Hallowed Sunday at Pine Mountain, Chief Encore

[faoro]

Copious praise is due Robb Milley, who has established his mistress, Rhonda, atop her throne at Pine Mountain. He popped her cherry yesterday, connecting her delicate, internal wiring to the outside elements. Her performance was electrifying. Much fanfare attended the ceremony, with boyish behavior and suitable christening acts not mentionable in this family forum.

Brendan, Taliban Chris, Tom Pipkin, Bob Hurlbett and I witnessed the event which will change our driving habits forever. No more guessing and B.S.'ing our interpretation of the weather at our favorite flying site. It is now reachable in a single click at http://scpa.info/weather/index.htm under "Observation" and then "Rhonda." She will faithfully maintain her position (and her dignity) in adverse conditions for the well-being of the Topa pilots. Congratulations, Robb.

After the big event, we drove to Chief Peak and flew in marginal conditions with tight circles of acrobatic precision until Bob and I tried some wing-walking over the LZ. I performed well in my subservient, "bottom" position, only to have Bob risk my life and limb by callously wrapping my wing around the back of his harness. Needless to say, we failed to pull off our intended "inverted flying link-up" and landed with our friends at the Propeller Field minutes later. It was Bob's fault.

Taliban Chris graciously drove down the mountain with Robb yelling at him from the air (Chris had no radio) to please take the gear nets off the top of the vehicle.

All honor to Princess Rhonda...

[bhurlbett]

I think somewhere in the California Vehicle Code there is an old rule of law that assigns fault to the guy in back who rear-ends the guy in front. In this case, the guy in front (me) was minding his own damn business while the guy in back (Ron) was admittedly distracted by something-- equipment, cell phone or, more likely, boredom caused by an hour or so of the Twin Peaks 500. Naturally, there was no camera handy to record the gentle mid-air bump about which my frail, 85-year old mother wouldn't have complained so.

By the way, Sara and I had a great time in Colombia, pictures to follow.

[faoro]

Well, that's a lawyer talkin' for you. All pilots know that the higher person takes the greater responsibility for collision avoidance. Besides, being kind enough to assume the "catcher" position, you'd think the least Bob could do was to perform like a gentleman up there.

When I get my Trango back from the dry cleaners, maybe we can have another go at this and we'll let Bob father the bottom baby.

[Dean S]

Matthau and Lemmon back at it again...this is getting good!

Where's the popcorn?