Skyport Spring, Saturday 4/4

[faoro]

"March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb." Yesterday, Benson and I faced the lion as we rode bicycles across Camino Cielo from Parma to Painted Cave. The wind was howling out of the northeast at 40-50 mph, plenty to knock one off a bike at the gaps if you weren't careful. So I didn't expect to fly today when I called Debbie at 5 AM and the wind was still blowing in the teens. But Bob Hurlbett called me and we decided to watch it and wait for it to block. Despite a very respectable lapse rate, the air was remarkably hazy all morning in Santa Barbara. By 10 AM, the wind was in single digits, but it started blowing out of the east. After we both worked a couple of hours, we met at Parma Park. The wind was southwest at 5-8 now. Red tails were soaring above Parma. Two hang gliders could be seen at Eliminator. We decided to take a chance and head on up.

Ben and Lee were there with assembled hang gliders ready to go. The cycles were so strong, Bob thought it was wind. In twenty minutes, I was airborne, right behind the hangies. The thermals were fairly strong - kind of freeze you in the air and lift you straight up, no turns allowed; in no time I was at 4,700 over the R&R, being pulled hard toward the back ridge in the south wind. Came in very high over La Cumbre Peak, but the mixing air was a tad scary and I tried to make it work without going over the back. The hang gliders had a much easier time and continued west toward Alternator and the VOR. Bob had launched and struggled a bit in his first attempt at taming the larger Trango 3. He headed out front. By the time I left the rowdy air at La Cumbre, I could see Bob gaining altitude over the Riviera or Parma. A short rodeo at the R&R and I reached 5,100 feet. From my vantage point, I saw all of the newly green, spring backcountry and Lake Cachuma. Two more hang gliders at Eliminator now. I headed out front to find Bob and cruise downtown. Passed over the wharf with enough altitude to look like a speck from the harbor. Bob thermaled up to 3,000 feet above Parma and joined me at East Beach; we downed a pitcher and a half of beer watching the summer crowd from the East Beach Grill. Fantastic spring day - more lion than lamb - all things considered.

One hour flight.

[Parma Chris]

Nice write up,
Sounds like fun...<i think>
Good to have you back Ron.