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April 1982

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Goat Rock Opening

New Comet

Reno Trip

Hank's Tandem

High at Elk

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Volume 28

Volume 27b:

March 28, 1982 to June 7, 1982

Sunday, March 28, 1982 - 3:50 PM

Bones called Saturday morning to make sure I didn't want to go to Elk, but I was pretty tired, had also decided to work on the yard with Meredith for part of the day.

Heard later that they'd (Bones, Stretch, and James) had flights of an hour or so, that it had been pretty good early, but had "fallen apart" after awhile and gotten turbulent.

Meredith and I stopped over at Anne's in the morning to borrow their lawn mower and drop off Goat Rock materials. Then we came home to work on the yard. I manned the mower, reclaiming the backyard from the jungle, then the front yard.

The weather today's been unsettled, with rain last night and showers today, and quite windy.

Sunday, April 4, 1982 - 9 AM

On Thursday evening we had Sharol and Bones over for our first "dinner party." Meredith made a delicious pasta dinner, and we had a very nice time.

More later.

Monday, April 5, 1982 - 10:20 PM

Anyway I still have to cover Thursday night with Bones and Sharol; Saturday, going flying at Goat Rock with Jon James; Sunday, the first sunny day in a while, and a beautiful "opening day" at Goat Rock for Sonoma Wings.

Going to bed now, hope to catch up a bit tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 6, 1982 - 11:55 AM

On Thursday evening, we had a nice dinner party with Bones and Sharol. Meredith prepared a delicious meal of pasta and salad, and we all had good conversation. Sharol helped Meredith, while Bones and I talked about hang gliding before dinner.

They wanted to see the film, so I got out the projector, but the bulb burned out before we started. So we looked at the film on my film editor. Sharol didn't ask me to cut out her brief segment (of her crash), but hoped it wouldn't get shown again and again. So after the first club showing of new films, I'll cut it out. They left about 10:30, and we went to bed.

On Saturday afternoon, it was still very overcast, but not raining, and I thought of checking out Goat Rock to see if it was soarable. But I was ambivalent about it, called Bones, then Jon.

Jon was more up for it, and after awhile we decided to go check it out. But since we had a dinner date with Meredith's friends in Guerneville at seven, we'd go by separate cars.

Jon would pick up Bones, but Bones later decided not to go. So Jon arrived at Goat Rock by himself after I had my Raven almost set up, as, to our pleasant surprise, the wind was 15 to 20 knots from the NW, with no squalls in sight.

Jon helped me launch from the North launch at 5:05, and I went right up and proceeded to soar the bowl for awhile. He was ready to launch in about half an hour, and we soared together for a few passes.

Then Jon headed downwind to the south end, through the turbulence behind the Rock, to the bluffs near the south launch, and proceeded to get much higher there.

So I decided to head down there also, and made it okay, but had doubts about making it back, but could, if necessary, land on the beach at the south end.

Got higher there and explored some of the ridges there. Jon got really high and headed back to the north, had enough altitude to make it in his Comet.

I tried also, but had trouble penetrating with my Raven, then got to the turbulent area, was sinking out, so turned back to the south bluffs.

Since the wind was picking up, I decided to land soon, while I still could, so lost altitude in front of the ridge, got down in front of it over the ocean, came in fast, picking a clear wide piece of beach, turning into the wind at the last moment, and made a fine landing at 6:05, for a one hour flight.

Meredith walked up the beach to where I was packing up my glider, and she helped me carry it all the way up the beach to the parking area. Just as we got there, a squall hit and we got soaked. Jon was still packing up his glider and also got soaked.

Soon we said good-bye to him and headed for Guerneville, late for our dinner date, but with me feeling quite elated over my flight, the first legal one at Goat Rock.

Right now it's hailing outside, which has been quite common recently.

On Sunday morning, to our pleasant surprise, we found blue skies in all directions, for the first time in weeks, or so it seemed.

But it was too nice a day to miss flying, and everyone was planning to go out and fly at Goat Rock. I called a bunch of people to tell them about it.

Meredith said she didn't feel up to it, would rather take it easy at home, but Mary wanted to go, and Dennis had to work, so she went with me.

We left around noon, arrived at Goat Rock to see Stretch, Anne, James, and Joe all soaring high above the south bluffs. On the ground, still, were Jon, Bones and Sharol, Hank, Dan and Anita, Dick Fugett, and eventually, Charlie Carlson, and lots of spectators, who were very much interested in our activity.

More later, got to get back to work now.

5:30 PM

I was busy at Goat Rock issuing membership cards and collecting dues for awhile, but finally got started setting up my glider.

Jon helped Dick Fugett launch. Dick was supposed to stay in front and go to the beach, as he was only a hang-2, but he got turned south, headed into the turbulent area behind the rock, and ended up landing on the beach, fortunately without being hurt, but giving us all a scare.

Other gliders had made it up north, including Joe in a Sensor, from the south bluffs. He then proceeded to fly out to soar the rock itself, as well as do a bunch of steep turns, impressing the spectators.

James and Stretch also made it up, then turned down to the south bluffs again. This had apparently inspired Dick to attempt to fly down there, beyond his skill level. Jon was pissed at him too, told him not to fly again, when he got back up.

Soon Hank launched, also headed down to the south bluffs, getting trashed by the turbulence on the way.

I decided that I'd stay in the NW bowl rather than head downwind, as I knew I wouldn't be able to get back with my single surface glider, and I didn't want to have to carry my glider a long way again.

Mary helped me launch, and I had a good one at 2:50. I soared the bowl a hundred feet or two over for two hours, joined by Charlie Carlson and briefly by Jon James, who then headed south, but was able to make it back after getting very high. It made me look forward to having my new Comet, which should be coming any day now.

But I had fun flying back and forth over the spectators, many of whom were taking pictures. Also waved to some little kids, who enjoyed the attention.

Mary took a roll of movie film, mostly of me, and Meredith had also taken some on Saturday.

Finally everyone else landed on the south beach, so I got ready to land to the north. Mary went down to the beach to get it on film. Made a nice landing down by the parking lot after avoiding some kite strings. Flared hard, popping up but coming down softly, a good landing at 4:50, for a two hour flight.

Packed up my glider, and talked with Charlie, who also landed there. He's considering getting a new Duck, and said that Ivan had ordered a Harrier II, from Hang Gliders West, evidently.

Mary enjoyed her day there, was cheerful and helpful, also felt she'd be able to fly to the beach from the NW bluff sometime.

We said good-bye to Hank, Jon, Bones, and Sharol (the others had already left). Bones hadn't flown because they found that Sharol's pip pin was defective, so he gave her his.

She had a good flight, but put the nose of her glider in the water on landing, had turned into the wind too soon. Got the sail full of sand, which Bones was pissed about, made her clean it out herself.

Came on home after dropping Mary at her house. Meredith was feeling better but still sick, was considering skipping her trip to Berkeley on Monday.

Stopped off to see Mel yesterday after work, taking him his membership card and Goat Rock rules.

Bones called me this morning to tell me the news of my glider. It was due to be finished today, test flown tomorrow, and shipped Thursday, so I should have it by the weekend if all goes well.

That about catches me up.

Tuesday, April 13, 1982 - 7:20 AM

I was disappointed that my new glider didn't arrive on Friday. It was supposed to have been shipped on Thursday. But actually it was just as well, since it rained all weekend (and is still raining).

So I spent a quiet weekend at home alone in the rain. I finally finished reading George Worthington's book, In Search of World Records, then started editing my films, looking for the best segments to put together on one film.

Back to work on Monday. The glider still didn't arrive, but it was still rainy. I'm sick of this rainy season, twice the seasonal norm, but prospects are for a dry weekend coming up.

Our Sonoma Wings meeting is tonight at Eric Havstadt's house.

Sunday, April 18, 1982 - 8:30 PM

Also my new glider arrived on Tuesday. I left work at four, to go over to Bones' to see it, and was very much pleased. It was raining, so it was set up in the garage, but not fully extended.

Wednesday was also overcast and unsettled, so I didn't go flying, but on Thursday I planned to take the afternoon off. Was just getting ready to head out to Goat Rock with Bones, when Stretch called, said he and Roy had just been out there, and it was blown out.

We thought it would be better on Friday, but we got out there around one to find it blowing up to 45 or 50. Also there were Stretch, Anne, Roy, Bones, Mel, and others. It was disappointing. We decided to go to Usal over the weekend, thinking it would be good there.

Anyway, Bones and I left Goat Rock Friday afternoon, decided to check out Pete Webber's hill, as it was SW and fairly light inland. We needed a place for Bones to test fly my glider.

Pete said okay, though he's been having "too many" people coming out recently. It seemed mellow there, definitely launchable, so we set it up, and Bones got ready.

He had a good launch, but down the ridge he hit some turbulence, got blown towards the hill, but recovered okay, made a long windy flight but had a decent landing.

But there was turbulence, and after the long carry back up, we decided not to fly again in those tricky conditions. Folded it up, and I brought it home, planning to go to Usal in the morning.

Meredith couldn't go, as she had other plans, to celebrate Greek Easter with her friend Merto, and to run in a race on Sunday with Vincent in Golden Gate Park.

I left Saturday morning with Bones for Usal. Arrived around 1 PM to find a sea of whitecaps and Mel soaring above. Stretch, Anne, and Roy were at the lower knoll, as it's rounded, provides a better launch, but it was gusting to 35, and Mel was getting bounced around up there.

I set up my Comet, but by the time I had it ready, Mel landed and the others started folding up their gliders, deciding not to fly. Bones and I stayed with the gliders, while the others went down to the beach.

It became clear that the wind was coming too much from the north, or even NE, was too gusty, and that the landing area would all be to the lee of that large hill across the beach, not a good situation.

I feel I might have flown in my Raven, but not with a new and unfamiliar glider, especially when Roy and Stretch weren't even going to.

Eventually, we all went back up to the upper camp area, where we built a fire and I set up my tent. We all cooked hot dogs and such for dinner, and consumed a few beers. It got quite chilly in the north wind, so we went to bed early just to get warm, around 8:30.

I was snug and comfortable in my tent and slept well. Got up around eight, to another sunny but windy day.

By ten, we'd eaten breakfast, folded up our tents and gear, and watched the weather for awhile, eventually deciding it would be a repeat of Saturday, as the wind was very northy, and the sea was soon filled with whitecaps.

So Bones and I left at 10:30 after the others had left. We decided to go down the coast to Goat Rock and see if it was flyable. We were traveling with Mel and Lynne, and we occasionally stopped to check out spots along the way.

The wind got increasingly stiff from the north, probably 40 and above at various places we checked, including the park above Point Arena where we'd stopped before (22.48 MENdocino marker).

Finally got to Goat Rock, where we found James. It was pretty stiff there, but he measured it at 25 to 27 at the best launch area, too much for me with a new glider, but doable for him on a Comet 135.

So Bones and I agreed to help him set up and launch, which was difficult in that much wind. But he got set up as the spectators gathered, filling the whole parking lot.

Then we moved him over to the launch area, each holding two wires. Finally at launch, when he said "clear," we let go, and he went straight up, a good launch.

But he could hardly penetrate to the north, was pulled in quite a bit most of the time, but was doing okay. We said good-bye to his wife, Sandra, and headed on home, quite tired.

I unloaded, watched some news, 60 Minutes, then took a bath. Meredith got home a little while ago. She'd had a nice weekend, and had done well in the race.

Sunday, April 25, 1982 - 9 AM

By Tuesday, I'd had my new Comet a week, but still hadn't flown it yet, so I arranged to leave work at four and go out to Goat Rock to fly it. Bones met me out there, and Meredith came with me. Jon also arrived a bit later, but didn't bring his glider.

The conditions were just what I'd hoped for, a 2 to 5 knot NW wind, just right for a straight flight to the beach from the NW launch. Took the first flight at about 5:50, then carried the glider up the hill for a second flight, with a bit of help from Jon.

But on top now, the windsock was almost dead from the south, as the wind had quit. So I launched from the SW slope, turned right, behind Goat Rock and on down to the beach.

On both flights my landings were poor. There were people on the beach to avoid, and I didn't have a good feel for how far I'd go. Then as I got down into ground effect, slowing down, the glider wanted to yaw into the wind, towards the ocean, so I flared while turning and nosed in both times. Packed up as it got dark, and we went home.

On Thursday, Mary went with me to Goat Rock, after I took off work at four again. Got out there at 5:10 or so to find perfect conditions and no other gliders. Bones didn't come. Jon did, but didn't bring his glider, just brought his dog to walk on the beach. Anyway it was coming up about 12 to 15 knots from the NW.

So I set up, and Jon helped me launch about 5:45. I immediately soared, made a couple of passes, and was high above the launch area. Spent an hour learning the new glider.

Stayed in the north bowl for the most part, until Jon went walking back along the road to the south, holding a handkerchief to show me the wind direction, so I decided to try to go to the south end, and did. There was some turbulence to go through in the wake of Goat Rock, but it wasn't bad.

After making a few passes at the other end, I turned around to see if I could make it back, and I was able to. At 6:45, I knew I only had a little more daylight left, so headed north for a beach landing.

Came out high, made a couple of passes above the low dunes in front of the parking lot, then made a perfect landing on the beach. Felt very good about my new glider and the flight. Jon said he wasn't going to come out again without bringing his glider.

Went out there again Friday night. Jon rode with me. Nancy would come out later. Again we got there a little after five, and found good soaring conditions, though the wind may have been a bit more northerly and not quite as strong.

Bones was soaring the north bowl when we arrived. Dick Fugett was also there, getting ready to launch, with Sharol helping him.

We got set up, and I helped launch Jon first. Then I got Sharol and Dick to help me launch, had a good one, with each of them holding a wing wire.

Soared the bowl awhile, then went downwind to the south after Jon, but this time it wasn't so easy to get back. I watched Jon try, then turn back before getting too low, then tried to do it myself.

I started losing altitude as I approached the point, waited too long before making a decision, finally realizing I would have to go around the point low in a stiff head wind, through a rocky area I couldn't see, or else turn back and go downwind, hoping to get back up, so I did the latter.

But then I found myself below the lift zone, streaking downwind above the beach in the lee of Goat Rock, saying "Oh, no... I've had it." Thought I'd go as far as I could to get out of the turbulence of the Rock, if possible, then turn 180 to land, but I was too low, and my airspeed too slow, when I made a too steep turn, stalled the lower (right) wing and continued past 180 to almost 360, crashing into the sand.

Fortunately, I went limp and let go as I impacted, and, incredibly, didn't hurt the glider nor myself, not even a bent downtube.

Carried the glider back up the beach after a short 15 minute flight. I called it "Comet hubris," from being overconfident after the previous evening's good flight.

Lynne brought me my bag when I got to the road and I packed up the glider.

A few of us decided to stay around over the weekend, flying at Goat Rock if it remained soarable, and it did.

Meredith and I went out to breakfast on Saturday morning at Elmer's, then got our stuff ready for Goat Rock, after talking to Jon, Mel, Bones, and Sharol by phone. It was foggy over Santa Rosa, but was nice and sunny by the time we left.

A bunch of pilots were there, including Dave Thor, Rick Innocenti, Mike Mahoney with his new Mega, Dick Fugett, as well as Jon, Bones, Sharol, and Mel.

Watched Mike launch and soar, and then Dave, who soon headed down to the south end. Then I launched, with Jon and Sharol assisting, got up nicely. Soared the bowl awhile, then headed down to the south bluffs, where Dave and I soared with the hawks.

At one point four Red-tailed Hawks got together upwind into a formation, then flew right towards me, as if to chase me out of their territory. But they broke and dove at the last moment, when they realized how big I was.

Had a fine time at that end, getting high over the peaked hill. Soon Jon came down also. Eventually we tried to get back to the north, and were able to do it with altitude to spare, and did it a few times during the afternoon.

At one point Sharol did what I did the evening before, couldn't make it back, turned downwind too late, and landed on the beach, but made a better landing than I did, however.

I finally landed around 5:45 after almost three hours, a fine landing on the beach. All in all, a great flying day.

Today Meredith is going to stay home and work on her book. I'll go out to Goat Rock again.

Thursday, April 29, 1982 - 7:40 PM

I launched at 3:55 in a NW wind of about 15, and was soon soaring the NW bowl. Ivan launched soon, and after soaring with him (or above him mostly), I headed down to the south end.

Sharol also launched, as did Jon, Dave, and Mel. Bones broke a batten, so didn't fly. The rest of us had a fine time, soaring the peaked hill at the south end, then flying back to the north.

I also flew out over Goat Rock itself a few times, once with Jon, when we both rode the wake from the Rock out over it, getting there with lots of altitude. It was lots of fun and I really enjoyed the performance of my new Comet. It seemed to have as good a sink rate as anybody.

Finally after two hours, and many return trips to the other end, I headed out to land, making a nice landing on the beach, though going further than I intended to.

Carried back to the grassy area and folded up with Mel, Ivan, Dave, and Jon. Rapped awhile with them before heading on home, pretty tired when I got there. Went to bed early.

Right after work on Tuesday, Meredith and I went out to Goat Rock, but found it blown out, with winds of 27+ knots. Bones and Rick Innocenti were also there.

The Scout had been making funny noises, so on closer inspection, I found that one of the U-joints is partly gone, needs replacement. Tried to make an appointment to get it replaced on Thursday, but my station was booked up, so had to wait 'til tomorrow to get it fixed.

This weekend we're planning to go to Jon and Hank's ski cabin at Tahoe, to fly at Slide Mountain. Jon and Nancy, Meredith and I, Bones, and Hank will be going.

Dick Swenson called tonight, is also interested in going.

Tuesday, May 4, 1982 - 8:15 PM

So Meredith and I packed up, and headed for Jon's, getting there at 6:30 PM. We loaded his glider on the Scout, so he wouldn't have to carry it on their VW, and we left together around seven, with us following them, stopping for some munchies on the way out.

We cruised on up until stopping for coffee and burgers at a Burger King past Sacramento. Then we headed on up Route 80 to Truckee, climbing to over 6000', then south on Route 89 to Tahoe City.

Jon's place was south of town, a half-block up from Lake Tahoe, a three bedroom, two bath house, with large living room. We arrived around midnight, unloaded the gliders, lit a fire, and waited for the others to arrive. Jon found that Dick and Susan weren't coming, but Don Piercy arrived in a little while.

Soon we went to bed, with an early day ahead of us.

Wednesday, May 5, 1982 - 7:20 PM

We left by nine for Slide Mountain, a morning flying site. Got there about ten to find Mike Kunitani, Darrell, and another guy with a Harrier. So we started setting up our gliders and watched them launch.

I was ready first, so got ready to launch also, getting over the guard rail to the steep slope. But now the wind was beginning to blow down the hill from over the mountain to my right, and there were no more thermals strong enough to compensate for the wind.

After twenty minutes or so, we realized that it wasn't going to improve, so we decided to break down our gliders and possibly go elsewhere.

We heard about a couple of other possibilities for a west wind, so packed up and headed for Red Rock. It was north of Reno on Route 395, a low group of hills which we drove up the back of, to find a ridge facing WSW, fairly shallow, but soarable in the wind of 15+.

So we set up, decided to fly there. A guy named Doug with a Super Lancer launched first, went up, soared for a few minutes, but then headed out as the wind changed to more southerly. With that direction, it was harder to stay up, especially since there were uneven hills to cross which created rotors between them.

At one point Don's glider blew over. I ran to grab it, got a wire burn on my arm on catching it after a complete flip.

Eventually Dave Capran (whom we'd met at Hull Mountain) flew, but didn't stay up, landed down in front. Then Don launched, and was also down fairly quickly. Jon launched, and turned upwind, staying up.

I had a good launch next, turned left and climbed about 50 feet over. Worked my way to the left, turning back when I lost the lift, but staying up.

Tuesday, May 11, 1982 - 6:10 PM

I soared the face with Jon awhile, then saw him work his way up the ridge to the south, eventually getting over the highest knoll.

I tried to follow, having to avoid sinking out behind the several knolls on the way. Finally headed around the front of the one where Jon was, but was low down the side, worried I'd have to head out and land before I got back into the lift.

In fact, Jon said later that he was sure I was too low to get back up, but I persevered, gradually working back and forth along the lower slopes of the hill, and eventually making it to the top, where I found lift I could stay in.

I looked around for Jon but couldn't find him. But soon I did see him, on the ground out in front, to my surprise and disappointment. Now I was the only one up, soaring this high knoll with a couple of dark brown hawks, possibly Golden Eagles.

Eventually some thermals would come through, and I followed one up and back, getting about 1000' over the top before losing it. Headed back over launch where more gliders were setting up.

Also, I guided Meredith down by radio to the bottom via a different road, which she later said was worse than it looked.

Lost some altitude, so worked my way back to the highest knoll again to await more thermals. Later another Comet joined me there, a red and white one. We both caught a good thermal and circled up to 2000' over or so, with me getting about 100' higher than the other guy. He followed it back further than I did, and had some trouble getting back out front.

I ranged further over the area this time, out almost to the freeway to the south, and back over launch again, where some other gliders were soaring now, but much lower.

Finally, after watching Jon carry his folded glider to the Scout, I decided I'd head out and land, as I'd been up almost two hours, and it was after 5:30 PM. Both Don and Jon had been on the ground for over an hour.

Came out over the Scout, soared a lower knoll for a few passes, then set up a landing where Jon had landed. A motorcycle in the dusty field showed me the wind direction. Set up into the wind, bled off my speed, and flared nicely, a good landing after a fine flight.

Had a beer with the others while I folded up my Comet, carried it to the Scout, then we headed on back to Reno, out Route 80 to Truckee, then home to Tahoe City.

Don was disappointed, had broken a batten and a downtube on landing, but had gotten a spare from Dave Capran, luckily.

Back at the cabin, Hank and Jan had arrived, bringing Dick and Susan as well. So we partied, had dinner of spaghetti, which Meredith made, and relaxed in front of the fire.

Meredith and I left to take a bath about ten, then went to bed, as we were quite tired.

On Sunday morning, we'd decided to try to get to Slide Mountain earlier. But Meredith wasn't feeling very well, decided not to go, but to sleep late and take it easy.

Jon cooked up a lot of scrambled eggs, and after much coffee and orange juice too, we loaded all the gliders on Don's truck. Jan came along to drive. Nancy and Susan would ski.

When we got up to Slide Mountain around ten, however, we found it was already blowing over the top fairly strongly, clearly blown out. So this time we decided to go try McClellan, across the valley, facing west. We got there, set up a sock in the landing area by the road and headed up.

It wasn't very high, perhaps 1500' above the valley, and there were some power lines to cross before reaching the landing area. But light thermals were coming up every few minutes and the launch seemed okay. So we set up.

(ed. note: This was evidently the south facing launch out over some housing to the south. We didn't know where the west launch was at that time.)

Jon launched first, circled some, but gradually lost altitude, eventually headed out and landed. Oh yes, earlier the guy with the Harrier from San Jose had flown, did okay, maintained in a low thermal over some houses near the landing area until after Jon landed.

I launched after Hank, had a good launch into a fairly strong thermal, but realized I'd forgotten to turn on my vario again, so wasn't able to maximize the situation.

Turned left after launch, found some light lift over a plateau, but then it dissipated. The power lines made me nervous, so I headed on out, finding occasional very light lift, but not strong enough to turn in. Arrived over the landing area with a couple of hundred feet. The windsock was blowing away from the mountain now, lightly, which disconcerted me a bit.

So I set up my landing, came in fast over the waist-high sagebrush, flared, but dragged my feet in the bushes, coming down on the control bar in a bush, which bent my base tube, as Jon noticed, saying he'd done the same thing to his.

Don soon came down, but with the bad news that Dick had blown his launch, crashing and breaking his keel, but without seriously hurting himself. He hadn't been able to get his Highster flying quickly enough, as the slope was shallow after the steep part.

So we all folded up and waited for the truck, then headed on back to the house, getting there around 3:30 in the afternoon.

The ladies had all gone out for a drink, and arrived home later. In the meantime, we packed up our gear for heading home, and cleaned up the place.

Meredith and I left around 5:30 or so, taking Jon's glider with us, stopping in Auburn for gas, and at the Ground Cow for burgers. Home around eleven, after dropping off Jon's glider, exhausted.

Stayed tired for much of the week, though sleeping late on Monday. Meredith worked on the garden for much of the week.

On Tuesday evening, we drove out to Goat Rock. Roy was just landing as the SW wind was dying. Stretch, Anne, and Bones were also there.

Anne invited us to dinner Thursday, but we later decided to actually eat at our house, though they would bring the food.

Meredith and I fasted on Wednesday, and had our dinner party with Stretch and Anne on Thursday, having a fine time. I was stoned on a brownie and rapped quite a bit. Their lasagna was very good.

Went to Goat Rock on Friday night, to find it blowing 30 to 40 knots, very much blown out. Passed Jon coming out as we were headed home.

Called around about weekend flying plans. I thought it looked good for Usal, and Bones agreed, wanted to ride up with us. Also called Mel and Hank, who both decided to go.

Anne had called earlier from Lake Pillsbury, saying there were still five feet of snow on Hull Mountain. They were going to Elk, but it promised to be too windy. Jon couldn't go, had other things to do.

So we headed up to Usal after Bones arrived, about 9:10 AM. Hank had called, saying he and Jan would be delayed, so we went ahead.

Got there around one, after stops at the Bluebird Café for coffee, and at a nice little place called O'Hara's at the Leggett turnoff, for sandwiches.

Mel was there, and Hank had also arrived, but had gone on down to the beach to put up a windsock. But it was blowing hard from the north, with lots of whitecaps everywhere. We checked out the lower launch, and found it too northy, blowing 30 knots or more. So we gave up on flying, hoped it would be better on Sunday.

Instead we drank beer, took walks, and socialized, later putting up our tent, starting a fire, and cooking dinner. I'd brought steaks, which turned out quite well.

It got chilly after dark, but we stayed up 'til 9:30 before I decided to go to bed. Meredith stayed up later, socializing. Also we'd had hot chocolate and brandy, which was a great hit.

Monday, May 17, 1982 - 6:50 PM

On Sunday (a week ago) we woke up at Usal to a nice day, with clouds again blowing from the north, but for some reason it looked more promising.

We had coffee, breakfast, packed up the camping gear, then waited for hopeful signs. Mel and Bones weren't very hopeful, but I was, and started setting up my glider around eleven, as the windlines started coming around the point and the whitecaps began moving in, though it was still northy.

Sure enough, it soon seemed soarable, though with a strong north component. I got set to launch from the bluff at the south end of the upper meadow, diagonally to the NW, with a couple of people assisting on the wing wires. Then I went for it, making a nice launch into the lift zone and climbing straight up for about 1000'.

The air was smooth and nice, and I had no trouble at all penetrating to the north. I radioed down how nice it was, and the others immediately began setting up.

Jan (Hank's tandem flying friend) was the only other person who'd set up, but I suggested to Hank that it was smooth enough for a tandem flight. The windsock on the beach was blowing almost straight in from the WNW, making a nice landing area, so he started setting up the big Raven, and Jan started putting away her little one.

Bones eventually launched, dragged a tip, but recovered okay, and climbed up with me. Hank and Jan launched, also dragged their right tip, but flew out of it okay, got lift and gradually ascended in long slow passes along the ridge. And Mel also launched, having a good one.

Hank and Jan had a nice flight for 45 minutes or so, before deciding to go out to land while it was still smooth, which was probably a good idea, as it got quite turbulent in the landing area later.

Mel, Bones, and I ranged far and wide at levels from 1800' to over 3000'. Mel discovered a thermal area down south at the next point, which took him to over 3000'. I went there and was able to thermal up to over 3400', then headed north, crossed the river mouth, and headed on up the coast, getting almost to the next cove before having to turn back.

Roy also arrived, and talked to us by radio before setting up at the lower launch area and launching soon, after almost having his glider blown over, and he soon joined us in the sky.

Finally, after three hours, I decided to land, but found it hard to get down, as the wind had picked up, and it was turbulent near the beach area. Had to fly with the bar in, going out to sea a few times to get gradually lower, finally making a few passes past the lower ridge on the south side of the beach, then turning out into the wind and settling down into a pretty stiff breeze of 10 to 15 knots, for a good landing.

Mel had already landed, and Bones and Roy followed me down. We drank our beer, folded up our gliders, and headed up the hill.

We left the camping area agreeing to meet at O'Hara's. Meredith rode with Hank to get a chance to talk with him, and Jan rode with me.

At O'Hara's, we all had some pitchers of beer, and had a nice little post-flying party, before heading on home after a nice flying day.

The others were grateful to me for being the "wind dummy," as Bones and Mel said they probably wouldn't have launched otherwise, and Hank and Jan were grateful for a very nice tandem flight.

We got home around eight or so, exhausted, took a bath, and went to bed.

Friday night we had a nice dinner, then later were invited to Ernie and Shari's house for a dip in the hot tub. Meredith and I had a nice time there, took them a brownie (we'd already eaten one), played some Atari games, then got into the hot tub, which was nice and hot, very nice and relaxing. Left around 11:30, after watching a very funny Benny Hill episode on the way out.

On Saturday, we'd decided to sleep late, go out to Elmer's for breakfast, then check out the Health and Harmony Fair at the Fairgrounds, before heading up to Elk Mountain later.

The Fair was interesting. We saw and talked to Steve Ross. Also I bought us matching T-shirts with a picture of a Red-tailed Hawk on them. It was a pleasant day.

We left for Elk by three, and when we arrived around five, a truckload of gliders (Fred's truck) was heading up, so I threw my glider on and rode up with them, after saying hi to Stretch, Anne, and Roy, who'd already flown.

Rich Sauer, Art, Gilbert, and another guy named Rick were also in the truck. Fred's wife Linda and a pretty gal named Laurie were in front.

It was soarable on top. Rich and Fred were off first. I had a good launch and joined them, getting up to 5200' or so, and heading almost to Horse Mountain in widespread lift.

Eventually a few truckloads of Chandelle novices arrived on top of the mountain, set up and began launching. I'd been up over an hour, decided to head on out before the landing area got too crowded.

It was somewhat turbulent on the way out. The wind direction in the landing area was switching. I set up my approach, came in, flared hard, but didn't stop, dropped the nose, but didn't hurt anything. I don't quite have the knack of landing the Comet yet.

Meredith brought me a beer. Stretch brought out the "nose cone" he'd made for my glider. I'd brought some Velcro, two-sided tape, and he had some scissors, so I fitted it and placed the Velcro on the wing.

Then I folded up my glider and joined the others at the campfire; Stretch, Anne, Roy, and Mike. Eventually Mel and Lynne arrived. Bones and Sharol had gone to Dunlap. We had a nice time around the fire, cooked our steaks, which were good, had wine and beer, rapped on.

Finally Meredith and I decided to go to bed, not bothering to set up the tent. But the campground was pretty crowded with all the people from Chandelle, so we found a place out in the inner grassy area among a few tents, and laid out our sleeping bags and pads on the tarp.

We slept okay under the stars. Awoke with the sun, got up, had coffee, then breakfast. We loaded all our gliders onto Roy's truck, then went for a walk. We'd decided to wait until after the Chandelle group headed up, and then we'd take a mid-day flight.

Anne, Stretch, Roy, Mike, Meredith and I, as well as Spanky, walked across to the big hill near the landing area. Then we walked up the ridge and back down to the swimming hole, where we'd decided to take a skinny dip in the warm morning sunlight. The water was freezing, but it was very nice for a few seconds.

While we were there, Jon and Hank appeared, and joined us. We soon got dressed and headed back to camp. Jan was there also, and Ernie had arrived as well.

So we'd have to take the Scout up anyway. I'd been only slightly worried, because of a partial breakdown, and subsequent recovery, that had happened downtown on Friday evening. I'd called Mel to come tow me home, but when he'd arrived, it had started, smoothed out, and ran well ever since. I had taken the distributor cap off in the meantime, and wiggled the advance mechanism, which might have been jammed or malfunctioning.

Anyway, we loaded on the four gliders and headed up the mountain. The Chandelle group had gone down to the knoll, so we had the competition slots to ourselves.

It was beginning to cycle up. Stretch launched first, got over the top, and was followed by Anne and Roy, but they both got flushed after about 15 minutes. Rich Sauer and a couple of others also launched, and they got flushed too.

I was next, waited for a cycle and launched at 12:55. Scratched along the ridge and over the bowl, finally finding a thermal good enough to get me over the top by about 200 feet, above and clear of the other gliders that were launching and coming up the ridge from the knoll.

The others, including Hank, Ernie, Jon, and Mike, as well as Ken Lloyd, Art, Gilbert, and others launched also. And Jan had launched and headed out earlier.

It became somewhat crowded out there, but I managed to stay above the crowd most of the time. Jon also got very high, was above me for awhile, and Mike was out there too. Ernie went down fairly quickly though, also had a bad landing, was disappointed. Hank was up with us for awhile also, as was Dave Thor.

A glider from the Chandelle group at the knoll went far to the NE, got low then headed back down the canyon low, finally crashing in the trees far down the ridge. I'm sure it took his friends a few hours to get him out of there. It was very poor judgment to go where he went.

Finally everyone had left the top but Jon, Dave, and me. It was getting turbulent and harder to stay up, so I followed them on out, watched them land (Dave Thor took out the windsock on his landing), then came in myself.

Got popped up by a gust as I was landing, flared high, then pulled in for an instant (should have held the bar out), then came down on my belly, fairly gently. The flight was an hour and forty minutes long.

Meredith and I packed up our gear, said our good-byes, and headed on home. We stopped at Henny Penny for coffee, then in Cloverdale for chocolate covered soft ice cream cones, which is Meredith's current craving.

We unloaded the Scout, took a bath, watched 60 Minutes, and went to bed. It was a very nice weekend.

Talked to Bones today. They'd had a nice time at Dunlap, but on the way home, Sharol's VW bus had caught fire. Curt had changed the fuel filter, and felt responsible, will rebuild it for them.

Fortunately she was near the Fire Department when it caught fire, and they got it out quickly. Bones had been riding with Curt ahead in the other car at the time. It was a scary experience.

I was very tired at work today. Tomorrow night is our Sonoma Wings meeting, here at our house.

Enough for now.

Wednesday, May 19, 1982 - 7:45 PM

Hank couldn't make it, as someone pulled out in front of him in Berkeley, and he crunched the front of his Toyota. Too bad. That's one more of a bunch of recent bad luck stories I've heard.

The business part of the meeting dragged on a bit, but the movies and munchies went over well, and everyone seemed to have a good time. Most of the talk was about Goat Rock and Hull Mountain.

Today Meredith left for Berkeley. I'd made plans to take a day off tomorrow to help Mary at Dillon Beach, so Meredith is planning to stay there overnight, coming back tomorrow evening.

Mary called this afternoon, had a discouraging day, stalled a takeoff off the top in no-wind conditions, rolled down the face on her wheels, wasn't hurt though, and neither was her glider. But she'll try again tomorrow.

She told of Wally's bad luck; his van broke down in Santa Rosa, and when he finally got home (to San Francisco), he found that his house had been broken into, and all his valuables were stolen. He was also out at Dillon Beach.

This evening Mary invited me over to dinner. Afterwards, I stopped by at Mel's house.

He'd also had a run of bad luck. In addition to the problems with fixing his glider, he'd had a run-in with Bones over the replaced spar, which wasn't drilled right, and felt bad about that. And to top it off, yesterday he'd backed into a new Mercedes, damaging it. Fortunately he has insurance, but could lose it.

Enough for now.

Tuesday, May 25, 1982 - 6:40 PM

Stretch and a few other people were already there. It was fairly still, and by the time we had the glider assembled, it was blowing lightly from the SW.

Mary took her first flight from the lower west slope, but then it switched south, so she had to go from the top. She was nervous, and let many good opportunities pass as the wind switched and we'd change launch locations.

Eventually she got Stretch to take her tandem, and they had two nice tandem flights on his Highster, which she enjoyed.

Finally she did launch off the south face, let her nose come up a bit, but got off okay, and had her longest flight, way out to the south. She was going to turn to the west, but evidently was flying too slow to initiate a right turn, got blown left instead (adverse yaw?), landed down in a sandy valley with hundreds of bees living in holes in the sand. We got out of there pretty quickly.

By then she was tired, Dennis had arrived by motorcycle, and we decided to call it quits.

We decided to go up to Goat Rock, and Stretch decided to ride with us, sending his car home with Wade, who'd brought James' Highster, and who'd been practicing.

At Goat Rock, it was blowing about ten, but Stretch thought it was or would be soarable, so we set up. If so, they were going to do another tandem flight.

I launched first to test the air, and found it only barely soarable, had a challenging soaring flight close to the ridgetop, being grateful for the good handling of the Raven. But it was demanding, and after ten minutes I headed out to the beach, made a very nice landing.

Stretch launched in his Highster, but couldn't stay up, lost the lift zone immediately, and had to come on out to land. He was surprised, said I'd made it look too easy.

When we got the gliders packed up and were on top again, it was blowing a perfect 15 knots or so, but we were all too tired to fly again, so left around 3:30.

But on the way home, we saw Bones coming the other way, and decided to go back. We helped him launch and he got high.

Jon James and Eric Havstadt had also arrived, and were setting up. We decided to go home anyway, and left.

On Saturday Meredith and I got up and left for Elk Mountain, after talking with many fellow fliers Friday evening. We stopped at the Scandia Coffee Shop in Cloverdale for breakfast.

At the campground at Elk, we found Bones and Sharol, Stretch, Anne, and Roy, Ivan and Patti, Hank, Jan, Mike, Rich, and Fred. Rode up the hill in Ivan's truck. Meredith rode up with Fred to drive his truck down, but later found it a problem, so drove Roy's truck down instead.

On top it was blowing lightly up from the NW, marginally soarable. Various groups of people launched, stayed up for a few minutes or more, then got flushed, scratching down the mountain. This included Stretch, Roy, Rich, Fred, and others.

I was the first of a later group to launch. Went to the right looking for thermals, found some, then had to make a few passes in front of launch to maintain, before catching a thermal that took me a hundred feet or so above launch, where I could hang out awhile.

As others launched, it got crowded and harder to stay up, so I spent more time scratching out front. Bones, Sharol, Hank, Mike, and others launched.

At one point, I alone survived a flush cycle, and all the others were headed out to the landing area. Finally it got harder to maintain, I got low out in the bowl, and had to head for the ridge to get across and head out.

I landed after a flight of an hour, hitting a low gradient, diving and streaking across the landing area in no wind at 40, bleeding it off, then flaring, but not hard enough to stop myself, running as fast as I could before dropping the nose, but no damage. Bones and some others had bent downtubes. Not a bad flight, probably the longest of the day.

Some people went up for another flight, but Meredith and I went to the creek for a very refreshing swim. It wasn't as icy cold as it had been a week before, and we could stay in for quite awhile.

After getting back to camp, we went swimming again with Anne a little while later, since it had been so refreshing.

We had a very nice dinner of pork chops and chicken with Bones and Sharol, and Mike. Stayed up talking 'til after ten. Finally went to bed using the tent, as the bugs were out in greater numbers.

In the morning it was fairly warm, and Meredith and I got up and took an icy dip in the creek again. That woke us up. Then we had coffee, and made breakfast for us and the others.

Some people went up for an early flight. I decided not to, would wait for Jon, and he did arrive around 10:30. He'd brought the new membership cards, so we passed some of them around to people who were there.

We watched the first flights, a nice landing by Jan, and a pretty good first altitude flight by Dick Fugett, and a few others, then headed on up the mountain in the Scout; Jon, Bones, Sharol, Meredith and I, and Hank, who'd left his glider on top before driving Ivan's truck down.

Anne, Ron, Mike, and others still hadn't launched, were waiting for better conditions. Ron finally did launch, maintained awhile, then slipped gradually down the mountain, but soon worked his way back up, eventually got high above launch, as did Dave Thor.

Soon they were just specks high in the sky, and others launched too, thermalled up and joined them, including Anne, Hank, Mike, Sharol, Jon, James, and Bones.

I was last to launch, after Bones, right into a thermal, circled on up to 8200', and was eventually on top of the stack, the highest we've ever been at Elk.

Jon had his radio, said "Let's go somewhere," but I wasn't ready to leave the good lift yet. He went to Pitney Ridge, but was back awhile later.

Meanwhile, I flew around there with the others in ever widening circles. Eventually I headed over to Horse Mountain, and got there to find more lift at 8200'. Called Jon, and he followed me over.

We saw a pretty mountaintop ranch on Mid Mountain, which was very inviting. There was a huge field, a pond, a big house, and a long road down to Potter Valley, a beautiful place. We flew over there for a closer look, before I decided to head back to Elk, as I'd lost some altitude.

But when I got back to Elk lower, I couldn't find any lift there. And many who had launched after me, including Ernie and Ivan, hadn't been able to get up. So I left the mountain and headed out to the landing area.

Maintained awhile over the lower slopes of Pitney before finally setting up a landing. Came in for a good one, flared hard, and landed on my feet, my best landing yet with the Comet in those conditions.

Felt very good after a two hour flight. My maximum altitude had been about 8700'.

Packed up our gliders. Went for another swim with Meredith, Anne, Stretch, and Roy.

Finally we headed on home, stopping for dinner at the Henny Penny in Ukiah. Got home by ten, in time to watch the news of the war in the Falkland Islands. Was very tired, but didn't sleep too well.

Monday was the hottest day of the year so far, 101+, but today cooled off some with the fog.

Thursday, June 3, 1982 - 8:55 PM

Got ready for the Memorial Day Weekend, with Monday a holiday. We headed for Hull Mountain on Saturday morning. Bones and Sharol had gone early to secure a camping spot. Hank and Jan arrived at our house around 9:45 for coffee.

Found them again in Cloverdale at the Scandia, with Mel and Lynne also there, when we stopped for breakfast. The service there was very slow, however, and we didn't get to Lake Pillsbury until 1:30 or so.

There we found a huge crowd, lots of bikers churning up dust, the lake up into the campsites (higher than I've ever seen it), and no extra toilets. The noise and dust were oppressive.

We found the camping area where Bones, Sharol, and Curt, as well as Stretch, Anne, Roy, and friends had camped, back near the road, with no fire pit, and a constant stream of dirt bikes going by.

Meredith and I decided pretty quickly that we didn't want to stay. Neither did Mel and Lynne, nor Hank and Jan.

And the flying didn't look very promising either, as it was totally overdeveloped, and we watched Stretch and Roy come out and land, after a short flight. They'd had to launch from the rocks at Lower Launch, not a very encouraging situation.

So after awhile, we all left for Usal, and Bones, Sharol, and Curt said they'd come too, as the weather report had looked promising the night before.

But after a long drive, we got there to find it fogged in and blowing 8 to 10 knots from the SW. But at least it was peaceful, not crowded, and we had our meadow almost to ourselves, except for one other couple from Palo Alto camped down by the cliff, with three-wheelers for exploring.

Anyway, we were happy to be there, hopeful for Sunday, and we set up camp and started cooking up some dinner. We'd brought steak.

Had a nice evening around the campfire. Meredith and I went to bed around 9:30, and slept fairly well.

Sunday turned out to be foggy all day, and the wind, still from the SW, never reached soarable velocity. So Meredith and I took a walk after breakfast, went down to the beach, and walked up the beach to the north.

Around four, we took Hank's car and went to Leggett to see the Mountain Peoples Crafts Festival, which was happening there. Eight miles inland we hit sunshine, which was a pleasant respite from the fog.

Back at camp later, we had dinner and went to bed. It rained lightly during the night, and we awoke to more fog. So after breakfast, we packed up our wet gear and prepared to head on home.

Got home by early afternoon, took baths, and rested for the remainder of the day. It was a pleasant weekend in spite of not being able to fly.

Meredith left for Berkeley on Wednesday, will be home later tonight (Thursday). I've been industriously working on my gear, replacing the spreader bar on my harness, modifying and velchroing a bag below my parachute, etc.

This weekend we'll probably go to Hull Mountain, which should be okay, free of the crowds.

Monday, June 7, 1982 - 8:35 PM

But Sharol had lessons to give, and Bones had a glider to test fly, and Jon had things to do. And Hank, to our surprise, said he thought he'd pass this week, didn't think the weather would be very good, and I guess Jan wasn't going to be going. Tried to call Mel, but he'd left early, and went to Hull.

So Meredith and I got off about ten, picked up Ernie, and headed up to Elk. We had breakfast at Scandia in Cloverdale.

At the Elk campground, we found Joe, who'd just landed, and Stretch, Anne, and Roy were in the air. Joe folded up his Sensor quickly and rode back up with us.

Also on top were Ivan and Patti. The wind was coming up the back (NW) at 8 to 12, with thermals coming through. We set up, launched Joe, who got up, but soon sunk out and headed out, and Ivan, who stayed up.

I launched next, got up and stayed up, thermalling with Ivan for quite awhile. Ernie launched, but missed the cycle and had to head out.

So it was just Ivan and me for quite awhile, until he finally headed out. We'd catch thermals and circle back high over the upper bowl. At least once, we each got caught high, back beyond the ridge, fell out of the thermal, and had to stuff the bar through sink to make it back over the ridge low.

Eventually Fred, the guy with the Harrier in my colors (blue leading edge with gold undersurface, white trailing edge), launched, and he and I flew together for an hour or more, while a few other gliders, mostly Ravens, as well as Craig with his Comet, and Ron with his Lazor, launched and came up briefly, before getting flushed out.

It wasn't easy to stay up, as it was sub-soarable ridge lift, and the thermals were small and rowdy. I was able to stay above Fred's Harrier most of the time though, and finally it was just he and I who were left.

After two and a half hours, I followed him out towards the landing area, and made a pretty good landing, for a two hour and forty-five minute flight. I dropped the nose after my flare, but landed right on top of the X spot. I'm sure I had the longest flight of the day, and felt very good about it.

On the radio, we had heard Mel and Lynne over at Hull. He also had a very good flight of over two hours, getting above the clouds. My maximum altitude for the day was about 5000', or 1000' over the top.

We camped with Stretch, Anne, Roy, and Joe, as well as Ron for awhile, and some kids belonging to another pilot.

Slept fairly well, though were awakened by some gliders making full moon flights around midnight.

On Sunday morning, Stretch, Anne, Roy, and Joe packed their gear early and headed for Hull in Roy's truck. We decided to stay at Elk, as I thought it could be better, and it turned out to be a very good day.

So we had our breakfast and headed up the hill around 10:30, taking Fred's and another guy's gliders with us to leave on top for them.

Chief, and a few others, flew earlier, but didn't stay up. But when we got to the top, it was beginning to cycle up nicely from the south, for a change.

We took our time setting up, and were ready by noon (Ernie and I). More later. I'll get to the flight, a very nice one, in the next volume.

End of Volume 27b

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