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Fri@Ojai

From: Dan
Activity_Date: 9/28/01
Remote Name: 24.8.188.224

Comments

We took my truck to launch. Not the favorite vehicle to use as it has been nicknamed the vomit comet. In the camper shell there was Green Zvi, Christy, Brendan, and Tom Pipkin. The fortunate 3, Eddie, Jill and I were in the front. I tried to take it very easy but it is no fun not seeing where you are going for 45 min +.

At launch cycles were booming. Again everyone got high at launch like Wed. The wind appeared to be westerly with a south component.

I don't know why it always happens but I was last to launch. I got to 6355' at launch and took it east. Brendan tried earlier but gave it up, saying there was too much south. Normally to get past the gap to head over to W repeater you give up the majority of your gain. Sink was minimal, and I followed the high ground. On the way over I was finding pockets of lift where I would least expect them. These pockets were strong and I could make 2-3 360's then they were gone. Getting over to the spine on W. Repeater ended up being tougher in altitude loss than cross the gap at launch. Once over the top on WR there were strong thermals and the drift was pushing me up the ridge. I came in with 4764' and left WR with 5845'. I kept the high ground and got over by the canyon between ER and Boyd's with 5250. There must have been a mini convergence because in the middle of the canyon there was enough lift to get me up to 5800'.

I radioed Eddie to give a report and he told me where to go on the spine that was above the college, (running down from the SE corner of the Topa Bluffs / Puckers). I got there with 4950'. The lift there was not as dynamic so I patiently worked my way up to 5830'.

I decided to take the ridge behind the college (Santa Paula Ridge) as Eddie said you could ridge soar. I came in on the ridge but never having flown there I flew up the south side of the ridge but nothing was happening. I could see dust from some farming work further down the river canyon and there was little or no wind. I figured you needed a stronger flow up the canyon for it to work so rather than landing out I headed for the college and landed in what first looked like a green field to the SE of the college. I turned out to me a reclamation pond. I tried to land to the side but thermal/wind gust pushed me in the muck and I slopped in for a landing 1:06 later.

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