Scratch, Scratch, Scratch

From: RF
Activity_Date: 2/4/2001
Remote Name: 209.86.220.101

Comments

It wasn't just the bugs. We did the walkup to "Noseeum Launch" this morning and patiently waited (while the bugs had us for breakfast) for some cycles to come through. Sundowner finally launched after an hour and immediately got low. But he finally connected out front and soared off toward the familiar points east to make it to Summit School. I was second to go. Although I got the best cycle and rose to 300 feet over within a couple of minutes, I then hit a lull and found myself battling to hang on with Art right over launch. We both got low, but I was scraping the bushes on tight turns just 150 feet over Highway 33! After announcing an early Nuthouse arrival, things turned slightly brighter. Fifteen more minutes of clawing around looking for twitching bushes and doing about a hundred figure eights, I was even with launch. I could even see the Noseeums on the faces of the pilots waiting to launch. Art and I transitioned up the ridge. Art, Bob and Bill climbed to the peak and flew out to Ojai; Powerline Bob got the best glide. I landed by Bodie's. Benson's excitement was limited to a close call with a van on Hwy 33.

Beer and pizza at Bocalli's were excellent.

Please send Sundowner any homespun remedies for multiple Noseeum bites.