The weather is to be shit this weekend so I had to take advantage of yesterday's weather to get in a flight. I decided to go hike and fly Quartzite in Chewelah and yet again no one was willing to go with me. I'm the only one flying the site... I dropped the scooter at the intended lz then drove up to the trailhead.
The mosquitoes were INSANE and instantly hovering. Hiking was the only way to get away from them.
Soon I was on top after a moderately paced hike. I was a bit surprised it was only 26 minutes.
I stood and watched the wind cycles for a bit then got my stuff out and got ready. I then had an EXTREMELY hard time getting myself launched. The first try would have been the best but I had a small tip fold I didn't want to launch with so aborted.
Tried again and the wing went over itself.
Then again and the winds were off and my wing wonked again.
By this point I was a bit on edge for all the effort and essentially fuck ups. There comes a point where it is best to just pack up and go home when too many things stack up against one... I knew I could get in the air so moved my wing down hill and this time it worked.
The winds were good and I found myself in lift pretty quick. I aimed for the faces of the rocks and the whole time it felt like my wing was in slow motion.
I got a nice bump of lift off the face then turned north and flew along it.
Turned around at the north end and watched hawks at the base flying around. I was flying thinking about how I need to be good at looking at the ground for my upcoming SIV.
Then over the south toe of the ridge I hit really good lift that afterwards I was kicking myself for NOT staying in.
The flight was rather odd given that after I hit the lift off the toe my wing would not go forwards. I was watching my ground track below and it was SUPER SUPER slow.
I made it over the field and house below but when I got to the west side of the field and the trees I hit a crazy thermal that was like being in rapids.
I flew out of it having got a little bump of lift but still no luck moving forwards.
I found myself getting lower and lower and I started looking at the various spots I could stuff myself and the wing if it came to it.
Thankfully the rolling hills had just enough lift off them to keep me buoyed up enough to keep going.
I was watching the houses just praying I didn't have to land in their yards.
I had mashed the speed bar to get some forward movement but it had lost me altitude so it was very helpful to get a pop of lift as I got over the edge of the field. I was staring at the power lines and feeling the wind direction, then looking at the actual lz to the south.
I made the choice of the road and aimed for it. The field bopped me up with a bit of lift so I more than made it over the power lines.
Looked back up the road to make sure no cars were coming.
Then I aimed for the edge of the road and the field. We don't have permission to land in their fields so I was doing everything I could to NOT. I did a damned good job.
I stomped down RIGHT on the edge in a thinner growth area and might have hurt a couple if that. Look how close I was to the edge!
A couple views of my wing in flight.
So that was my flight but the craziest part of it all was...
I had just unclipped my risers from my harness and was about to remove my helmet when a truck pulled up on the road and I turned around to see MY INSTRUCTOR! He grew up in the area and had a truck of other pilots headed up to go fly Eagle. It was so wild as I had been thinking of him while in the air since he will be my SIV instructor as well. Kinda nifty he got to see me flying not knowing it was one of his students.
I could have asked for a ride but didn't as the truck was full. So I packed up and walked my ass back to the car.
So I got the scooter and rode back up the road to get the car. Which the scooter worked a LOT better this time. The thing had enough power to make the hills and I only needed to help kick pushing a small amount. The problem came in as I neared the top and the motor was getting too hot. It wasn't much of the climb left so I got it past the climb and it made it to the car with only a little griping.
Every window open so as soon as I was driving the sky vampires would get blown out.
UGGGG! Fucking car and the water. No clue what is going on now but thankfully I had gallons in the trunk. Something is losing the water so I will have to get a radiator leak stop and see if that will fix it. The sled made it home though and I will work on it today.
J's new bow was waiting when I got home and soon I had it all put together for him. The thing is 0-70 pound pull capable so it really can last him to adulthood if he wanted. I didn't mount the quiver since he is just in the yard and not hunting.
He had been shooting his small bow for years and this last year they had archery in school. J was one of the best in the class and since I got the new target for him he needed the bow that could put the arrows into it. The trigger release is also a game changer for him as it now keeps the string true on release.
Rain is inbound this weekend so had to make sure things were covered and closed in case it hit overnight. Got some soak time in before well earned sleep.
Today I am going to pull my wing out and double check it and ensure no line issues after the weird flight yesterday. The sled needs attention, weeds need pulling and cutting, garden needs picking, X-Alps is still going, and I need to find a new lens for my action camera using a watch face shield the exact right size.
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| 2025 Y/E Hive Goals | Yr Start | Goal | Current | +/- Goal | +/Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP | 30,013 | 36,500 | 33,183 | +200 | 110 |
| Hive Posting Streak Days (since 5/25/20) | 1681 | 2,047 | 1,852 | / | 6 |
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