Dave Teal
Sunday, 4/24/05
Scary Flight behind the Eliminator

Yes, pretty nice lift today - IF THE SUN WAS SHINING on the ground below you.  It would shut down quickly if there was shade.  I spent most of the time over the Thermal Factory, and it was pretty turbulent, but I figure that I need to get it while the gettin's good.  I heard Hammer and Roland saying the back range was working, so I get to 4300 and thought that I need to check it out.  I head that way and start sinking, then I sink some more, then I SINK ALOT!!  Decided to bail and realize I've got a headwind and all that sink again going back.  So I decide to go back to the west instead of the east side of the TF (it looked like I had more altitude to play with that way, but probably had more head wind).  I've got the bar stuffed and can't make it over the next ridge, so I have to go to the west again, in the canyon between Skyport and James' place.  At this point I see myself landing on the road in front of James'.  I start hperventilating.  I finally squeak out WAY below Skyport but manage to make it to the knob equal with the road and start to hit some lift coming around the corner.

I think that has to be my scariest flight ever.  Where's a Talon when you need it?  Sheesh, I needed the ATOS VX!!  Anyway, after all that, I worked the antenna farm back up high enough to transition back and got back up to 4000 over the TF.  Decide I've had enough and head out to Parma to provide entertainment at the LZ.  Actually, it wasn't that bad of a landing - got popped up at the lip and held the bar out while I rode the parachute ride down.  My neck an shoulders ache and I'm buying a Talon 2 with one of those supine Doodlebug harnesses. :-)