Some flights are permanently etched in my memory. Enduring memories that are easily pulled up for daydreams and such. This past Saturday's flight was definitely one of those.
Cody, Greg and I met at the Short Divide at noon. Cody brought his wife Dorothy to serve as driver for the crew. Steve Rathbun showed up around the same time with his driver, code name - Chickadee. We arrived at launch and began setting up. The wind was strong with embedded powerful thermals. We knew from the abundance of dust devils in the valley below, it would be a interesting day. All set up and ready to go, Cody was first to suit up and head for launch. As he was picking up his glider, he somehow torqued his leg the wrong way and totally disattached his MCL. He was positive of the extent of the damage, a year earlier he sustained the same damage to his other knee requiring surgery. Bent over in pain, Cody hobbled about for a few moments insisting we duct tape his knee so that he might continue with his launch. Ten minutes later he was in the air. Greg and I soon followed and within thirty minutes we were all at around 11,500 ft and heading over the back. Within ten minutes of heading out, we were low and seriously looking for lift.
About 1,200 ft agl we began turning in light lift that seemed to be everywhere. The beautiful patchwork of hayfields were yielding the heat they had stored up in the early afternoon. In the strong south wind, we all three circled lazily for miles gaining only several hundred feet. We drifted toward a very flat range of mountains with a narrow pass that had no good landing zones. I was tempted to fly west toward a highway that ran north, which had plenty of adjacent fields for landing. I noticed Cody thermaling in the foothills of the flat range, so I ventured north toward him and found significant lift that turned into strong lift, strong enough to attempt crossing the flat range. Cody, Greg and I were soon high over the range and heading into Grace Valley. With abundant lift we crossed Grace Valley and over the next range of mountains. We then headed out over the town of Soda Springs . Not long after I was set up for a non-eventful one step landing. Cody landed several miles further and Greg landed in Grace Valley. 60+ and 35+ miles respectively. Thanks to Dorothy, we were soon having the turf and surf special at a local restaurant.
An hour after landing, a gust front blew through leaving a great rainbow
Waiting for Dorothy
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