Pine Mountain!

Driving through coastal fog today was a cool way to start the drive up to Pine Mt and try to get high and go big. 

The SoCal league was there to give it a go as well. The first pilots got up and specked out at around 11am. I got out there and was at 11k in no time.  As we crossed the badlands several got low but it seemed most everyone made it to the Lockwood Valley.

From there I suspect a few landed and some made the truck stop LZ turn point. It was pumping at Frazier Mt. And cumulus began to pop all around. I flew back with Ron who had a harrowing yet ultimately safe landing involving strong gusty winds, dust devils and power lines so he could land next to Bob. Tom was there in no time to pick them up, having landed earlier, hitched back to his car at the sand pile LZ and raced out to scoop is all up. After Ron's ordeal, I opted to speck out and try to fly back to Ojai and succeeded.

It was going off everywhere now so climbing to 14k was easy on the way back. 

Looking back it was hard not to continue on to the desert and chase Stephan who was way out there trying to make it to the Owens valley. 

I had to go fetch my kids from Grandma's house anyway so this was actually the perfect outcome for me. 

The glide was 7:1 and it only got easier.  

My landing was windy and turbulent right as I touched down but it was a soft landing and grassy for packing.  The guys on retrieve are kindly picking up my truck on top and driving it back to me here at the school where we met this am. 

Ta dahhh!

Landed near 3 pm and could have thrown in with Chris with FlyAboveAll, who was loading his suburban for the glass off. Instead he called winds via radio for my landing (thanks a ton!) and I opted to let my truck come to me to save time. Thanks Tom, Ron, and Bob for the flying fun and for driving back my truck. 

Looks like the glass off could be huge 

Time to relax in the shade.  

Cheers,

Marty 

Day 12 cancelled. Awards tonight

Yesterday seemed busy, especially for not having a task. Eventually we went back to the monument and had a photo shoot of sorts, each of us taking pictures of each other and Niels shooting video of us swooping and wing overing near the huge monolith. 

Eric Reed

Josh Cohn below swooping for Niels

Nicky the meet director was there too to enjoy the evening air. Really great guy and did a super job as meet director. 

Josh

It's really big!

Arnie putting away the wing for the last flight in Bulgaria. 

Eventually we drove back to Sopot and headed to the "restaurant by the pool" a first for me. 

It was really a beautiful spot on a very warm and pleasant night. 

You would never know how nice this place looks from the road.  Glad we went here. 

We had thought about coming here earlier in the day yesterday, but the flying was worth it.  This would have been nice though. 

Nothing like a Jack and Coke to make me feel right at home.  Others had mojitos. We all took it easy, but we all pretty much knew it would take the equivalent of a weather miracle to fly the next day. Nonetheless we would be ready just in case. 

Dinner was excellent and we lounged in the pool chairs after dinner and watched a blood red harvest moon rise on the horizon. Very relaxing. 

This morning was windy early at the house and the lenticular clouds up high confirmed the forecast was spot on. 

I grabbed our team lunches from the team leader meeting and opted for bananas again. 

We had a leisurely breakfast that was some sort of sweet custard with rigatoni pasta throughout. Interesting. I cleaned my plate and had a hard boiled egg too. 

This will be our last meal courtesy of Anna.  She was really great. Every time we thank her she smiles and says "No problem" and it seems that is very much the case for her. She maintains the yard, feeds the cats, pigeons, and turtles. Keeps up the house, does laundry, and the list goes on and on.  

When she does have a moment, I have seen her take a break on Facebook. Gotta stay connected!

Eric charting with Niels, post interview. 

We hope to shoot some interviews with Niels this afternoon and then try to go shopping before the awards ceremony. There might just be a video to remember this place by!  Thanks Niels. 

That's it for now. Maybe I'll have time to blog from Munich on my layover, or perhaps when I get home?  

It's been a grand experience for me. I am grateful for this opportunity and hope to have many more blog worthy experiences in the future. 

See everyone stateside!

Marty

I miss my family and am ready for the flight home. Thanks for all the support from home. 😘

Day 11 cancelled (7-25-13)

Woke a little early today, hopeful the forecast would be favorable. 

Breakfast was relaxed as usual with fried eggs and fresh local tomatoes to eat with hot coffee and cool milk. 

Nick stacked it all on some bread and made a sandwich. With ketchup too, no less. 

As I walled with Rrob to the team leader meeting it looked windy up top as the clouds whisked by overhead from the North. 

The meeting seemed to confirm our fears about the wind but Nicky (the meet director) said he would decide at 9:15, just as he always does. Martin Scheel put pressure on the organization to use an alternate site that he said can work in this wind. Respectfully the organization felt it was far too dangerous to consider this place for this event. 

Team Leader meeting in the theater. 

We went to the lift to get gear stored by Rob and Nick up top from yesterday but a briefing was called before we could get on and the day was on!  Wow, here we go again!?

So back to the house, get the gear, come back, get our lunches 

and wait to get on the lift. 

Arnie and Eric unload behind the rest of the team. 

Lots if discussing and radio communications with organization staff at the top of the lift was going on.

We could all see the clouds over the top of the mountain scooting by way too fast. 

We weren't too surprised when another briefing was called and the task was cancelled. 

Pilots with gear on top were allowed to go get it. The forecast is for stronger wind tomorrow. Hopefully that won't be the case. 

There is a dinner tonight for the pilots @ 5:00pm. Anna gets a well deserved night off. 

Local pilot Yassen posed for a photo with me to send back for Dean Stratton who is a friend of his. 

Jaimie and Isabella Messenger gave their best pose as we parted company for the day. 

 Must be getting time for lunch soon, right?

Or a snack?

A "thanks bro" wave to the gate keeper (Chris) as we leave the lift "drop off only" parking area. He was a super nice local guy that always let us drop off our gear close to the lift instead of parking in the big lot farther away and hiking it in like many others. Of course we made haste to drive back out empty and park properly each day. We had him over for one of Anna's dinners. He agreed, she rocks. 

We got some directions to a flying site on north side of the range to try and shoot some video and shoot some photos. Not far into the drive up the winding  road leading into the pass we got a call saying it was blown out.  

Now we are back at the house relaxing until our next outing.  

Lots of melons for sale, as well as tomatoes an other veggies. Always worth a look out the window when going places here. 

There are huge fields full of sunflowers here.  We seem to always be in a hurry when we go past them. 

Lots of flowers to see, none the less. 

The valley is actually known for its roses. Large fields grow roses just for the rose oil used in perfume and other products. Can you imagine what thermals smell like during rose growing season?  Apparently this isn't the time of year for that. Gotta be careful you don't land in the thorny bases of the plants in the off season. 

Nothing for the mountain rescue guys today. See you tomorrow. 

That's it for now. Cheers!

Marty

Day 10. No task 6 today

The day started nice, just like every morning when Anna prepares breakfast and hot coffee. Today we felt a breeze in town early, and Anna gave the impression that we'd be back early today.  How did she know?

French toast with home made huckleberry jam on top really hit the spot. I was sluggish after yesterday's long flight but the coffee brought me back to life. 

I went up the chair hopeful and happy.  I found myself joking around with a banana so my youngest kids would get a laugh when they read this with my wonderful wife at home. Miss you guys!!!

While I was on the phone with my sack lunch fruit I saw a family favorite, "Mr. Hand" eating a cloud. Boy the clouds were moving way too fast and in the wrong direction.  😟

Each day I see one (or both) of Micky Von Watcher's kids and it reminds me of my own.  Paola was smiling and munching something on the way up the trail from the lift station this morning. Cute. 

Rob has been hauling more weight each day up the hill than any of us. His help and service has been a huge benefit for the TEAM.  Rob bought the tent and inflatable chairs out of his own pocket. This, in addition to volunteering his time, is not the first time his generosity has touched TEAM USA I'm told. He spoils us.  A true Bro. Thanks Bobbie!!! 

The wind socks on launch never really gave us a window of time that we could all fly safely from the hill. It was a beautiful day out in the valley and above the terrain to the South. We just couldn't get to there, from here. Torture. 

Alas, we would wait until after 3pm and thankfully the meet director was willing (brave?) enough to launch when no wind dummies came forward after several requests. His lumpy, herky jerky glide out got everyone's attention. When the announcement came over the radio by the safety director to cancel the day, cheers could be heard (in our camp at least) and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Whew!

Rob, Nick, Matty Senior and the Badger enjoy a bratwurst and a beer with fries too. Josh, Arnie and Brett from Canada were there too. Everyone relaxed at the base of the lift and sat in the shade for a while before heading back to the house. 

Rob hustled up the van and we were back the the tranquil oasis we call our home in just minutes. 

Did I mention we have a fountain / water feature in yard?  Very soothing when the local dogs aren't in the middle of a bark-a-thon. Earplugs at night make it seem very quiet for sleeping. It only takes one night without them to remember how great an idea it was to wear them. Problem solved!

The weather forecast is for increasing wind. But I've learned to be ready every day, all day long, just in case. Exhausting, but we didn't come here to take it easy.  Bring it on!  Go Team USA!

Cheers from Sopot, Bulgaria,

Marty