Skyport Friday the 31st

[Chip Bartley]

interesting flight yesterday with Faoro. We went to the Skyport around noon wondering if it was launchable and jonesing to fly the mountains. When we arived the temp was off the hook and cycles were coming in quite nice. We had hope and lined up the gliders with the attitude that a sled ride would be fine. Ron launched on the first pull up (first time I ever witnessed that) and I launched right behind him also on the first up. Ron got about 200' above launch and went on glide for the round house. I was able to make one pass and made the decision to head out. The glide was surprisingly boyant and I hit the Roundhouse as Ron was on his way back from the antennas with the report of no lift. As I passed over the round house I made one pass and was to close to chance another. headed toward parma and experienced something never before seen in my 3 short years. My vario was makeing the unwanted buurrrrrrr sound of about 800 down and didn't stop until I was almost to St. Mary. No way would Parma of worked. Ron was close behind and we landed with no problem. Thats when the fun began as we packed and started the hike to Parma. I had planned the night before to hike the Nut HOuse with Art and Andy and opted out due to heat and Knees. Thank God. Ron and I where like the Orthopedic surgeons jackpot. Rons knoee gave out about 5 times by my count and mine was snapping like the sound when you make pop corn. We made it to the car and headed up the hill to retrieve my truck. Over all i would say it was a stellar day and I'm sure Ron would agree. I love this SHI?. Good conversation Ron. cant wait till next time.

cb

P.S.

We all need to plan a big old Pine reunion as soon as the roads open. i don't know about ya'll but I sure miss the non-stop comedic rides up the hill and the awesome fun we all have playing in a great back yard.

[faoro]

We could have flown naked, but we didn't. It was above ninety degrees at Skyport - fine for a pool party/barbeque. I had been watching the Montecito station reporting temps in the low hundreds the last couple of days while La Cumbre Peak was merely 85 to 90 degrees, so I thought there might have been room for some thermal activity. Chip and I were as excited as two boys playing hooky from school and going on an adventure as we unloaded gear from his truck at launch. With zero mountain flights in the last three months and only a couple of trips to More Mesa, I felt like I did on my first few flights from Skyport ten years ago. What a rush to relive all that anticipation and excitement. Like a crust of bread to a hungry man, it seemed tantalizing to think that we were going to be able to fly! How we all take it for granted most of the time.

It was so much fun to feel the lift and get above launch. I stayed there for ten minutes before having to leave. Twenty minutes in front of the Roundhouse, I hung on in the small, high-pressure stuff. Then a very hot packing up of gear on the ground before Chip and I walked off talking about how we were way too old and beat up to ever handle landing out anytime in the future. Not a long flight, but definitely had the flavor of a Tom Sawyer - Huckleberry Finn adventure.