Ed Levin Fly Park (about 45min south)

I got two flights in today. Both about 13 minutes. The view from launch is pretty cool. There were lots of vultures (true rednecks) circling some dead animals. The hawks were calling all around me, I found a couple thermals and had a great time. Farms with cattle and gates similar to Maui. Only 3 wings in the air so not too crowded here.

Thursday October 7th, Ed Levin Sky Park.

Another sunny day with some great flying. Todays flight was about 30 minutes with tons of vultures, red-tail hawks and a couple golden eagles. I got my advanced rating today so next week we will go to some of the P4 sites like Mission Ridge and Diablo. Those are a real hoot from what I hear.

After the flying we had a big feast with some flying friends. Richi loves to barbeque. Tomorrow we head out on our road trip to Owen's Valley. Its about 5 hours south. There will be 8 of us going in the big van. It should be epic if the weather is good. Fly on!

Friday October 8th, Traveling to Owens Valley.

After packing for the weekend, I met up with the other 5 pilots carpooling with us to Owens. The drive was about 4 hours in the evening so there wasn't much of a view. We arrived in Bishop and checked in to our rooms.

Saturday October 9th, Owens Valley.

Time to go flying! We got up to launch and 14 pilots piled into the Sky Bee monster truck in the LZ which sits at 4,000' msl. on a dry lake bed. They had the Rob Zombie crankin as we climbed 4,000' on a very thin traverse in 4 low. When we reached the top it was blowing in nicely around 4-6mph. After a snake passed by my wing, I launched and had a wonderful Cross Country flight. I had heard that during hotter times of the year this place could kick your butt. Today the thermals were big, smooth, and very strong. I felt weightless as I climbed at rates over 1,600 feet per minute. After cruising around at 10,000' for an hour I made the 5 mile (6,000' vertical) glide to the LZ.

Its time to go on the retrieval run to pickup the other pilots. We headed north towards Benton and the Nevada border. On the way we picked up 10 pilots that had gone 25-30 miles. Steve even made it to Nevada. Now it was time to party. We went to Steve's house for a firepit and BBQ with a trip to the hot springs after dark. Lots of fun.

Sunday October 10th, Owens Valley, Yosemite.

We had to return to the hotsprings (photo with van) to find a cell phone (it was found). It was nice to see in the daylight. We stopped in Mono Lake to see the Tufas (below) then started back to San Ramon across the Yosemite National Park. Very nice fall colors.

Monday October 11th, Napa Valley.

Time to party it up in a mansion on top of a mountain in Napa. This place is a party house that is being remodeled by a paragliding friend. I DJ'd with my iPod and we danced and had a lot of fun.

Tuesday October 12th, Napa Valley.

Woke up and started catching up on all my computer stuff. Website, work, etc. Totally chillin. Its nice to be in such a large house with a view. I have decided to extend my trip into December (14th). I have no real need to be back in Rainwood. Its like summer2 here. Richi and Anni have invited me to stay as long as I like. They are going to be treated very well next summer when they return to AK. This is Richi in the pool looking out over Napa

Wednesday October 13th

Not much happening today. High pressure and 90+ degree temps make for poor flying so we haven't been doing much of that. Richi and I went around San Ramon putting tandem paragliding brochures inside local businesses. Then we went to some friends of Richi and Anni's to watch the debate and play some pool. I enjoyed the second debate much more. It was Funny! "Wanna buy some wood?"

Thursday October 14th. San Francisco, Pacifica

More hot weather and high pressure. Flying is no good. After driving the huge highways to the Bay Bridge, Richi and I exited to Pier 1 and circled north along the coast to Van Ness. Then South to the Mission district. We ate at a Columbian restaurant and had Empanadas and Columbian beer.

We drove out to Pacifica to check out the site.As we descended through the fog, the sun was setting. It is an awesome place to soar over the ocean for miles. Maybe Ill fly there soon. After that we went over to a fellow paraglider's pad for dinner and poker. We ended up watching and having fun talking with the others that showed up.

Friday RAIN. Stayed home and worked. A good thing. I heard this storm dumped some snow in Colorado where my Mom is. I plan to visit her soon.

Saturday October 16th. Diablo Mtn.

This is the closest flying site in San Ramon. Its a tall mountain that I could see above the clouds on approach to Oakland. This 3,000' vertical P4 site boasts some awesome thermal flying as well as ridge soaring. Cloud base came down to launch and shut us down but not before we could see a bunch of hang gliders launch and swoop around under the clouds for a while.

Above, the view from launch at Diablo Mtn.

Sunday. A day of rest. Not flyable. Stayed home and worked. Went out in pouring rain and sat in the jacuzzi.

Monday. I got to fly Diablo but it was a sled ride. Not a beep. Hopefully Ill get to try again. I did get to fly Richi's Advance Sigma4 (dhv2) so that made it a little more exciting with some wing overs. I am finding I have 30-40 hours of work to do. Thanks to my number one client, I can telecommute and support my travel during winter lifestyle. Thanks Greg!

Tuesday. Back to Yosemite Valley. What a beautiful place. Tall cliff walls everywhere. A mecca for climbers. The snow and fog really made for a surreal landscape. No pictures could do it justice.

Wednesday and Thursday. Working 12 hour days on the computer doing Technical Illustration for engineers. I finished up now because there is no communications in Big Sur.

It was totally awesome, 8 of us pilled into the van and drove 3 hours to Big Sur. We passed through the garlic capitol of the nation, Gilroy, CA. I have a reputation now as a garlic lover. It is quite healthy ya know. We arrived after sunset on higthway one. After settting up camp we had a bbq and firepit. I laughed so hard at some of the songs we came up with I almost fell out of the chair breathless with tears in my eyes. We camped under the stars and the moon with coyotes in the distance.

Above, Highway One south of Big Sur.

Saturday it was sunny and flyable.It was a 45 min drive to launch.. It seems almost all the great sites have a long and windy road to launch. I guess Im just spoiled from riding the tram. The pictures tell all in this high flying adventure.

I got 3 flights in, flew with local birds. Found a few good thermals but mostly sleders on Saturday. Sunday it rained early morning so we packed up and went to the beach to find some locals flying Sand Dollar Cove.

By the time we decided to pull our wings down the wind had died down so we drove north to Ocean city? to visit some friends with a house on the beach. We watched the sunset and birds.

Richi and Anni (above) put on a good trip package. Everything you need is provided. Tent, sleeping bag, food, site orientation and retrieval. I look forward to making more trips with them in the next month or two.

Monday October 25th - Pacifica! Photo Gallery.

Yes! Cliff soaring over the beach! Just what I needed. I flew with Richi and Anni (white and yellow wings above) along with friends Mike and Walter. My friend Eveline from Pleasant Hill (met in Girdwood) got to ride tandem with Richi. She even got to drive. I flew for 100 minutes and landed on the beach. Im so glad I got to fly there.

Tuesday October 26th

Amtrak to Colorado to visit Mom and Mike. The train is called the California Zepher and only cost $80 each way to Grand Junction. Its a beautiful trip. It had snowed the night before and made for pleasant viewing from my cozy window seat.

I plan to return to San Ramon by Thursday Nov.4 for the ride to Santa Barbara with Richi and Anni. We plan to fly Saturday and Sea Kayak the caves on Sunday. Then I hope to meet up with Jason and spend time with my good buddy flying in L.A.

October 27 -29, Cedaredge, CO

Visiting Mom, Mike, and Grandma. Enjoying the view and fall colors. This is Mom and Mike's custom built home. It is very nice and comfy. Its been snowing on and off. Too cloudy to see the lunar eclipse. I enjoy their chlorine-free hot tub. It uses silver filters. Much nicer.

Saturday October 30, Ouray, CO

Wow what a cool place. Hot springs and 4x4 trails in mountains that look much like the Alps. I toured around with my family. It sits at 7,700'. I get winded easily up here. Im a sea level dweller.

Not much else for October. Snow, Deer, Elk. Spending time with my Mom, Grandma and my step Dad Mike.