Skyport to Piru

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Flight Articles from Saturday, 3/4/06 (in order of posting time stamp)
[Sharon Sweeney] [OJ] [Ron Meyer] [Bob Peloquin] [Randall McCormick] [Andy Palmer] [John Scott] [Kabir] [Dean] [Mike Preston] [Scotty]

Dean Stratton
Saturday, 3/4/06
Skyport to Piru
~ 53 miles (~ 39 LFSD points)

What a great day for most, for some it didn’t sound like fun at all. I can’t remember a day when we had so many incidents, thankfully nobody was seriously injured; just a few bruised egos. Saturday’s conditions were very strong with higher pressure and we all know what that produces…strong sink. With so many pilots in the air it doesn’t surprise me that a few ended up in the washing machine, I certainly know what that’s like.

As I bounced down range it was clear that it wasn’t going to be a leisurely stroll, it was hands-on the whole way with a little SE head wind to boot. From Skyport to Noon Peak heights ranged from 3500-4600’. I got up to 4700 at West Divide, down to 3600 at East Divide and came in low at Whiteledge. Fortunately it was working and I was up to 4700’ and turned the corner into Ojai. John Scott caught and passed me at Whiteledge and I could see another Hang cresting West Divide heading my way. Lots of sink crossing the 33 and I connected at the Nut House at 3k. All the front points worked well and I got up into the low 5’s. I intersected Chiefs spine mid-way up in the mid 4’s and finally got a view of the hang that was on my tail at Whiteledge. It turned out to be Bob Anderson and he had intersected real low on Chiefs spine. Unfortunately he came up empty and eventually flushed into East Ojai. Pressing on I decided to take a different route to Santa Paula peak than I usually do. This time I went deeper, maintained good altitude and cruised right in front of the Topa Bluffs. I’ve never flown near the Bluffs before and I couldn’t have picked a better day to do it. Snow capped and green, cumi’s popping over it and several waterfalls in view; it was an awesome sight. I took my time to take it all in before heading off to Santa Paula Peak. Sorry, no pictures of the bluffs close up, my fingers were frozen solid.

I tanked up to 6k+ on the SE end of the Bluffs and took aim for S.P. peak. Off to my right, on a more direct line, was Hammer. We were about the same height and he blazed on by me…I hate that! I’ve got to get more horsepower! I came in below S.P. peak just under 4k and started my search for an elevator. I wasn’t there for more than a minute when I was joined by another hang. This time it was Scott Angel and we square-danced for a bit before he bolted for Fillmore. I topped out at 5800’ over S.P. peak and headed off to Fillmore as well. I intersected the foothills on the East side of Fillmore around 2200’ and found a weak one that drifted me back up to 4k. Just before Piru I found another one that took me to 3500’ and I cruised comfortably over Piru to the lower foothills on the East side. Winds were 10-15 out of the West and they were shredding the weak thermals down low. Up ahead a mile or so I saw one of the hangs on final just as I put in down next to hwy. 126, just over 53 miles from Skyport.

After balling up the glider I looked across the street and thought I was seeing a mirage. So I rubbed my eyes and looked again... I couldn’t believe my luck. Just across the street, not more than 50 yards away, was a fruit/snack stand. This isn’t real significant unless you know me. Those of you that do know me know very well that when I’m not flying I’m usually eating. I couldn’t pack up my stuff fast enough, the buffet was waiting! I connected with Hammer on the radio and he and Scotty were just down the street from me and offered me ride back, another bit of luck. Since it would be awhile before Scott’s wife picked us up I started in on the snack stand. While I was sitting on the wall outside the snack stand, shoveling in my 3rd course of goodies, I heard John Greynald over the radio. What do you know, I looked up to see him circling over Piru and heading our way. He put it down next to Scott and Hammer and about 45 minutes later they scooped me up. Of course, that gave me plenty of time to put down a 4th and 5th course… life is good. 45 minutes later we picked up Bob Anderson in Ojai and the rest of the drive was left to swapping tall tales until we got back to SB.

HELL OF A DAY…

Saturday’s Pics (just a few):
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fllspdahd/album?.dir=de56&.src=ph

We flew today (Sunday) but it was uneventful due to the high clouds. I was able to get some shots though:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fllspdahd/album?.dir=/9e82