that there had been 3 reserve deployments and soon I was getting bounced over a second reserve in a tree. Now, with this information I headed out over the valley to an LZ that I could see others landing at.
I hovered in to land safely as a 4th deployment was announced along with another glider down slighly over the back in cougar country.
I was glad to be on the ground.<br />
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One of the pilots that had reserved was the one that told us the night before about tree kits. He did jinx himself by stating that he never had to use it.
Jorge and Dave were close to goal when they called the task due to the helicopter coming in to pull out at least 4 of the pilots that were downed. the girl pilot hiked out, then went back with her boyfriend to pull the glider out. Good thing it stays light till around 9pm or so.<br />
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So Day 1 brought no turn point for me, and I did not even bother submitting the GPS. Hopefully I will get some more info on this today.
So far this comp is not as organized as Rat Race. The fee apparently only included the T-shirt, a pen and a map. Oh, and a burger last night for our Opening Dinner that Duck would have been turning his nose up at. Rides to launch are $20.00 a ride. Breakfast at the Golf Course where we are camping is $10.00 for the buffet and does not include coffee.<br />
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No internet at the Golf Course - they maxed out their IP allocation. I am sure Jeff could fix that.
I will try to sneak off in the mornings to Black Bird Bakery to scratch down updates.<br />
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If I am stupid on the GPS today, I will at least try to get the camera out. The pictures will not do justice to the beauty of these mountains, which I can compare to Kansas but different &hellip; and there's no wine at the LZ. The beer here will keep you sober only cause it is so damn expensive.
That's all for now.<br />
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It's Time to Fly Sew up my Pants, Get My Gear and Go!Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07508629374134042936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2580025037435177315.post-72682859980430867752012-08-04T10:02:00.003-07:002012-08-04T12:14:57.408-07:00Trains, Bears, and MosquitoesDave and I arrived in Vancouver bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready for an adventure. It started with the rental car: they gave us a mini coupe. Although we thought it would be cool, after a quick look at our gear and the prospect of picking up more, plus Jorge, we realized an upgrade would be needed.
We stopped first in a local Super Canadian, their version of a Walmart. Although there are Walmarts up here too, we thought we would give the Canadian version a try. We loaded up with camping supplies and headed to the North American Alps.
As we grew closer to Pemberton, the views were apparent. This is big air country. We both exclaimed, “This is gorgeous!”<br />
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Dave talked to Jorge and got some ‘Venezuelan’ directions and somehow we headed toward launch instead of the LZ meeting place. Ironically the road to launch is called Pemberton Farm Road E and the road to the LZ three miles away is called Pemberton Farm Road. I thought Hawaii roads were tough.
We were talking and came to a Rail Road Crossing. I told Dave, “I think these trains are still active we better look”. He did the quick stop and look, crossed and continued on up the road. Up the road it was and we realized this was not the right way, so a U-turn was performed.
We again were talking; imagine that me talking, as we approached the same rail road track. Suddenly, we were silenced by three loud blasts. I looked at Dave, he had the face of Wile E. Coyote as he slammed on the breaks and skidded toward the tracks. A string of cars being pulled by four locomotives polished our bumper. “Holly Shit that was close!” I cried as the engineer gave us a wave. Dave’s response, “I should have went for it, now we got wait 20 minutes for this thing to pass.”<br />
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We finally met up at the LZ with Jorge, where we were asked if we wanted to go to launch and get a flight. After a quick scramble and rearrangement of the luggage we were off to launch with Fred at the helm. I though Dave’s driving was crazy. Fred zoomed up the hill bottoming out the SUV several times and jostling my over filled bladder.
When I got to the top I jumped out to relieve myself and readjust my kidneys. Poor Fred, overheated his vehicle and was loosing fluid. I guess I should have saved my bladder fluid to fill his radiator cause donations from our water bottles was all that was on launch.<br />
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Now for the flying, Part I of many I hope. The launch is spectacular and typical to European launches with a grass lay out wide enough for 3 to 4 wings. Today’s thermals were consistent and perfect everything was just right, I got nervous and headed for the out house.
Jorge was the first to launch to show us the way. We watched for a bit, then Dave laid out and took off. I was next there were three of us looking at each other and the pilots to my left and to my right said in unisone, “You go first.” I did and had an awesome controlled launch (thanks sensei). Kevin was close at my heals as we turned right toward a house thermal.
I got lucky as Ike would say and caught a couple of well timed bullets to get on the top of the stack. Finally up high enough to get some turns and relax, I looked around. This place is awesome, the mountains are spectacular. You will have to take my word for it for now, I left my camera in the trunk.<br />
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I stayed local but did tempt fate by trying to meander over to another ridge where I spied 2 orange and purple IP6 wings. I hope to be following those colors more often. I did not make it over to them so I turned back to bench up and play with this spectacular boyant air.
Growing tired from my trip I made it over the LZ to watch Dave zoom in. I came in with a nice controlled, fast, approach and stuck a nice landing. Dave was congratulating me on my high flight as a pilot in an Aspen 4 came winging it over to land, it was a typical Jorge landing. What a great start and the forecast is nothing but beautiful big air for at least the next 4-5 days. I will be needing lots of mountain money.<br />
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On our drive to Reaper's Cabin we had to lock up the brakes for an oversized Kui: a large black bear meandered across the road. It was a long scenic drive and we didn't see a house, cabin or even a tent for miles. Finally, we arrived at Reaper's subdivision. I looked left up a driveway, "Stop! That's Harvey."
We pulled in, had a couple of beers and some dinner, watching the sun set around 9 pm or so. Then some long needed sleep.<br />
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Today's another day and I will try to come to this coffee shop, Black Bird Bakery, where the staff, coffee and baked goods are fantastic.<br />
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It's Time to Fly Getting my Gear and Going......eh!Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07508629374134042936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2580025037435177315.post-84647378681553526942012-08-02T23:57:00.002-07:002012-08-03T02:54:49.265-07:00Down and Dirty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This will be the down and dirty cause I'm typing on my phone. Great first flight at Pemberton today. Approximately 2 hour flight downrange to the north, about 13 miles away from launch. Strong thermals, increased my bump tolerance and great practice at active flying. One pretty good collapse but didn't look up in time to see it. Got a little over 7 grand. Landed in a hay field (just harvested). Flew with about 30 pilots including CJ and George. They said to say hello to everyone. Uploaded a few pics but can't attach them. [Consider them attached - Editor.] Can't wait to do it again tomorrow.Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850908736632776002noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2580025037435177315.post-91899670437666842772012-08-02T12:42:00.005-07:002012-08-03T02:57:29.006-07:00Data Collection Log<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thom asked me to set up this online log as a repository of data from the upcoming Thermal Research experiments he will be conducting at our remote Pemberton Testing Facility, along with the other Hawaii monkeys: Dave, Jorge, Pete, Kevin, Harvey, Larry and possibly others. I hope the data presented here will be detailed and timely, with copious illustrations and other visual documentation! Good luck guys and have fun! Fly safe, high and far!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0