Alternator for Monday

[Kabir]

Man I had such a great day flying today.
The day was calm and clear, maybe not the best of lapse rates, but how could we not go?
(Im just previewing this post.. its way too long... but I dont want to edit it... gotta go to bed.. sorry)

On the way up on the Eagle van I asked Clyde to tell me about flying Choppers.
So he told me about a flight hovering 3 feet over the ground wearing NVGs and how he almost ate it then.
I knew it was going to be a good day after that!

Cycles where consistent, although not too strong.
My vario decided to run out of juice right then and at first I swore at it only to remember that it was WAY better than to have it die 5 min after takeoff right?
(come on! its been ONLY 5 years since I changed them last...)

Anyways, Kevin M launched first and I followed (with new batteries) and we just bobbed around launch.
Not really getting very high.
He tagged WB and came back to launch showing that It was just as "good" here as there.

I was getting around 35 or so, but not enough for me to consider going anywhere.

I felt the day was still getting better so I played the patience game.
At some point I got kinda flushed and barely made it over the Landslide and then worked my way back up and back to launch but not getting anywhere past 35.
I was about to complain on the radio about this but right then I got to 38 then 39 and so I tool it and left for cathedral.
I had a slight headwind but it was buoyant enough that 1/2 bar kept me on a good glide.
There I got back up to 38 after a bit so went for the RR
It was working alright.
I just love flying over the rocks towards the top!
They are so awesome..

Said hi to a hiker(gotta mind your manners right?) on my way to skyport and kept going to the T factory.
There I got to thermal up close w/ 2 hawks.
At one point we where flying at each other.
A bit like playing chicken, but he turned (to the right as supposed) and we kept on thermaling
It is such an amazing thought to know that we get to fly WITH BIRDS!!!
Is this cool or what?!?!

I waited for a while hoping to get high enough to feel comfortable to make a play for montecito.
At the same time, I was considering gliding to the beach or (do I dare) head back to west-bowl.

since I had no ride and gliding is fun, but flying is better I headed back. Besides, I had the wind on my back!

So the glide back was quite enjoyable. with nice thermals, drifting the way I was going.
I was wondering If I should have just committed and taken a stab at Montecito because the day felt good all of a sudden. But too late. coulda-shoulda dont count...

As I was nearing alternator again I heard Kev and Co just arriving to get the cars.

I drifted to WB and I realized that i have not flown at west-bowl at that time of the day
The sun had moved and the landslide was all shaded so things where working differently.
I had to reset my brain to not fly in auto, which made it very interesting.
After I got back to 36 in slower thermal I left again for cathedral.
How could I not? it had been so fun and beautiful.
Besides the beach sounded good now.
The glide to Cathedral was not as good this time around.
Less lift and a bit more wind left me kinda low, but worked the light lift to get me to 35 I think.
There I made the 1st of 2 decisions that left me where I ended.
I chose to take the safe route (thinking it would still work... because it was working earlier right?) and headed for the Tit.
I got there high enough but there was not much to turn into.
I hesitated and did not take my last chance to for for the RR but kept going towards the Holyhills.
There, without any lift made a play for the round house. but got nothing.
Hoping for one last thermal I kept looking towards the Antenna farm knowing that i was getting low.
(Come on! you got a pod... you can get to parma...)
Then i kept hoping (but hope dont fly much really) and made one last hopeless play for the rock.
And nada.....
So then I mashed the bar and bee-lined for the monastery (like I always do, there is loads of sink below parma right?
But at this time is not so bad and I could have just gone straight there but i did what i always do rather than what I should have done.
So i landed short, just below the lip at Parma.

Like any good flying day I had to wait for almost an hour to get picked up.

So in the end I got to fly for just under 3 hrs but only 30 min down the road...
But man was it fun!

[Dave Baldwin]

Great post Kabir!!!!

Inspiring as always...amazing flight..great write-up!

Thanks!!!

[Ramey]

As luck would have it, I was hiking with my wife yesterday. We stopped at the skyport for lunch and I took this photo