Fogged Out in Cayucos but Reborn at Laguna Lake

From: bh
Activity_Date: 12/31/01
Remote Name: 4.35.217.163

Comments

Suffering serious withdrawal after days of marginal local weather, Benson Lamb and I headed north to Cayucos to hook-up with Matt of Big Boy's Toys and Eric, local pilots with way too much time on their hands, a perfect condition for our condition. Because of wet, soggy roads, we parked in town at the base of the hill and started up, about 30 minutes behind our friends.

As we approached the 400' level (launch at 750'), cloud base began to drop and an offshore fog bank appeared ominous. With no wind, Matt and Eric launched into the void and enjoyed bouyant sledders to the beach while Benson and I, adrenaline pumping, raced to the top. Unfortunately, the fog arrived as we did and, for the next hour, we sat in the soup with the wind quicking and visions in our heads of soaring flights above the locals who surely should have been more patient.

Our naivete eventually confirmed, we finally started down, Benson leading the way as I finished packing my wing. The last thing I heard as he faded into the gloom was "you could get lost in this stuff." He did and I waited by the car for 30 minutes while Matt searched the area and finally retreived him.

On the way home, we salvaged the day at Laguna Lake where NW winds at 8-10 mph were just strong enough to keep me and my Sport airborne for over an hour. Benson's Matrix wasn't as accomodating but two modest flights are better than none. We returned to SB in a much better frame of mind but to wives who clearly didn't share our enthusiasm for the day.

I didn't make it to midnight, Benson, did you?

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL.