Easter Ridge Rats

[oj]

Figured the mountains were a no-go with a low cloudbase so I gathered my gear and my Better Half for a run to Bates. Nobody there when I arrived but it looked pretty good so I gave it a shot. A little too cross for the top ridge but the lower one was pretty fat, giving an easy 100-200 over. Pilots started to trickle in and got pretty fun with Doug G. and some guy on a white/yellow Up joining me for some no stress flying. I soon noticed something big in the water just past the surf line and at first I thought it was part of a reef but then saw a spray come out of it. Hey cool, a whale! He was close enough in to fly out over the water and look straight down at before running back to the ridge to tank up on altitude and do it again. Anyway, I'm not sure who the Up guy was but he was always over the top of me and making it look easy. Curious thing, he always turned to the right, never to the left. Who was that guy?

[Shadmp]

Could it Be.........is pipkin back in the air????? Congratulations Tom. I'm glad to hear you are back flying. I'm sure your sanity needed it! I can't wait to be in the air flying with you again. Woodrat, here we come.

[Tom Pipkin]

Thanks Shad.
Ridge soaring doesn’t really hold my interest very long, but the whale sure did. I had no idea that they came in that close or that shallow. It stayed right below us for at least 30 minutes.
Shortly after we landed, 2 hangies (Hammer and ?) flew in from the mountains. Hammer turned the corner at Bates with over a grand and headed towards Ventura. The mystery pilot was lower and had to put it down on the beach. Nice job!