Flight 59, Harvests, FIRESTORM

So this is not going to be a very long post for words as we are sitting on the very edge of the level 3 (go NOW!) evacuation zones for a fire that started to our north yesterday. Spokane saw really strong winds, very low single digit humidity, and winds gusting to 40+mph. Both of the main fires went from 0-3k acres in a few hours and many homes have been lost.

Yesterday morning I went to try to fly before dropping off at the co-op but the winds were really blowing when I got to the hill at 7am.

I hiked halfway up the trail and launched in what I thought was a lull. I got plucked straight up then pulled backwards up the hill.

I was standing on my speed bar trying to top land when I got a partial collapse on the left side of my wing. I heard it happen but didn't see it when I looked up. I tried to brake to open side and weight shift but I apparently didn't let my left brake hand up and the wing swung to the collapsed side and sent me right at the top of the other ridge.

I landed hard but ended up with just some scratches on my legs and arm.

I gathered my wing and quickly packed it up and then hiked down the hill to my truck.

I then drove to the co-op and dropped off the cucumber order then headed for home to tend my wounds.

Once home and I had tended my scratches I went out to pick in the garden. The cucumbers had 17 and the squash had 12 pounds.

My wing was a mess so I took it out to the driveway to sort it out and repack it nicely.

The tomatoes had a bit heavier 4.5 pounds and I dug through the potatoes again for another 17 pounds.

Soaking was nice despite the smoke everywhere around us.

The Oregon fire is the one that has gotten huge and is heading our way.

This is an article about the Fire Boss planes that are stationed in Deer Park just to our north.

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/jul/24/this-is-our-family-fire-boss-crew-stays-ready-to-d/

Today we are hoping to not have to evacuate and that the fires are handled. We have things packed and ready in case but I really hope that the rest of the weekend will be spent UNpacking.