Jerry and will be at the training hill between 8:30 and 8:45 am . Later in the afternoon I'm probably going to Box. On Sunday Ross and I and others? may be at Miller. Call me -- 520 -906 -0182. Gunter

The wind forcast didn't change overnight so I'm going to the gravel pits now and at 8 to 8:30 I'll move to the training hill. I'll be on the radio starting at 8 am.

Jerry

Looks like Box is the place to be this PM. Somebody want to drive my lazy ass up the back?

I practiced kiting on top of the training hill for just over an hour until the wind died to nothing. Gunter tried to get me to do a forward launch but I seem to need a little more practice at that. Ater the wind picked back up to 2 or 3 mph I did one reverse launch and flew down the hill to land on my feet. It was a short but satisfying flight.

Gunter tested his new harness and headed for Box in the afternoon.

So Morey did you go try to find Godiva?
Jerry

An outstanding looking day. We arrived at the SE launch with it blowing in perfectly 8-10mph at 11am, although no thermal activity yet. By the time we were set up, the breeze had waned, and it was cross from the NE, with the mountain in a big cloud shadow. A peak of sun generated a bit of thermal block and enough wind for John to launch and show us that there wasn't any lift. another peak of sun, and Alan housel launched a maiden voyage in his zippy new U2. Looked like a beautiful wing as he plummeted to the LZ nearly as fast as John did.

Then, the cloud cover blocked out the sun in the Canyon and all wind died. Eric took the last 1-3mph puff up the face and made a right turn, up the valley to where there was sun and a number of vultures climbing. He worked it close in the small lift and made it to over 11K approaching cloudbase. I sat for an hour on launch and watched it trickle down, never coming up again, and packed it up. Eric ventured towards a spectacular looking cumulous studded valley, only to find no lift and just made it back to the LZ for a rare poor landing. The local aluminum recycler will be pleased.

Odd thing. Nick's bar got a new owner. A cute blond woman. Big party there this weekend, with standing room only, a pool tournament, free food. She's already made some noticeable changes. Sierra Nevada pale ale on tap, for one. The men's room now has lightbulbs (whoo-hooo!, no more peeing on myself), a paper towel dispenser, and a TP dispenser. Somehow, it maintains the charm of the original establishment.