Cross Conditions

I bought a Garmin 76csx GPS on the strong recommendation of Gal. I don't really think I need this thing, but as a gizmo it kicks ass, especially when you tie it into Google Maps. More of that later.

The conditions looked ideal at Torrey when I arrived - A little south, but not that bad. I showed Gabe my 76csx which I bought at West Marine. He pretty much assured me that I could not have paid more for the unit. Megan was there and her boyfriend Eric. A paraglding couple. You don't see much of that, though last night I had dinner with a hang gliding couple. I wouldn't dream of getting Allison in to this.

Eric had a very cool t-shirt. It had a picture of a paraglider and the words: Paragliding. It probably won't kill you.

I was excited about my GPS and kept it on and on me the whole day, from West Marine to my flights all the way home.

Flight 71:

I got my gear out and did some kiting. Once my wing was in the air I could see how south the wind was. No one was flying the north ridge which is rare. I launched and got strong immediate lift. I decided to circle around to do a quick landing just to see how difficult the approach and landing would be in these conditions. After leaving the ridge and simply turning around I was up pushing 500. I went over the ocean to burn some of it off. When I turned back a parade of tandems was passing by. I couldn't do my landing approach without cutting someone off so I just got in line and followed the north ridge. By the time I turned I was back up at 500.

I pulled my big ears and came in for an approach. To my great surprise I lost a lot of altitude very fast, so much so that I turned early over the RC mound to land, which isn't permitted (or recommended, I'm not sure). There was a guy there who didn't seem to mind that much.

This was surprising air. I had a lot to learn here.

Flight 72:

On my next flight I headed straight south. I had heard that the best lift was in front of the mansions and that's where most of the pilots were. I could not get the lift on this flight that I just experienced. I turned to get a bit closer to the ridge but remembered all the warnings I got last time flying there not to get so comfortable with so little altitude. In fact, I need to learn a lot more about flying over spines and spires. It's rather obvious that there will be turbulence but the fact of the matter is at Torrey it's not that bad. I started falling into the 300's. There are a few ridges that face due south on the south side and I expected to get my lift there. I kind of said "fuck it" and pulled in the ridge to scrape. There was a lot of turbulence – no full collapses, but I felt unstable. I moved back out.

I noticed some birds flying the ridge which was a good sign, but I was still sinking. Finally I realized I was going to the beach. I lined up for a south landing. No problem. I would much rather land safely on the beach that get stuck on the ridge because of turbulence. The lifeguards rushed over to me in their jeep to see if I was okay. I thought they came to give me a ride. I'm not sure why they were so concerned. Anyway I was perfectly fine. If anything I was playing it way too safe. I bundled up my gear and started the trek back. This is furthest I've ever landed from the trailhead. I wasn't upset at all really. Black's Beach is one of the best nude beaches in the USA packed with UCSD students baring all. Most nude beaches are gay, and this has a lot of gay guys, but to my experience there are more and better looking women on this beach than any I've been on. And I was not disappointed with my walk.

As I approached the paved beach entrance off of La Jolla Farms Rd. One of the paragliders was trying to get my attention and pointing to the road.

He was trying to tell me to go up that road. I started towards the road but I didn't really trust it. I wasn't sure what he was trying to tell me. I found on my return that it was Tad, one of instructors. He said in the future he or anyone who noticed, could land and drive over there to pick me up. If it weren't for the spectacular scenery on my walk back I would have been upset at myself for not going that way.

Flight 73:

I didn't have much time left but I wanted to clear my wing of sand, check my lines and play just a bit more with these cross conditions. I launched and got the lift from my first run. Very cool. I head out over the ocean doing some broad s-turns, turned back and landed. Quick, simple, successful. Nice way to end the day.

I've been working on getting a competition fold going. That's where you pack your wing without disconnecting the harness in such a way that when you return to the ridge you can just unpack and fly. I got a decent fold this time but it was a bit awkward zipping up my bag. When I get this down I'm going to make a video for you.