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September 1982

October 1982

November 1982

December 1982

January 1983

Colorado Trip

Dead Horse Point

Aspen

Yosemite

Labor Day Weekend

Alone Over the Top

Birthday Party

George Worthington

Mt.St.Helena Opening Day

Hot Tub Party at Elk

Duck Demo Day

Christmas Party

Heartbreak

Volume 29

Volume 28b:

August 16, 1982 to January 22, 1983

Monday, August 16, 1982 - 8:10 PM

Oh yes, we had our Sonoma Wings meeting at Jon's house on Tuesday night. Rick Kannisto showed good movies of Yosemite, and I signed up to fly there on Sunday, August 29th, on our way back from Colorado. He was putting together a club trip. Stretch, Anne, Roy, Bones, and Sharol will also be there that weekend. So that should be a nice way to end our vacation.

Jan rode with us to Hull this weekend, arriving around 8:30 (an hour early) on Saturday morning. So we all went to Elmer's for breakfast, then headed on up in the Eagle Scout.

At the campground, Stretch and Anne had already landed, on a marginal day. A guy from Santa Barbara, Chuck, (with a Duck glider) also rode up with us, as did Stretch and Anne, Anne to retrieve Roy's truck, and Stretch to drive the Scout down. Sharol, Bones, and others were already on top, and launched soon.

It was a somewhat marginal day, with small scratchy thermals. I helped launch Jan at the Rockpile, then Chuck, then took off myself at 3:52.

Worked some scratchy thermals over the bowl, eventually got over the top, but not very high, 7200' or so was max. It was a challenge to stay up. Joe top landed at lower launch, let Stretch have his glider, then he drove the Scout down.

I got back over the top again around an hour after launching, then headed out, not finding much lift on the way out. Set up an approach, and made a fair landing, not bending anything, after an hour and sixteen minute flight.

In the evening we had the Big Party, for Loni's birthday, as well as Lynne's. There were lots of cakes and presents for Loni and others. The photos of Stretch we'd enlarged for her and them were big hits. Everyone had fun, especially Loni.

Around ten, we headed out to the reeds to go to bed. Slept okay. It was a bit foggy on Sunday morning, but the low clouds burnt off quickly and it was warm again.

We had a nice breakfast, and soon people were loading to go up the hill. We waited, eventually took Jan, Ron, and Chuck, along with Tom, who would drive down. Chuck's wife, Linda, also came up with us.

It seemed to be marginal at first. People were launching but weren't staying up, until Curt, in his Gemini, got up, and then Stretch did also.

I launched from the Rockpile at 1:20, was able to work marginal thermals over the ridge and get over the top briefly, not very high however, until an hour or so later, when we began getting higher in thermals that would blow back from the west. We began to get to 8000', a little later to over 8500', and later still to 10,000' with Stretch, James, Mike, Mel, Ernie, Ron, Sharol, Anne, and others.

We got to cloudbase, as clouds began forming over us, and there was a cloud street heading toward Sacramento. I hadn't worn my down jacket again, and was pretty cold, so left with 9500' and headed out. Did some wingovers over the lake to come down. Landed after Anne at 3:35, a two hour and fifteen minute flight.

My landing was only fair, as the wind was gusty, and I flared too soon, went high, came down on a downtube, bending it a little, but was able to straighten it okay.

We took our time breaking down our gliders and socializing. Eventually we got things loaded up, said lots of goodbyes, since we won't be back for a couple of weekends. We said a big goodbye to Loni, Stretch's daughter, whom we'll all miss.

We made a stop at the Eel River for a refreshing dip, then had dinner at Henny Penny, then cruised on to Santa Rosa, arriving home around 9:20 PM.

Jan talked for a long time on the way home about her ex-husband, Kirk, who'd been a brilliant computer scientist, but was disabled by a manic-depressive disorder. She'd been through a lot in that relationship, and her children had been badly hurt by the situation, a sad one.

Meredith and I were very tired. After Jan left, we had a bath, and went to bed. I didn't sleep very well again, and was like a zombie at work today.

Called Cici (my daughter, at U.C. Berkeley) this evening. Then took the Scout to the car wash for a pre-trip cleaning out. Then home, to pay bills, have dinner, and write this. I'm very tired, will go to bed soon.

Thursday, August 19, 1982 - 9:45 PM MDT Delta, Utah

We got up early on Wednesday, and got the Scout loaded up pretty compactly before too long. The evening before, I'd bought myself a couple of pieces of luggage for the trip, a convertible day-pack valise, and a zipper duffel, both from Sonoma Outfitters. These are working pretty well.

We got off by nine, and stopped at Marilyn's (Meredith's friend in Novato), for coffee and to drop off Meredith's draft for her to read. Got out of there by 10:20, then on to Berkeley to pick up Cici.

Then we stopped for coffee on the way out at a place next to the Co-op. We headed out on Route 80 to Sacramento, then across Route 50 into the Sierras to South Lake Tahoe, and on out into Nevada on Route 50, stopping reasonably early at a motel in Fallon, Nevada.

Today we got up, had breakfast at the Nugget, the local casino, went to Safeway, then headed east across the Nevada desert. The mountains and deserts were spectacular, but I couldn't find any suitable places where I could launch my glider, which had been a hope for the trip.

Also, the sky was overdeveloped, with huge cumulus clouds, and we went through a couple of showers. This kept it cooler than it otherwise might have been, which was quite pleasant.

We went through Austin and Ely, quaint mountain towns. Finally, I saw a place that might have been a good flying site. It was near Osceola, an abandoned mining town, through which we took a rugged short cut.

The preceding valley rivaled the Owens valley for big mountains and wide desert, and from the Osceola road we saw that there was a road most of the way to the top of the 11,000 foot mountain next to Wheeler Peak.

Anyway, if it weren't in the middle of nowhere, it might be a good flying site. There were other impressive valleys we passed through, but we didn't see any roads high up into the mountains.

So I didn't get to fly today, which had been a fantasy of mine. Lots of great landing areas and mountains, but no launch sites easily accessible. If it had been earlier in the day, I might have pursued the Osceola possibility further, but it was after 5:30 by then.

We decided to cross the desert into Utah, 82 miles without services, rather than check out and camp near the Lehman Caves a little past Osceola.

All in all, we enjoyed the trip today, and I found that I appreciated the scenery and its immense spectacular beauty more (from my hang glider pilot's perspective) than I had on previous trips.

Meredith, who hasn't been across this way before, was also very much impressed with the immensity of it all, as well as by its rugged beauty. We're looking forward now to Utah.

Saturday, August 21, 1982 - 11 AM Moab, Utah

There we stocked up, and decided to swing down to Dead Horse Point for a possible hang gliding flight, and to camp there. It was mid-afternoon by then.

At the fruit stand in Green River, we talked to a hang glider pilot who flies Dead Horse Point and a more local site. He said there were about seventeen hang glider pilots in the area. He was waiting to get an Eagle Ultralight.

We got to Dead Horse Point around 5:30 PM. I thought it might be too late to fly, but the Ranger said people fly that late and sometimes get up as high as 12,000' (6,000' at launch). A pretty Ranger registered me, then I headed out to the point to check it out.

The other Ranger, a nice guy named James, showed me the launch and pointed out the lower landing area, a shelf 1500 feet below, overlooking the Colorado River, with a dirt road running along it. It looked pretty small from up there.

I was inclined to wait until the next morning for a better chance to get up, but he told me there still could be thermals out there, even though it was dead calm at launch. And Meredith and Cici also wanted me to fly, so we could leave in the morning.

So I started setting up around 5:45, and a crowd of campers and tourists soon gathered to watch. I was ready to launch about 6:15, waited for a breath of a thermal which didn't come, finally threw myself off the 1500 foot sheer cliff at 6:20 PM.

After diving out and getting flying speed, I headed out to the west a bit, over a lower ridge, and out toward a spire, but didn't find much there. Heading back towards the rim, I encountered a light thermal and began circling.

Very slowly I began climbing in the light lift, and after ten three-sixties or so, I was above launch to 6100'. I kept searching out the light lift, climbing to 6500' and eventually to 6900' beginning to feel secure, seeing the top landing area within easy reach.

But after a half hour, the thermals were lighter and I was back down to 6400', still able to reach it, until I decided to look for more thermals and sank steadily lower 'til I was down to the rim, so headed back in front of launch hoping there'd still be some lift there, but no luck.

More later.

Sunday, August 22, 1982 - 12 Noon Aspen, Colorado

But first, back to our story at Dead Horse Point.

So I was sinking out in front of launch around 7 PM, as the thermals, marginal at best, were dying out. I'd lost my chance to land on top, would have to land on the shelf below.

I milked the last bit of lift from the lower ridges, trying to determine what wind direction there was, finally set up in a bowl facing the SW. Made several passes close to the cliff walls until quite low, as I didn't want to chance overshooting the landing area, as I'd be heading out toward the edge of the shelf above the river below.

So I actually cut myself a little short, found myself coming down over a rocky table area, which I tried to clear, but then was on the verge of a stall, sinking fast, so flared hard, just past the rocks, and landed on my feet in a slight gully.

Felt good, with nothing bent or broken. Carried out near the cliff edge and started folding up. Radioed to Meredith that I'd landed safely, so they got directions from the Ranger as to how to get down to where I was.

As it turned out, the directions were incomplete, and they took a wrong turn. I could hear when they tried to contact me, but they couldn't hear me, as their squelch was turned up too high.

Eventually they figured that they must be on the wrong road, and we did make radio contact. I stashed my glider, which I'd long since packed up, and walked up the road with the CB in the dark to meet them. Eventually, after walking two or three miles, we met, to our great relief, as by now it was quite dark.

Meredith had also been having trouble with the Scout, the clutch, and the starter, and was unable to lock the hubs for 4-wheel drive. So they'd had a harrowing drive down, plus her knee was hurting from the workout she'd given it.

So I drove us back to get my glider and gear, and then back up to the campground. On the way up we saw lots of small rodents, rabbits, and some deer. Finally we went to the campground after telling the Ranger that we were back safely. It was after 10 PM by then.

We laid out our bedding on the ground, and went to bed after a cup of "Sleepytime" tea. But I still didn't sleep very well.

In the morning, Meredith got up early to see the sunrise, and we later had some breakfast, eventually got packed up and left by 10 AM.

We headed on to Moab, where we had coffee, shopped, got gas, and looked for a new slave cylinder for the clutch., but no luck on that. We also met another hang glider pilot named Woody from Southern California. He asked about Dead Horse Point, but he only had a Hang-3, so wouldn't be allowed to fly there.

From Moab, we took the scenic route through the Colorado River gorge for awhile, then on across some desolate parts of Utah, and finally into Colorado, where the scenery changed, getting nicer, while the sky gradually filled with huge cumulus clouds.

Past Grand Junction, the problems with the Scout got more pronounced, and I was unable to pass the driving to Meredith, as she couldn't get it in gear. Then the starter began failing and we thought we might be stuck. But I was finally able to get it started, and we headed on to Aspen, stopping at Rifle to look for an auto parts store, but by then it was nearly five, and they were all closed.

1 PM

Right now there's a hang glider circling above Aspen Mountain.

This morning I met a local pilot named Kirk, who told me about the local flying. They have a truck, which they meet at the landing area (not far from here), and which can carry eight or nine gliders and people up the mountain.

Met another, named Archie, while talking to Kirk. They were friendly, invited me to go up. I told them I was busy today, but would like to during the next few days. Now I'm feeling I may have missed a good opportunity today, but hopefully there'll be others.

My sister, Mary, wasn't home when we arrived, so we made ourselves at home, as she had instructed. We took a hot tub after going out to Toros for a light Mexican dinner. Then we went to bed, and slept quite well.

Mary got home without our hearing her, so we said our greetings in the morning. Then we've been having breakfast, doing laundry, and catching up in our journals.

Today's sunny and warm, with moderate sized cumi's developing. We'll go with Mary to a party-picnic before the last concert this afternoon.

Monday, August 23, 1982 - 9:50 PM Aspen

It was an interesting scene, with people dressed up in tuxedos and long dresses, except for us, and we didn't feel out of place in our casual garb. I talked for awhile with a guy named Ron, who'd been into particle physics, but was now with Solomon Brothers, a NYSE bond house, where he does analysis by computer, and is a pianist as a hobby. He loves living in New York City, which is a thing I can't understand.

We drank wine, ate hors d'oeuvres, and were sociable until it was time for the concert to start. Meredith was offered a ticket by a lady who had an extra, so went in, while Cici and I stayed outside with many other people, listening from a blanket, 'til the rain became too much, and we walked home.

Had a nice dinner, which Mary prepared, some wine, and a hot tub completed our day. We went to bed around ten.

We got up to another sunny morning. Meredith, Cici, and Mary had decided to go for a hike up at Independence Pass. I decided to try to go flying if anyone was going.

Called Archie at work, and he said a few people would be going, meeting at the landing field by eleven.

First I decided to look for a part for the Scout (slave cylinder), but there wasn't one this side of Denver. Had trouble starting the Scout when I left to go. It made a grinding noise but finally started, so I got to the landing area alright. But when I tried to start it there, it wouldn't at all. So I decided I'd fly, get a push start, then take it to a garage.

By 10:45, people began arriving, a guy named Paul from Denver, Mark, Archie, Ken, Bill, Polly, Joey, and others. We loaded the gliders and headed up the mountain. It only cost three dollars, plus signing a waiver.

On top, Polly asked, "Who are you staying with?"

I said, "My sister, Mary Millard."

She said, "Corky Millard?"

I said, "No, she's my niece."

It turns out Polly's from Winnetka, Illinois, went to North Shore Country Day School with Corky. It was a nice connection.

We set up our gliders on top, and waited for the wind to start cycling up launch, which was facing a valley behind the mountain. Around one, it started happening. First Ken took off, and then another pilot. So I suited up to launch.

Joey, whose leg was in a cast from an accident, took my movie camera to take movies, and she got my launch, a good one, at 1:20, but I got rotored by the ridge to the right after launch, recovered and flew on down the ridge looking for thermals.

I found a light one and began circling, going from 10,100' (after launch at 10,500') on up to over 11,000' in light thermals. Flew here and there over the ski area and the ridge, searching for more lift. Found some more, to get me back over launch, then up to around 12,000', my maximum for the day.

I gradually lost altitude as the thermals seemed to become smaller and more elusive, was eventually scratching at the end of the ridge over the rocks there, without finding much.

Others were below, sinking out also, and going out to land, and finally I had to head out too. Got a very light thermal while setting up my approach, gained about a hundred feet, then finally made my approach doing one-eighties over the wires 'til low enough to make my final. The landing area was at 8000'.

Kept some speed in case of a wind gradient, went to the downtubes, may have lost too much speed, flared a bit early, popped up, held it, came down fairly hard, but didn't bend anything. It was a satisfactory first flight, which I enjoyed very much. Staying up for fifty-five minutes was a challenge.

More later, going to bed now.

Wednesday, August 25, 1982 - 3:20 PM Aspen

Yesterday, I bought Mary a house gift, a Hubbard 3-D map of this area, and left it at The Frame Shop for framing. I hope it's something she'll like. Then I went and picked up the Scout, with new starter and solenoid. It cost $127, not too outrageous, since the parts were $90.

In the afternoon, it had brightened a bit, so the four of us took a drive up to Ashcroft, the "ghost town" up Castle Creek Road, and walked around awhile up there.

Came home and rested before going to a Gallery Opening. Meredith spent a lot of time talking to one of the artists, who specializes in Indian faces.

Then we went out to dinner at Country Roads, for some excellent fish dinners, a treat for Mary, and for us as well. Afterwards we came home to watch some of Mary's slides from Japan. Then Meredith took a hot tub and I went to bed.

Today's been overcast and raining. We slept later than usual, then got up and had some breakfast.

Tomorrow's our last day here. Then we'll head back to Yosemite in two days, starting early Friday morning, more rushed than the trip out.

Thursday, August 26, 1982 - 7:20 PM Aspen

Yesterday, Polly called, and we made plans to show hang gliding movies at Scott's house at 8 PM on Wednesday night. So after taking it easy for most of the afternoon, and doing a little shopping, we had dinner, then Mary, Cici, and I went to Scott's at eight. Meredith didn't feel like going.

Soon others arrived, and it turned into a pleasant evening with the "Aspen Air Force." There were Polly, Archie, Scott, Kirk, Joey, Lisa, and a few others whose names I can't remember. We showed Polly's slides of Crested Butte, Archie's of Hawaii, then my movies of Hull, the Memorial day cloud flight, Spanky flying, the Regionals of 1981, landings, camping, etc. Also showed the 1980 film that showed Usal launches, and a few new films.

Then Polly showed some older movies, with people flying standards, etc. All in all it was a very pleasant evening. Mary said she really enjoyed it, and I think Cici did too.

I slept pretty well. Today was a nicer day, but still with overcast with low cloudbase all morning. Meredith and Cici went for a hike to Maroon Bells, leaving after nine. Mary had to work at the library. So I planned to go flying if the weather permitted.

More later. It's dinner time.

8:50 PM

Continuing...

This morning I drove to the landing area at about 10:30 and waited. The weather didn't look very promising, but Scott showed up, as did Chris, the driver, so we decided to head on up.

They also decided to change the oil and air filter, so we stopped by Cap's to get the oil and filters. Then we headed on up to the top.

While they changed the oil, I walked up to check out launch. It was blowing up from the wrong side (from Aspen), but would have been launchable from some other places in that direction. But Scott didn't think it looked promising, so we decided to drive back down.

At the landing area we ran into Bill, and now the wind direction looked more promising, so we decided to go up again, after picking up Polly, and stopping for a sandwich. I was ambivalent about going up again, but decided to after all.

We set up around two to two-thirty, and it was now cycling up the launch pretty nicely. I put on my harness and prepared to launch first, since no one else seemed eager. Was prepared for a sled ride.

Ran hard, and had a good launch. Turned right and headed down the ridge with no lift, until nearly to Aztec Rock, where I found a light thermal. Started circling and climbing slowly from 10,200' on up to 12,000' or more.

Seeing me climbing, the others began launching too, Scott, then Polly, then Bill. Scott got up, but Polly didn't, and Bill did for awhile. But I stayed higher than the others almost all the time, getting to 12,300' three or four times.

Scott went out and landed after awhile, and Bill got flushed also, but I had no trouble staying up. Went high up the mountain on one pass, but lost altitude, had to come back and circle up again. Also headed off across the Castle Creek Valley toward the next ridge, and found another good thermal halfway out.

Finally, after over an hour, I decided to head out and land, as the others had all been down for awhile. Did some wingovers to lose altitude, set up an approach from the SE over the wires, but encountered a no-wind landing situation.

Went through the gradient, found myself streaking across the ground at thirty or so, bled it off for awhile, finally flared hard, but didn't stop dead, came down on a downtube (left), bending it severely. But I felt okay about it, felt I'd done it as best I could in the situation, though perhaps should have gone further before flaring. Oh well.

(ed. note: Actually, it sounds now like I flared too late.)

Folded up, replacing the bent downtube with a spare. The truck almost left up the mountain again with my tool bag, but Bill ran to the road to catch them for me, fortunately.

By now it was 5:30, so I headed to town to pick up Mary's present at the frame shop. It was to be ready by 6 PM tonight. He was finishing it as I arrived, and we talked awhile as he did. Brought it home, wrapped, and gave it to Mary. She liked it a lot.

We had a nice dinner, and will get ready to leave in the morning.

Monday, August 30, 1982 - 6:15 PM Santa Rosa

Had coffee and rolls in Rifle, then on through Grand Junction, across Utah to Delta, where we had a pizza for dinner at that same place, then on across the desert to Ely, Nevada, where we stopped at a very nice motel called The Bristlecone Motel.

None of us slept too well in spite of the nice beds, etc. Also, it thundered and rained during the night.

We got a pretty early start, and headed west on Route 6, after a nice breakfast. Route 6 was less interesting than Route 50, eventually took us through Tonopah, and on through Montgomery Pass to Benton in the Owens Valley.

From there, we went across Route 120 toward Yosemite, through some high valleys, past Mono Lake to Route 395, then into Yosemite via Tioga Pass, arriving there around 3 PM.

Then there was the long drive (75 miles) across the spectacular park to the other side, before we could head back up to Bridalveil Campground where we'd meet our friends from Sonoma Wings.

More later, it's dinner time.

Wednesday, September 1, 1982 - 2:40 PM

We arrived at Bridalveil Campground around 5:45, where, after a few loops through the campground, we found the hang gliders, along with Bones and Sharol.

After warm greetings, I cleared a spot on the ground and set up our tent. It had been raining as we came into the park, and we heard that they'd flown in some light rain that morning.

We were all invited over to the Ranger's cabin (Rich Romero's) where we were to have a pot luck spaghetti dinner. So we rode over with Bones and Sharol, and found Stretch, Anne, Roy, Joe, Rick, James, and Rich Romero, preparing the meal.

It was still light, so a bunch of us walked over to Glacier Point to view the valley. Eventually we came back to eat and party.

Cici had been feeling bad earlier, as one of her ears was closed, but she felt better later. We had a nice time, and we eventually headed back to camp to go to sleep.

In the morning, after a fair night of sleep (with all three of us in the tent), we got up before six to get ready to meet the Ranger at Sentinel Dome by seven.

(ed. note: We would launch from Sentinal Dome this year because of some work being done around Glacier Point, the usual launch.)

At the last minute we decided to pack up camp and take all the vehicles, so I scurried around stuffing the sleeping bags and tent, and packing the Scout, finishing just in time.

At Sentinel Dome, it was misty, but clearing. We all set up our gliders leisurely. Then I took some movies before turning the camera over to Meredith.

We started launching around 8:20, with Rick Kannisto going first, then James, Joe, Stretch, Anne, Roy, Bones, Sharol, then me, last. I launched at 8:54, had a good launch, headed out over the highest rocks, then turned toward the falls across the valley, arriving there above the top of the falls.

Then I headed left along the rock face that was in the sun, looking for some lift, and finding only brief light patches. Saw Sharol and Bones below, coming back from where they'd gone, and watched, making passes along the wall, while they landed.

Then I flew out over the meadow to set up my landing. Made a long downwind leg (there was little if any wind), then turned back towards the landing area. I'd gone a bit too far, and just barely cleared some ditches, then flared hard, but dropped the nose, slightly bending a downtube, but an okay landing after a seventeen minute flight over a spectacular valley.

After picking some apples off a nearby tree, we folded up our gliders and waited for Meredith and Cici to bring Roy's truck down. When they finally arrived, Bones, Rick, and I rode up with Roy to get the other vehicles down.

It was past noon by the time we got down again, and we soon said our goodbyes to our friends, and headed on home.

We took Route 120 out of the Park, through some small towns and windy roads, until we finally reached Manteca, then out onto Route 580, which took us on up to Berkeley, where we left Cici at her place, then came on home, arriving by about 7:30 or so.

Mary was here when we arrived, had been watering the garden. I was glad to see her. Meredith and I were pretty exhausted, so we took a bath and went to bed.

Back to work on Monday. I left early with a belly ache in the afternoon. Also felt poorly on Tuesday afternoon, so took today off as a sick day.

Last evening I replaced the slave cylinder on the Scout. I hope it solves the problem.

Tuesday, September 7, 1982 - 10 PM

Charley and Marcy came over, to get Hank's book on Partnerships, since they are about to embark on a partnership in a restaurant, The Bodega Gallery, which they're excited about. We talked for an hour or so, and I showed them the movies of our trip.

Meredith went to Berkeley this morning, will be coming back tomorrow evening.

I still have to catch up from last Wednesday, will try to do that tomorrow. Right now, I'm going to bed.

Wednesday, September 8, 1982 - 8:40 PM

Today, Cathy, my landlady, called, said she was sorry but she wants to move back into the house as of November first. Oh well, at least it's not in the middle of flying season.

Also, I called Mike Cate tonight to see if he wanted to come up with us this weekend. But he's signed up for lessons, starting Saturday, so will be busy for at least the next three weekends.

Now to review...

I worked Thursday afternoon, after taking the morning off to recover from the night before. We'd gone to Lynne's (with Mel) for dinner, and had gotten drunk on Margaritas. I felt terrible on Thursday morning, so called in sick.

By Friday I was feeling better. We were unsure of what we'd do for the weekend, as many of the regulars wouldn't be going to Hull Mountain (Mel, Bones and Sharol, Stretch and Anne, etc.) I called Hank, and Ivan, finally decided we'd go after all. Hank would ride up with us.

We got a reasonably early start, got there around eleven, but our usual campsite was occupied by a bunch of fliers from San Jose, including George Pierson, and others, so we camped with Ivan and Patti at a site across the road (where we'd been on Memorial Day a year ago). Actually, it wasn't too crowded for being Labor Day Weekend.

Soon we loaded the Scout and headed up, meeting Mike and Dallas on the way out. Set up at the Rockpile. Some people had gotten up earlier, but now there was a lull.

I launched at 2:26, and scratched in the bowl for quite awhile. Only got over the top briefly, by a few hundred feet, and spent most of the flight lower, near lower launch or Red Spot, scratching in marginal thermals. I did manage to hang out for two hours, with Ivan (who got in a convergence over Sunset), Mike, and others.

Finally I came out, tired of scratching, had a decent landing in light wind, though far from the spot, as I wanted a long glide.

Meredith had a problem with the Scout on the way down, but made it okay. The clutch failed. I'd forgotten to replace the cotter pin when I'd replaced the slave cylinder, and the pin had come loose, and had been lost. I was able to fix it with a bolt though, for the time being.

We had tacos for dinner after a swim at Sunset with Ivan and Mike. Then we had a nice time around the campfire before going to bed.

On Sunday, we had a leisurely breakfast, and finally headed up the hill in Ivan's truck. It was looking better than Saturday, but people were getting flushed.

Eventually we decided to launch from the Rockpile, Ivan at 1:40, and me at 1:45. Caught a thermal over the ridge and got well over the top. Stayed there awhile, or came back a few times, getting higher as the day wore on.

Jon arrived, as did Dick Swenson, though I didn't recognize his new glider, also Mike, Roy, and Joe, and soon a few of us were high above the mountain. 9000' was my high for the day, and I was on top of the stack for awhile, up with Roy, Jon, and others, out over Windy Ridge for part of the time.

Finally, after two hours, I left with 8000' and headed out. Set up and executed my best landing so far, but with a steady wind to help. Had two hours and fifty minutes, and felt very good about my landing.

So we soon packed up, said our goodbyes, and headed on home, as we'd planned to do, to give us Monday to rest up before I'd have to go back to work on Tuesday.

Got home, took a bath, and went to bed early.

I was more rested at work on Tuesday and today. But I'm tired now, and glad tomorrow's another holiday (Admission Day).

Friday, September 10, 1982 - 7:55 PM

Meredith got home around 12:30, just as I was finishing, so I cleaned up and we went out for a drive.

Stopped for lunch at the Home Plate near Sebastopol, which has recently reopened under new management. It was a bit expensive, but the food was good, and the people were nice.

Then on to Occidental. It was Tera's birthday, so we stopped at James's house to leave the present Meredith had bought and wrapped for her, and to visit with James, who was there working on the house.

His house is very nice, but still has much work left to be done, and it's on a very nice piece of property on a hillside in the forest, with tall trees all around.

From there we drove out Coleman Valley Road to the coast, where it was foggy and cold. Stopped at Goat Rock, where it was blowing about eight from the SW. Then we came home along the river. We were tired from a busy day.

Tomorrow we'll be headed for Hull Mountain again.

Monday, September 13, 1982 - 4:55 PM

Meredith and I left about nine, but went out to breakfast at Arrigoni's in Santa Rosa on the way. Then headed north to Hull Mountain, past a big smoke cloud from a big fire on the back of Mt. St. Helena.

At Hull, we found Sandra and Tera, and another woman named Liz. James, Hank, and others had already gone up the mountain. Stretch, Anne, and Roy had chosen to go to Elk Mountain instead, because of an east wind.

We gave a ride up to a young guy named Jim McGee, with a Seahawk, his first time at Hull. I didn't ask about his experience level.

At the top, I was surprised that no one was setting up, though there were ten or more gliders up there. There was a light east breeze, but occasionally launchable cycles at the propane tank, and it looked like it would soon be launchable at the Rockpile.

So I set up, as did Hank and a few others. Earlier, James had launched from the east facing ridge below the propane tank, when the wind was stronger, but had almost hit a tree when he was rotored. So everyone else had just been waiting.

Soon there were light launchable cycles up the Rockpile. So Hank launched. To everyone's surprise, he flew into a thermal in the west bowl, and after a couple of passes, was above launch, and circling much higher.

I was ready next, so waited for a light cycle, then launched at 2:55. Had to scratch much more than Hank, but soon was able to get a decent thermal behind lower launch and get over the top.

Hank had shouted that it was cold up there, so I borrowed Charlie Carlson's extra jacked, since Meredith had already headed down with the Scout, where my jacket was, to go for a boat ride with Mel and Lynne. And Charlie had decided not to fly.

More later.

Tuesday, September 14, 1982 - 5 PM

After getting over the top, I found stronger lift and continued circling until I was up with Hank at about 9000'. Then, while he was out front, I went back to the east and caught another strong thermal, which took me to my maximum altitude for the day of 10,300', far above Hank.

He was cold, so soon headed out. Also, he'd flown without his radio, so we couldn't talk.

From then on, I was alone over the top. No one else got up, though a couple of Ravens, as well as Steve Little's Harrier II were able to launch. For over two hours, I flew high over the top, going east for thermals, usually between 7500 and 8000 feet, watching the launch below, where eventually people began folding up their gliders, as it had become unlaunchable, blowing over the back. Finally I headed out with over 7500'.

At the landing area, the wind had turned around and was coming from the NW over the trees, so I set up far out near the lake, not wanting to risk wind shadow and turbulence from the trees. It shifted as I came in, but I ran with it, before dropping the nose, not bending anything, however. Felt good about having the best flight of the day.

Stretch, Anne, and Roy arrived from Elk in the evening. They'd had pretty good flights there.

Also, we visited Ivan in the adjacent camp area, where he was disabled with a back spasm, could hardly move all day. Hank gave him some Valiums, which helped him though. I helped Patti build a fire for dinner, and loaned her my grill.

Thursday, September 16, 1982 - 6:10 PM

On Saturday night, we had a nice dinner of steak, then Meredith and I visited Ivan and Patti again, before going to bed out on the reeds.

On Sunday morning, we all had a nice breakfast, visited Ivan and Patti, and got ready to go up the mountain again. He was still feeling pretty disabled, could hardly move.

On top, it looked better than Saturday, as the east wind wasn't blowing so hard. Stretch launched from the propane tank launch in a crosswind, and scratched down the mountain below Red Spot, not finding much. But to our surprise, he appeared over the top about a half hour later, encouraging us.

Some other people took off and also sank out, until Tom Low launched from the ramp, found a thermal in the west bowl, and circled high above the mountain.

I launched next, at 12:40, from the Rockpile. Had to scratch in the bowl and around lower launch for about twenty minutes with Stretch and some others who took off after me.

Finally I got a thermal next to lower launch, where Stretch and I were making low passes, and got a few hundred feet above him. Then I found one in the west bowl above Eric Beckman, and took it on up over the top.

Saw Tom heading out as I was getting up, so found myself alone over the top again, where I stayed for the next hour, mostly between 7500' and 8500'.

No one else was able to get up, and only a few more were able to launch. As the wind picked up from the NE, Mel launched from the north slot at the Rockpile, but was flushed on down the mountain, as were those who were able to launch by diving off the ramp during lulls. Being over the top, I was able to catch thermals from the east and stay up.

Eventually it got quite turbulent, seemed like I was between layers going different directions. Finally, I got lower over lower launch, made one more pass over the top, then headed out in a lot of sink.

I followed the main ridge to the dogleg, getting there with 5000', found a light thermal which took me to 5400' before I headed on out to the landing area.

Again it was blowing toward the lake, so I set up far out and came in toward the campground. Made a good approach and a fair landing, dropped the nose but didn't bend anything.

A few more people got launched, but were down in fifteen minutes or so, including Charley Warren, and others.

One guy was seen sinking below the trees to the NE. It turned out to be Jim McGee, with his Seahawk, on his first flight there, not a very good day for it. Earlier I'd loaned him a nut to replace a butterfly he'd lost, and a couple of wrenches so he could undo it later.

Some of his friends went looking for him and found him, unhurt. He'd landed on a dirt road on a fairly flat hill back there. I went back to help them (I'd already loaned them my handheld CB and first aid kit), but missed them coming back, eventually connected with them back at camp.

On our way home, Meredith and I stopped for a dip in the Eel River, then stopped for dinner at Henny Penny, where Mel and Lynne joined us. Then on home, a bath, and to bed.

Tuesday night we had a Sonoma Wings meeting at Ernie's house. Only a few people were there, including Stretch and Anne, Eric Beckman and Denise, James, Joe, Jon, Hank, Sharol, Eric Havstadt, and John Blacet.

We saw movies (mine), talked about Mt. St. Helena (we may get to fly there soon), and talked about the crowded conditions at Hull Mountain. Finally we nominated officers for next year. I was nominated for President and Treasurer. Also nominated for offices were Jon, Hank, Stretch, James, Ivan, Mike, Ernie, and others.

Monday, September 20, 1982 - 6:15 PM

He's a true Leo, very outgoing and talkative, and we talked all the way home about various things, his college life, family trips, etc., getting reacquainted. Finally got home and to bed around three or so.

Took Friday off. Slept late. Eventually got up, drove around town showing Chris the lay of the land. It was raining again, not boding well for the weekend.

On Saturday, it was still heavily clouded over, with rain just stopping in Ukiah, and also raining in Berkeley, so we decided to pass up flying, as did all of our flying friends. This made it opportune to have a birthday party (for me), and Meredith called a bunch of people to invite them.

I forgot to mention that Mary and Dennis took us out to dinner on Friday night, to the Blue Heron at Duncans Mills, also gave us a bottle of champagne. Dinner was great, a very nice place. We came home and had some champagne before they left to go home.

The birthday party was a great success. Stretch and Anne (and Awk, their bird); James, Sandra, and Tera; Tom Barker and Dahlena (his daughter); Mary and Dennis; Mel and Lynne; Ivan and Patti; Bones and Sharol (and her friend, Carolyn); Jon; Hank; and Joe all came, most with nice cards and gifts.

I was quite touched by the warmth and displays of friendship, as well as the gifts. Hank gave me a Tlinget Raven belt buckle; Jon, a neat card with two poems inside, and a book, Manbirds, by Maralys Wills; James and family, a selection of edible gifts (preserves, cookies, tea, bagels); Joe, a nice card and a photo of me; Ivan and Patti, some photos, and a neat card; Stretch, Anne, and Tom, a nice card and a gift certificate for ice cream; Bones and Sharol, a Blue Raven T-shirt with a thoughtful card; Mel and Lynne, a nice homemade card and margaritas for the party; and Mary and Dennis, a hot tub gift certificate. I was very much touched.

More later.

Tuesday, September 21, 1982 - 5 PM

At the birthday party, we all had spaghetti, drank beer, wine, and margaritas, ate cake and ice cream, showed some movies (Joe's and mine), and had a fine time. We broke up around 11:30. Hank spent the night here, but was having a back problem, so didn't go flying on Sunday, but headed home instead.

We headed to Elk Mountain on Sunday morning, with Chris joining us. He'd had a fine time at the party, is very gregarious.

Sunday was clear, with blue sky, but to the east further up were large cumi's forming. Hull was obscured by the clouds as we passed by on Route 101.

At Elk, we found Joe, and a guy named Barry (with a Raven). Ernie and Mike soon pulled in, so we loaded all five gliders onto the Scout, and headed up with seven people inside.

Others had already gone up, including Stretch (who landed while we were loading gliders), Anne, Roy, and Jon. Some people were high overhead, including Anne and another glider (Len ?).

Joe launched first and got up with Anne, but then Barry and Mike didn't get up. We were launching from the top competition slot on the backside. Large clouds were forming, shading the top.

I waited for a cloud shadow to move almost all the way up the hill, then a strong thermal came up, so I launched into it at 2:09, and was able to make a couple of passes in front and get over launch. I managed to stay a couple of hundred feet above launch until I'd find small thermals I could circle back in, getting a bit higher still.

Ernie launched after me, but couldn't stay up. Eventually a good thermal came over the back and took me to cloudbase at 7100'.

Another truckload of gliders came back up, including Stretch, Roy, Rich, Jon, and later Ernie, Mike, and Anne, all for their second flights. Joe was on the radio, had flown to Kona Tayee (on the east side of Clear Lake).

I flew around while others set up, but gradually lost my altitude. Others launched, and I went down. Stretch scratched around low, and soon I was down with him, both scratching together, barely over the top or out in front.

But now another cloud was covering the whole mountain and the thermals quit, so we both got flushed and went out to land. Had a fair landing but dropped the nose. Didn't bend anything.

Stretch, Jon, Roy, Rich flying tandem with ?, Fred, Mike, and Ernie all landed soon after short flights. Mine was the longest of the day, one hour and thirty-eight minutes. Joe soon got a ride back from Kona Tayee, a nice cross country flight.

We packed up, said our goodbyes, and headed home via Route 29 for a change. Stopped at Middletown for pizza and beer. The cute little waitress was still working there. Then home by eight or so.

Meredith and I took a bath, then went to bed. But she was detained by a long call from Rick, her ex, who was depressed.

Back to work on Monday. Nice weather again. Cooked a steak for dinner, with vegetables and potatoes.

Stretch and Anne came over after dinner, and we got wasted again, on beer, leftover wine, etc., until they left around 9:45, and we went to bed.

Another nice day today.

Mary and Dennis left on their motorcycle trip today. She stopped by the office to say goodbye. Hope they have a safe and fun trip. They're planning to take about three weeks.

I was saddened to hear that George Worthington had died from a crash in a powered ultralight. I'll miss his articles in the magazines. He was the grand old man of hang gliding.

Saturday, September 25, 1982 - 9 AM

I was going to go flying today, but the weather is iffy (pretty cloudy), and Meredith had said last night that she didn't want to go.

Chris went to Dillon Beach with Stretch yesterday, and had a lesson, is getting interested in hang gliding now.

I'm beginning to get worried about our upcoming move. We have to move by November 1, and I have a lot of organizing to do, as well as finding a suitable place.

Today we'll go out to breakfast, maybe go out to Goat Rock later.

Monday, September 27, 1982 - 9:15 PM

Meredith and I went to breakfast at Elmer's, then later Chris, Meredith and I headed out to Goat Rock, taking my Comet. But we found it was blowing thirty to forty there, so walked on the beach for awhile, then headed home via Bodega and Sebastopol.

I was tired when we got home, but Meredith convinced me to go running with her. Ran two miles without stopping this time. Had quiche for dinner, which Meredith had made on Friday.

Sunday morning, Chris and I headed up to Elk. Meredith wanted to spend a day alone finishing up the draft of her book, so didn't come with us.

Got to Elk around 11:20. Found Mike Kunitani there, along with Tim (Raven), and Jack Anderson of Sacramento. He's flying a Harrier now.

So we loaded their gliders on the Scout and headed on up. We'd seen Stretch and James over the top, but they all landed soon, while we were driving up. By radio they told us it was very trashy.

The wind was blowing from the NW. A couple of gliders were set up on top, Barry with his Raven, and another guy with an Oly, but they were waiting, not anxious to launch. So we set up.

I was ready by 1 PM, so moved to the launch slot. The wind didn't seem all that strong, but was quite gusty, as ragged thermals blew through. A string of dark cumi's was passing over from Horse Mountain pretty low. The top of Hull Mountain was engulfed by thick clouds rolling over from the NW.

I launched at 1:15, was picked up quickly when I turned back to the left, was soon a few hundred feet over the mountain in very turbulent lift. Searched out thermals, and began circling back with them, getting higher still.

Jack Anderson and Mike soon launched and got up, though I managed to stay above them for most of the flight by several hundred feet. It was trashy and turbulent, but fun. We'd head out the ridge to the NW, find thermals, and take them back over the top, eventually to cloudbase, around 6700' later.

The people on the ground (Stretch, Anne, Roy, Joe, and James) decided to stay down, and their comments also convinced Mel and Ivan not to bother coming up.

But we were having a great time. Tim and the guy with the Oly also launched, but headed down very quickly. Barry didn't fly. So the sky belonged to the three of us, and we had a lot of fun, getting dumped frequently, but staying high.

At one point, a bald eagle flew up with me. I called to Jack, who flew over and took a picture of us, before the eagle split.

Finally, after a couple of hours, I decided to head out (after Jack), took a thermal back, drifting above the lower slopes of Pitney at near cloudbase. Drifted too far, and had to stuff the bar to get back upwind to the landing area, still with 4500' though.

Came down through some very turbulent air, set up a landing, flying fast and getting trashed around. But had a good setup, got picked up by a thermal as I was trying to land, pulled in to fly through it, then came right down on my feet as I flared. It turned out to be a lucky perfect landing in very turbulent conditions. Chris filmed it, so I'll be interested to see the film.

Took a spin on Ivan's new trail bike, which he'd brought up. Joe had one almost like it (for vehicle retrieval).

Folded up my glider while Stretch and others played some softball. Said goodbyes and headed on home around five, getting here around seven. Was very tired. Went to bed around 8:45.

Was still tired today, though. Ran with Meredith when she and Chris got back from a drive to the Napa Valley.

Mary called tonight. They're in Green River, Utah. They started out by motorcycle, but turned back and got their car after Mary had a bad cold after the first day. Since then, the bad weather's been following them and they've been rained on a lot.

Monday, October 4, 1982 - 11:30 AM

We all (Hang-4s only, and drivers) met at the glider port in Calistoga at nine on Saturday morning. After a quick look at one of the possible landing areas, we all loaded on the three Toyota trucks (Roy's, Ivan's, and Don Piercy's), five gliders each, and headed up the hill to meet the Ranger at the gate at 10 AM.

Then we headed on up to the top, where we scoped out the area, found out where the approved landing areas were, went to the launch area, and eventually began setting up our gliders.

The launch was a shallow path towards the south face. It was thermalling up adequately for launch.

Joe was off first at about eleven or so. He circled around to the left of launch and eventually caught a light thermal and was able to get over the top, was soon 1000 to 1500' above us.

Stretch launched next and sunk out for awhile, but eventually did find a thermal and got back up. He and Joe got high over the mountain, went to the north peak, then headed for the further landing area, the JP Ranch, whose owner, Peter Newman, had given us permission to land there.

Roy, then Anne, launched next. Anne didn't find anything after an initial thermal, and headed out for the secondary landing area at Kellogg. Roy scratched for a long time but eventually had to head out there also.

After Don Piercy had a marginal launch, James had a scary launch, but got off okay. He eventually got above the top, as did Rick Kannisto, who launched next.

I launched (at 12:26) after Hank, who was scratching to the left, so I went out to the right. Found a light thermal over a burned area, which got me even with the top, but lost it there, scratched around near Hank and Dave Thor, but gradually lost what I had, heading out to the west of the mountain.

Hank eventually managed to get over the top, but Dave had to head to Kellogg, as did Don Piercy. Bones and Sharol launched after me, and they both got up also, as did Jon James. Mel launched last.

Meanwhile, I scratched low without finding much, realized I might not make it even to Kellogg. So I headed for the "emergency field," a crop duster landing field behind The Yellow Jacket Ranch, searching for thermals on the way, occasionally finding light lift, but not enough.

Over the emergency strip, I debated heading for Kellogg, but there were too many vineyards and trees in between, so I turned back, made an approach over a fence line, made a steep 180 at the east end of the strip and came in. I found it was slightly downhill, but okay, I flared hard but fell forward, slightly bending a downtube, but I was down safely.

I talked to Mel as he flew over heading for Kellogg. Folded up my glider, walked to the road, where Mike eventually came for me. We picked up my glider and gear, then headed up to Kellogg, then went on to the JP Ranch, where other pilots were still thermalling.

Stretch, Hank, and Joe had already landed, but we watched Rick, James, Ivan, Sharol, Bones, and finally Jon, land there after having wonderful long flights. I was a bit envious, but hoped to do better the next day.

More later, it's time to go to work.

Tuesday, October 5, 1982 - 8:10 PM

On Saturday, Meredith and I left the JP Ranch after saying our goodbyes, and headed on home. Took a bath and had some dinner.

Stretch had said they'd be having a get-together at their house, so I went over around 8:30. Meredith was tired, didn't want to go.

Most everyone was there, still high from the day's flights. Plans had been made to be at the gate at nine instead of ten on Sunday, which annoyed me and others a little. So I left around ten to go home and go to bed.

As arranged, Hank and Jon came over at 7:30, followed soon by Ivan and Patti, who'd offered to drive us over. We loaded the gliders on his truck, but Jon, Hank, and I rode over in Hank's Toyota for the sake of comfort, parking it at the Gliderport.

Mel met us at the gate, and Don and Marty, with Dave Thor, arrived a few minutes later. Roy's truckload had arrived a few minutes after us at nine.

On top, Stretch, Anne, and Roy were getting set up. It was blowing slightly downwind, but occasionally a light cycle would come up. Joe was waiting.

By 10:20, Stretch was ready to launch and did, and he managed to find a light thermal out over the rocky slopes, slightly to the SE. Roy followed and also got up, circling above us. Anne launched, but didn't find anything, soon headed out, while Stretch and Roy headed over the north peak.

Soon Joe was ready, launched and also got slightly above the top. But to our surprise, he tried to land on top, and to his surprise, headed downhill towards a tree, flared, but hit the tree, breaking a downtube and ending his flight. Stretch later got quite upset at him over this, feeling he was using poor judgment, and jeopardizing the site.

Around noon, James launched. He scratched, got low, and headed out. I was ready next, thought he'd just gone to the wrong places, and launched at 12:20. Flew out over the SE point where I thought there'd be some lift, but gradually sank lower down the slope, so had to head west or be in trouble.

Came over another blackened lower ridge, with only 50 to 100 feet to spare, made a couple of passes and did find light lift. Circled and scratched without much progress, but soon had gained about 100 feet, then 200, and the lift was getting stronger, so I kept circling, looking for the strongest part of the thermal until I had eventually gained 1000 feet and was even with the top.

But now it was petering out, and I wasn't finding it, as it led me into the canyon. Meanwhile, Dave Thor had launched and was scratching a few hundred feet below me.

When I didn't find anything soon, and was losing much of my gain, I finally decided to head on out toward Kellogg, not wanting to have to land at the emergency strip again.

Passed over the strip with 1900' to spare, enough to continue, and reached the landing area with 1100', enough to continue over to some plowed fields hoping for a thermal. I'd seen Dave following me out lower, but he had to land at the emergency strip instead.

Didn't find anything more, so set up a landing toward the west near James. Came in with no wind, flared hard, but pitched forward and bent severely my left downtube, which broke when I tried to straighten it. This made folding up the glider difficult, but I managed okay. I was glad I'd brought a cold beer with me.

Don Piercy soon landed, as did Stretch soon after. Jon headed out, but caught thermals, and was able to tease us overhead for over an hour, getting to 3000 feet or so.

Mel was last to come out, feeling glad to get down safely, said it had gotten turbulent on top. In fact, he was the last to launch. Hank, Ivan, and Roy, I think, all broke down their gliders and drove down, as conditions had deteriorated. Evidently it was rotoring at the south end from a NW wind. Jon said he'd been "out of control" a few times near the top.

We hung around the field waiting for the vehicles for a long time, until Marty finally arrived, followed by the others, and we had some more beer.

A distinguished older couple in a white Mercedes stopped, and we talked to them about the advances in the sport since 1976 when someone had gotten killed here. I think they were the owners of The Yellowjacket Ranch, on whose land I'd landed the day before.

Finally, around five, I headed on home with Ivan and Patti.

More later.

Wednesday, October 6, 1982 - 7:35 AM

I'm beginning to feel under pressure from things to do, both at work and at home. I have projects in front of me totaling over 256 hours at work. And at home I have: getting ready to move, fixing my glider (control bar), getting the Cirrus for Mike (he called a couple of days ago), writing the Sonoma Wings financial report, finding a house, etc. Also, the days are getting much shorter.

Thursday, October 14, 1982 - 5 PM

It looks like we've found a place to live; a house on Nordyke Avenue, just off Steele Lane, near the freeway, also close to the office, within walking distance, which I like.

Last weekend, we left for Hull Mountain on Saturday morning. Michael Cate came up to go for a day, and to pick up my Cirrus-5, which I'm lending him to practice on.

It was windy in the morning, an east wind, so I wasn't too hopeful. We found Hank and Mike Kunitani in Cloverdale, and proceeded on.

Just before the turnoff to Potter Valley, we saw James coming the other way. We stopped and talked. He was heading home. It seems that it was blowing thirty or more from the backside at Hull.

We went on, found the others parked on a turnoff soon, including Mike and Hank, Mel and Lynne, Stretch, Anne, Roy, Tom and Joe.

After conferring awhile, some of us decided to go look at Elk. But there we heard from some San Jose pilots who just came down the mountain that it was blowing about 25 from the NE, parallel to the road, not a good launch direction. So we decided not to bother going up.

Instead, Mike Kunitani suggested we all go to Hardin Hot Springs in Middletown on the way home. So we all headed there.

It was a pleasant place, where almost everyone goes nude, similar to Orr Hot Springs, west of Ukiah, where I'd gone with my HPP class back in 1976.

We paid our money ($4 for two hours or less), and headed in. Mel and Lynne decided to pass, but Mike, Hank, Michael Cate, Meredith, Chris, and I went in. Had a pleasant stay until around five, when we headed home.

On Sunday, we slept in and went out to breakfast at Elmer's. Then to the Flea Market near Sebastopol, where we walked around awhile. After we got home, I worked on the Scout.

I couldn't adjust the clutch anymore, in fact, I couldn't disengage it when I was finished, so I took it in on Monday for a clutch job. It cost $334, but now I have a new clutch with lots of clearance. Don had it done by noon on Tuesday. This was the problem all along, not the linkage.

On Monday, Meredith left for Berkeley, to stay 'til Wednesday, visiting friends.

That evening Jon came over, and we went over the Club financial report.

Tuesday night was the Sonoma Wings Annual Meeting. First I picked up Mary (in her Mazda, which she'd loaned me), and we cooked some steak and broccoli for dinner. Then she and I went to the meeting.

There were about eighteen members there, and we eventually held our elections after lots of talk about Mt. St. Helena. The new officers are: Mike Mahoney, president; Stretch, flight director; Ivan, vice-president; me, treasurer; and Ernie, secretary. Had a nice time (at Jon's house), and left around 10:30 PM.

Monday, October 18, 1982 - 8 PM

So after work, we packed up and got off by 6:05 PM; Meredith, Chris, and I. We stopped at Henny Penny, where we gorged on their half-price dinners. I had half a chicken for $2.50, with baked potato, etc.

We arrived around 9 PM, to find Stretch, Anne, Roy, Joe, Rick Kannisto, and others. We joined them soon in the hot tub after I laid out our sleeping bags. Eventually, we went to bed.

Other people arrived during the night and in the morning, including Hank, Ernie, Don and Marty, Mike, Jon, Wayne, Dick, Bones and Sharol, and eventually Fred, Rich, and Craig with their 4-wheel drive trucks. This was fortunate, as Roy's truck was crippled, the front differential having a problem.

Around eleven, we all loaded vehicles and headed up the mountain. There were about thirty gliders setting up on the south face, so we drove on past to the point, where we found the predominant puffs to be from the NW. So we stayed there, thinking the wind would shift to NW, which it did after awhile, leaving us feeling quite smug.

We watched a few people launch and go down, until Rich Sauer, following our advice, came right down the ridge and circled up on the west side of the point where we were. Others kept sinking out on the south side, until Roy came down over us and also got high with Rich, and Hank too, soon after.

Mike Kunitani, who'd ridden up with Bones, Sharol, and me, launched from the west side and scratched awhile over there too, eventually getting up. Sharol lined up to launch there also. I went to the NW slot, as it was beginning to come up there too. Sharol soon moved her glider behind mine.

I launched at about 2:35 into a nice cycle, turned left around to the west side of the point and climbed quickly, soon circling up to 800' or so over the top, feeling very good about my timing.

Sharol soon launched and climbed up also, and by now there were quite a few gliders up, in relatively marginal lift.

In about ten minutes, however, we all began sinking lower, as the wind shifted more. Bones launched about then, and never did get up.

I was sinking down the west ridge myself by then, scratched around there awhile, losing ground, eventually heading out, looked back and saw half a dozen gliders behind me, so sped up, lost altitude quickly while setting up a landing. Made a good one though, on my feet, without dropping the nose, trying to flare "up," but not having good leverage.

Behind me, seven or eight gliders landed, as everyone had been flushed. I had 33 minutes, one of the longest flights, except for Rich's.

Felt good, had a few beers while putting my glider away, eventually got in the hot tub with Meredith.

Finally we got out, cooked our dinner (steak, potatoes), and sat around the fire for quite awhile.

I was somewhat uncomfortably wasted, so said goodnight and retreated to the tent (which I'd earlier put up) and went to bed. Meredith joined me awhile later.

Slept fairly well. Stayed in bed until 8:30. Meredith, still not feeling too well, stayed longer.

Hit some softballs with Stretch, Anne, Tom, Roy, and others, then had some eggs, which Chris cooked.

Eventually it was time to head on up the mountain. Again there was a shortage of 4WD vehicles, until Rich and Fred arrived. Hank, Mike Kunitani, and Mike Mahoney rode up in the Scout with me and Chris. Meredith decided to stay down with Dallas.

We unloaded on the south face, finding enough setup space this time. Soon people began launching and getting up. Again the predominant thermals were beyond the point, and people were getting higher.

I launched after Sharol and James, got some lift out front, so made a pass back to the left, then headed on down over the point, beyond which I found a marginal thermal to circle up in.

Soon I was up to 5000 feet or more with a bunch of other gliders, including Stretch, Sharol, James, Mike, Fred, Anne, and others. Soon people began heading out toward Pitney, so I decided I would also, when I got my maximum altitude.

Managed to get to 5700' at one point, so headed out, got another thermal on the west side, so maxed it and continued on across toward Pitney. Saw Anne ahead and lower, and was in radio contact with Mike Kunitani behind me.

Followed Anne way up Pitney, until she turned towards the creekbed, so I did too, though I still had a couple of hundred feet on her. Watched her land at the 8 to 1 landing area in the creekbed below.

Ahead had been a glider circling over the top of Pitney, but I didn't think I had enough altitude to make it up there, or around the corner over some vineyards and orchards to the next landable area, so I pretty much decided to land where Anne was.

As I circled a thousand feet above her, I watched James, then Mike come in underneath me and land. I got a thermal to 1300' but eventually lost it, and, after flying a bit further, came on back and made my approach over them. Made a good landing in the creekbed next to Mike.

Shared my cold beer with him, and watched Hank squeak in also, then Fred, Stretch, Erin, and finally Mike Mahoney. We folded up and all got a ride back on Fred's truck.

My flight was an hour and ten minutes, and I felt good about going as far as I did. I probably could have made it on to the next clear area, but would have been down there by myself. Rick Kannisto had gone on past Pitney to Clover Valley for what was probably the longest flight of the day.

Soon we packed up our gear, said our goodbyes, and headed home, getting here around 8:30, taking a bath and going to bed.

I was fairly tired at work today, but went running with Meredith after work. Ran for 23 minutes, probably around three miles.

Friday, October 22, 1982 - 3:10 PM

Went running again with Meredith on Wednesday evening. Ran three miles (12 laps) at the J.C. track for my longest run so far without stopping or walking. We saw Dick Swenson there as we were about to leave. He was coming to run also. He said he hadn't been flying recently, and had a nice trip east to Martha's Vineyard.

Sunday, November 7, 1982 - 1982 - 8 PM

We spent Saturday, October 30th, packing, then went to the Halloween party at Jon and Nancy James's friend Patti's house, Meredith as a "dead movie star" (the theme), and me as a "savage" in my Indian loin cloth and a fur vest, and wild wig.

Jon was there as Bob Marley, and Nancy as Princess Grace. Mike Mahoney came as "The Freeze" in white suit and white painted face, with Tricia as an Indian. There were other funny and good costumes, Lassie, some mobsters, etc. We left at eleven, as we would have to move to the new house the next day.

I picked up the rental truck at 11 AM ($25 and 25 cents per mile), and we started loading, with Mel's help.

When we got to the new house, Bill was still not finished moving his stuff out, so we took Mel out to lunch at Omelet Express, then went back to the house. Later, Mary and Dennis came over to help us unload.

I took a vacation day on Monday, to return the truck, then go over to the Plum Drive house to clean up and pick up the last of our things. We also went running later at Spring Lake, doing over three miles.

By Saturday, we were pretty well settled, and decided to go hang gliding. The plan was to go to Hull Mountain. Hank, with Susan Grey, stopped in on his way up.

We saw Mel and Tom on the way up. It was quite gusty, and we concluded that Hull probably wouldn't be flyable, and agreed to go to Elk instead. But Hank had gone ahead and didn't wait to confer, so probably went on to Hull.

At Elk, we found Roy and Joe, Rich, Craig, Mel and Lynne, Fred, and others. Stretch, Anne, and Mike Mahoney were on their way over from Hull. Hank didn't show up all day.

Mel and I rode up with Craig. Meredith and Anne stayed down to go nut picking and exploring. Anne was getting over a bad back, didn't want to fly.

On top it was light, marginal, with the high clouds obscuring the sun, inhibiting thermals.

Some people flew and sank out, until Stretch was able to maintain about fifty feet over for around twenty minutes or so, before getting flushed. Joe also got up, had the best flight.

I launched at 2:37, as Joe and Rich were sinking down the mountain. Made a few passes back and forth in front, but couldn't get above launch, and gradually sank out. Was over Joe awhile down the ridge, but then headed out to land. Had a fair landing in light conditions.

It was cold, and the weather was worsening, so Meredith and I decided to come on home. We got home by 6:30, had some leftover pasta for dinner.

Today, we got up around 7:30, went out to breakfast at the Home Plate, then to the Flea Market, where we saw Anne, Stretch, James, and Tera. Then we went to Friedman's for some more bookcases and some odds and ends. Finally home, to putter around.

We were about to head for Goat Rock at about 2:30, when Stretch and Anne stopped by. So we decided not to go after all, instead partied with them for an hour or two, talking, having some beer, etc. Had a nice time.

Saturday, November 13, 1982 - 10:40 AM

Tuesday night was our Sonoma Wings meeting, on a rainy night at Ivan and Patti's house. On Monday night, I'd spliced some movies together, which I took for showing there.

A guest, Carl, an older guy who's a sailplane pilot, brought movies taken in Australia, where he goes each year with some cronies to soar.

Also, Rick Kannisto brought his Yosemite movies, and Joe had some too. The business portion of the meeting was short, with only a brief discussion of Mt. St. Helena, then movies.

Thursday was a holiday (Veterans day) for me. Meredith was working, so I stayed home and worked on the house. Mary had wanted to go flying, but the wind direction was poor (NE or SE) much of the day.

Last night, I went out shopping, and returned to find Anne, Stretch, Mike, and Patricia visiting. We got fairly wasted with them, and Mike gave me a very nice "housewarming gift," he said, when I took it out to his truck as he was leaving, thinking he'd simply forgotten it.

Saturday, November 27, 1982 - 12:30 Noon

On Sunday, Meredith and I decided to head for Elk Mountain, as it was clear. We stopped in Cloverdale for breakfast. While there, Eric Beckman and Tom Denny stopped in to say hi.

At Elk we found a bunch of fliers, including Mel and Lynne with his truck (4WD). He had room for another glider, so I loaded mine on.

On top we unloaded on the south slope, where the wind was blowing up lightly. A few people launched soon, but weren't able to get up, so headed on out.

I launched around one, the first of a new group, hoping it would have improved a bit. Got some lift right after launch and turned left, but lost it. Should have saved all my altitude for the point, where I made a number of passes, just maintaining for awhile, but not able to get up.

Stretch launched after me, came over to the point and was able to stay up for a few minutes, while I slipped gradually down the face, finally heading out with Stretch not too far behind me.

I set up a landing, but found myself sinking too fast, didn't get my hands to my downtubes, so pushed out as best I could and dropped in on my belly, but without nosing in or bending anything. Had a nineteen minute flight.

Mel was packing up to go up again, as he'd left his Raven bag on the mountain, so I hurried to break down my glider to go up for another flight. In the meantime, a few people were able to get up, as the thermals reached their peak for the day.

But by the time we got back to the top, it was dying off again, and sled-rides were all that could be expected. I set up anyway, and launched around 3:30, headed right over the point, but couldn't stay up there, soon headed out again. Made a better landing this time, in no wind.

Packed up and we soon headed home. Meredith had gone up to the walnut grove and picked some more walnuts.

Back to work for another week. Meredith got a temporary job with a local agency, worked until five. On two days I picked her up in jogging clothes, and we went directly to the J.C. to run before it was too dark. Sunset is around 5 PM now. I ran 3 miles one day, my new high.

Thursday night, Meredith went to Berkeley to drive Karen to the airport. She agreed to house-sit for her while she's gone, but came back to work Friday, then left again Saturday morning.

I was asked to work on Saturday, as a consultant was coming in to help us get SWIFTCICS working. So I was at work until 2:30.

Bones and Sharol were having their Duck Demo Day at Goat Rock. When I got home from work, I was ambivalent about going, thinking it might be too late, but decided to go anyway, and to my pleasant surprise, it was soarable. I saw a couple of gliders up when I arrived.

I greeted Bones, Ivan, and others, and asked if I could fly something. Bones said the Duck 180 was available, so I said "sure," and put on my harness.

They launched me soon, and I climbed right up into the ridge lift. It was blowing about 18 knots. Soared awhile. Ivan took off in the 160 Duck awhile later. Mike Mahoney had been flying his Mega, but headed out to land.

I was able to stay ten to thirty feet above the 160 most of the time. The handling was okay, but it tended to yaw a little at slow speeds, didn't feel as "solid" as my Comet.

Finally headed out to land after another glider launched. It was Tom (from Napa) in his Fledge. Had a smooth landing at the end of the dunes.

Ground handling was a bit difficult with that large a glider. Jim Shaw helped me carry it back up the hill, then I took some sunset movies using the intervalometer and a new camera mount I'd just gotten.

Sunday was grey and cold, and the wind had become easterly, so I stayed home, don't remember what I did.

Meredith came back for a meeting Sunday night (or was it Monday?). She'll be doing work for the Center for Well Being Christmas Faire. Then she headed back down the next morning, would have Thanksgiving with some friends in Berkeley.

I had a short week at work because of the Thanksgiving holidays. Chris arrived back from his vacation in Manhattan Beach on Wednesday morning.

On Wednesday evening I took Mary and Chris to dinner at Sizzler. On Thursday, Chris and I went to Thanksgiving dinner at Mel and Lynne's. Later James invited us to dinner at his house also.

Anyway, we had a very nice dinner at Lynne's, with lots to drink and eat. Then we sat around wasted for awhile and watched TV 'til nine, when we finally said goodnight.

On Friday, Mary and I had hoped to go to Goat Rock, but it was blowing from the east again.

Stretch called. They were going to Point Reyes and would try to soar at Drake's Bay. Chris wanted to go with them, so I gave him a ride to Stretch's, and he left with Stretch, Anne, and Mike. I'd decided it was too cold, and too far to go. It turned out that they couldn't fly, as it was too gusty, so I was glad I hadn't gone.

Today is rainy. Chris went with Stretch to Mike's house, came home (with Stretch) shortly after I started to write this.

Stretch is trying to get a new T-shirt design, so we looked at some movies to try to find something. Now we're sitting around watching TV while I write this.

More later.

Thursday, December 2, 1982 - 7:40 PM

It's been mostly rainy so far this week. Meredith got home Sunday night, has been working for the Well Being Center Christmas Faire this week.

Monday, December 6, 1982 - 2:10 PM

Friday night, Stretch and Anne came over unannounced, with a 12-pack, and we partied the evening away, getting pretty wasted.

The weather forecast was for rain Saturday, so we didn't plan anything. But to my surprise, we awoke to a sunny clear day. Meredith and I got up and went out to breakfast at Elmer's. Then we came home, got Chris, and went to the Flea Market for awhile.

After that, a Coast Guard weather forecast said ten knots from the NW, so I loaded the Comet, and the three of us drove out to Goat Rock. There we found Lynne, and Mel, working on his glider, Ivan, standing around, and eventually Steve Hawks, Brian Scharp, and John Blacet. But unfortunately, there was no wind, it was almost dead at about two, though later picking up to seven or eight maximum.

So we went down to the beach to walk awhile, then headed on home. Had dinner at the Rib Cage, a barbecue place, where we had cheeseburgers.

Saturday night, Mel and Lynne called, then came over, and we partied again, getting pretty wasted. We had spaghetti for dinner, wine, and later strawberry margaritas, so retired by ten, pretty far gone.

I called Stretch, and we decided tentatively to go to Elk on Sunday if the weather looked nice.

He called around 8:30 AM, and though it was fogged in, they were planning to go. Since Tom decided to go too, we called Mike Mahoney to see if he wanted to ride with us, and he said,"Sure."

Meredith wasn't interested in going, but Chris was, so we left about 9:50, picking up Mike, then cruising on up. It was foggy most of the way, so we had our doubts about flying, but it cleared by Ukiah, though with pockets of fog still low in the valleys.

Found Stretch, Anne, Tom, and Roy at the campground, and Craig and Rich soon arrived. We loaded eight gliders on Rich's truck, and piled in and headed up. The road was wet but passable. On top, however, cloudbase was below our level, and it was getting thicker all the time.

Everyone got launched but Mike and me, and we found ourselves socked in with about 100 feet visibility. We waited for gaps, but no more came.

In retrospect, I could have flown, kept the ridge in sight until down around the point, then out toward the landing area. But Mike's reluctance fueled my own prudence, so we didn't fly.

At 3:10 I started folding up my glider. By 3:30, another partial clearing started, so I put it back together again, but then we were socked in solid again. We finally folded up and drove down.

Cruised on home, after saying goodbyes, dropping Mike off, getting home in time to see part of 60 Minutes.

Meredith is also sick, didn't sleep well, but went to work this afternoon anyway.

Santa Rosa was fogged in all day yesterday, and today also.

Sunday, December 12, 1982 - 9:30 AM

And I stayed home all day Wednesday, feeling worse than I had on Tuesday, except to go out and vote on whether the County should withdraw from Social Security.

Back to work Thursday and Friday, feeling better, but not fully recovered (even yet).

Friday night we had our Sonoma Wings meeting and Christmas party at Ernie's house. A man named Monty gave a slide presentation on Peregrine falcons. He's involved in their struggle for survival, and is worried about the nesting site at Mt. St. Helena, wants to keep it secure, and is worried that our hang gliding activities might bother the Peregrines. We won't be able to fly there from February through April, their nesting and breeding season, it seems.

Walt and Judi Neilsen came again, joined the club, and showed some video tapes of Grouse Mountain. Judi won that meet for the second straight year in the Women's division. He's our club's first Hang-5.

I showed movies, a bunch of people played pool, and others got in the hot tub (including Meredith). I was busy collecting dues and giving out membership cards.

Meredith left early around 10:30 (we took two cars), and Chris and I stayed until 1 AM.

Meredith had to work all day yesterday and today (Saturday and Sunday) at the Christmas Faire over at the Fairgrounds.

Sunday, December 19, 1982 - 10 AM

Anyway, on Wednesday evening, Stretch and Anne came over for dinner, then Anne, Cici, and Meredith baked Christmas cookies to give to various hang gliding friends.

Yesterday, the weather cleared (actually it had partly cleared on Friday) and our Mt. St. Helena flying permit became a reality.

Lynne called early to say that Mel wasn't coming, had gotten too wasted the night before. Hank arrived at 8:30, and Bones and Sharol by nine. We headed over to Calistoga in separate cars, putting up a windsock at the landing area on the way.

Bones and Sharol decided to pass, as the conditions didn't look that good. But Hank and I went on up in the Scout, meeting the others at the gate, including Stretch, Anne, James, Stretch's brother Ray, Roy, Eric, Brian, a driver, Ivan and Patti, and Art from Vallejo.

It was sunny but chilly, and launchable to the south, even though the wind in the valley was north.

Everyone launched between 11:30 and 12:30 in light crossy conditions. I went last, taking movies first.

It was very crossy from the right, and I had to wait for a lull before making a hard running no-wind launch on the shallow slope, but got off okay, found no lift in front, so headed on out towards the landing area, with hardly a puff of lift on the way.

Came over with 1000', so headed on to some houses over which I cruised before coming back to set up a landing to the north, doing 180's over the road. Made a good landing, flaring at the right moment, and not dropping the nose, one of my best.

Shared the can of beer I'd packed with the others, then folded up to await the trucks, which arrived shortly.

Hank and I headed back to Santa Rosa by 2:30, then went to the Faire, said hi to Meredith, looked around, then came home. Hank left for Berkeley, and I eventually started writing Christmas cards.

Saturday, December 25, 1982 - 5:30 PM Christmas

There was a big storm on Tuesday and Wednesday, but it was clearing by Thursday, and very nice on Friday. Mary and I planned to go to Goat Rock if it looked promising, as Friday was a holiday.

It did, so we headed out with the Comet, planning a tandem flight. Got there to find it soarable from the NNW, so started to set up.

Unfortunately, I broke a batten setting up with my tail into the wind, so that ended our hopes for the day. So I folded up the glider and we headed down the coast.

We passed Ivan and Patti coming the other way. Stopped and talked. Then on to Bones and Sharol's house. He didn't have any spare shafts at home, but told me how to fix it when he gets some for me tomorrow. So after a visit we left, stopping at Friedmans, where I got a rivet gun for that project, then came home.

I was having a couple of problems with the Scout. The alternator mounting bracket was loose. I tightened it this morning. And it feels like another U-joint is going bad, but I looked at it and couldn't see anything amiss.

Today was somewhat overcast, but I'm hoping tomorrow will be nicer, maybe soarable again.

Tuesday, December 28, 1982 - 9:40 PM

Sunday was cold and grey, a winter day, and the wind was from the east, so we gave up any flying ideas.

When we got home, Meredith had gotten home from Shell Beach, but was just staying for the night to return my car, then would go to Berkeley to house-sit for Karen until January 7th or so.

I noticed that Meredith seemed distant, and I couldn't seem to get close, though she said she was exhausted from driving all day.

But she soon confirmed it, told me she'd been withdrawing, felt the need to "get out on my own," and would probably move back to Berkeley soon.

I was surprised that she'd gone so far in her plans or thoughts, but didn't try to hold her or change her mind. Instead I encouraged her to do as she felt was best for her, though admitting that I felt some unfulfilled promise in our relationship together.

She said she felt our directions were too different, that she was burned out on the hang gliding, and needed to give attention to her other interests.

This was surprising to me, since she'd told me before how much she'd enjoyed our camping weekends and the hang gliding people.

Anyway, we talked about it for quite awhile, and she appreciated that I didn't give her a hard time. I told her I'd leave things open-ended as far as she was concerned, that she didn't need to feel committed to any course of action.

Thursday, December 30, 1982 - 4:50 PM

Friday, December 31, 1982 - 1:40 PM

After it warmed up a bit today, I went out and re-tuned Hummer. The spark had gotten quite retarded, over three or more years since it's had a tune-up, but it ran great afterwards.

Saturday, January 1, 1983 - 9:04 AM

Tuesday, January 4, 1982 - 6:20 PM

Basically, she concluded that we are on different paths and I could never meet enough of her needs. And that she's no longer interested in hang gliding, which is the center of my life.

9:10 PM

Monday, January 10, 1983 - 7:46 AM

Tuesday, January 11, 1983 - 7:50 AM

I talked to Mel yesterday by phone for quite awhile, telling him about the situation with Meredith. He'd been to Elk on Sunday. They'd only had cruisers, so I didn't miss much.

I'm feeling a pretty large void in my life now that Meredith is gone, but I'm past the bad part, I think.

I need a plan to get my life going again without Meredith. First, it'll be to get back into hang gliding as weather permits. At least I have that.

Wednesday, January 12, 1983 - 9 AM

9:30 PM

Mike Mahoney just called. We'll have a meeting at Stretch's tomorrow evening about Mt. St. Helena rules.

Friday, January 14, 1983 - 6 PM

I left around 9:45, after being invited to share Stretch and Anne's weekend at Elk Mountain, which was nice of them. But it's hard not to feel lonely.

Tom and Ray stopped by just now, to make sure of a ride up to Elk with me tomorrow. I committed myself to going, hope the weather is okay.

Sunday, January 16, 1983 - 8 PM

We headed up in the Scout (James, Tom and I, with Ray to drive down), found others, including Anne, Mel and Lynne, still on top.

The wind was coming up sub-soarable from the SE, but launchable. So we set up.

I launched after Tom at about 12:20. Was a bit "out of it" (missing Meredith) and almost forgot to hook in, 'til reminded by Barry. Felt pretty stupid.

I launched, turned left to check out the SE ridge, but found not enough to keep me up. Headed over to the point, below which was James, and made gradually sinking passes over there above him, until we both headed out to the south.

Watched him land in no wind, then set up my own. It was totally dead in the LZ, so I set up over the trees, then headed south, flaring hard at the last moment, but not high enough to prevent a nose in. But no damage.

Some others had gone up again, and we watched Mel soaring the top, as the wind picked up some. Others, including Anne, Roy, Stretch and Rich stayed up for quite awhile, Roy for over an hour, as it became soarable.

Eventually we headed to Peter and Debra's for Anne's party, but had to drop Tom off in Ukiah at a lady named Heather's house, as he was coming up with her. Ray guided me up past Willits, out Sherwood Road to the house.

Peter and Debra's place was beautiful, and they were very nice. Stretch and Anne took me on a tour of the property, over to the dam, down to the creek, where another small handmade house was, the one Joe lives in sometimes.

It was all very beautiful. The view across the valley reminded me of a Japanese print in the fog.

The evening dragged by slowly, and I found myself wishing I was home, in my solitude.

But eventually we had a very nice spaghetti dinner, and quite awhile later, some cake, and we gave our birthday gifts to Anne. I think she liked mine, especially the nice card (butterfly with glittering diamond antennae).

Eventually, I took a hot tub with Stretch, Anne, and Tera about 10:30, then we finally called it a night.

Ray, Roy, and I laid out our sleeping bags on the sitting room floor (with padding), and I spent a reasonably comfortable night.

It rained during the night and this morning. We got up early, had some cappuccino and toast, and cake. Joined Stretch, Ray, and Peter for a walk around the property, then a drive down the road to see a water tank.

Finally, I got Ray to leave with me about eleven. We headed for Ukiah to pick up Tom, then on to Santa Rosa. It showed signs of clearing, but I found myself in a hurry to get home, dropped off Tom and Ray about 12:30, then came home to sink into my loneliness.

End of Volume 28b

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