Cloud Base addict

Pulled in the driveway at 5:30am this morning from PHX.  Our epic road trip to PHX, then Ft.Worth TX got cut short b/c of sick kids and Mom and Ft. Worth decided to become some kind of epicenter for swine flu.  It’s good to be home anyway!

It was pretty good if you launched at the right times.  They had a good morning session and I think Sam got to 8500ft.  I think Rusty, MR and I launched around 1 or 1:30 as the midday heating overtook the super Southy conditions and it was on. 

With so many of us out there finding the thermals, it was awesome fun.  It was fun circling with MR as I got my first thermal from below launch and him and I got some money in the bank there.  Then it was cake.  The glide of my HG was real useful as there were some decent patches of sink to blaze through.

I really like this helmet.  The chin gaurd doesn’t stick out as far down as the previous Icaro I had and just looks aerodynamic.  I dove at launch after an hour of flying and came around for satisfying top landing. 

After chit chatting, it was time to relaunch.  The sun had just gone behind a thickening deck of clouds and I figured it was either launch now before the ground cools off and try to get one last climb in, or the day was over.  It was 20 minutes of struggle but in watching the video later I think my hunger and lack of sleep kicked in b/c I let a thermal get away from me.  From the couch it’s always easier.

Flew close with 3 different birds today.  A big Red Tail Hawk, something about the same size but not sure, and a little swallow type thing that was darting all over the place as if it was chasing bugs.  I was going to follow the hawk but he was headed over sinky looking territory to I stayed with my thermal.

Flights: 2

Airtime:  1:35

Max Alt:  9150ft

We left Denver Wednesday morning and made our way to the Santa Fe area for our 1st night of camping with the little ones. 

It was a little chilly at night, but Maddie and Sam enjoyed helping with the tent and making S’mores. 

The next day, we stopped at Ojo Caliente Hot Springs for some hot spring soaking.  It’s less than an hour North of Santa Fe I figure and it was a great recommendation from Charles Wernig! 

There were 5 hot pools, and one 85 degree larger pool where our kids could hang out (quietly).  Anyway, trying out the Soda, Arsenic, Iron, and ? pools was interesting and pretty darn rejuvenating after our 1st night of camping with the kids.  You could have an epiphany at a place like that.  http://ojocalientesprings.com/ 

Maggie Simpson or Sam Herring?

Before we sent another camera to Heaven, I figured out how to use the panorama feature…  “La Ventana Natural Arch” in “El Malpais National Monument” was sandwiched between 2 New Mexican Indian Reservations.  The Acoma Indian Reservation on the East that we camped right next to, and the Ramah Navajo. 

A one dog night…

Trying to beat the sun-set, we blazed around the monument area looking for a non-RV, way off the beaten path type of camping spot.  We took a long 4WD trail through sand and cow pastures to this spot.  Morgan the ever-territorial dog chased off all but the bull that approached our camp site…

After exploring the area via foot and 4wd, we cruised thru Gallup, NM and onto the back roads of AZ in search of the next remote camp spot.  Seemed like a rough spot.  Outside the gas station in Gallup, 2 guys were duking it out over a backpack.  I can’t stand the thought of someone stealing from someone else so I ran over and got involved.  Not that smart, but it worked out and I’m pretty sure I got the backpack to the right guy.  Glad they were both tired and beat up already b/c if they wanted they coulda had their way with this white boy.  Picked up Gwen at Walmart and off we went with another story.  LOL

The most amazing part of our drive was yet to come, and completely by accident.  We started down a dirt road to get off I-40 and found a nice camping spot in the pine’s. 

Woke up to a ripping SSW wind that never let up all day long (20+mph HEAD WIND).  We continued South on the dirt road, 288 and it gave some pavement around Young, AZ.  It was nice to just be climbing up and down hills and taking in the scenery at slow speeds. 

Then, we thought we’d start making time to PHX on 88 and Tortilla Flat but that turned out to be all washboard dirt and often single lane, but the best road of the drive!

Hawks, crows, and buzzards were ridge soaring almost all the windward cliffs and the new fauna was fascinating.  Literally, everything here is made to prick/stick/spear us.

Professional Backseat noisemaker, Samantha.

Now we’re at the Oasis of the In-Laws, recharging for our next adventure to Ft. Worth, TX with stops in Carlsbad Caverns and a new flying site experience at the Guadalupe Mtns.  I flew a new site here in Pheonix yesterday called Shaw Butte which was ripping, and fun.  Although only 8 minutes airtime.

This is about as free as it gets.  Neither Gwen or I have a job, no businesses, no volunteer positions and no school for kids yet.  We’re hitting the road for a couple weeks to see family, try camping with the mini-me’s and to find places unscene and under used.  Stage 1 of the triangle is Gwen’s parents house in Phoenix, AZ. 

On the way, we’ll check out Sante Fe National Forest for some camping/hiking.  Then through Mingus (Flagstaff, AZ area) for a shot at some AZ airtime.  We’ll park it at her parents house for a week or so.  There’s a cool hang glide launch off South Mtn in Phoenix that I’d love another shot at soaring from.  I’m hoping that 97 degree weather will give me my first ’09 “hang onto your biscuits” kinda thermals!  Here’s the big picture plan…

Stage 2 is from PHX to DFW (my parents).  This 1000 mile leg is mostly new territory for both of us and Carlsbad Caverns is a big highlight.  I frickin love caves.  In college we used to explore old mine shafts and man did that make some memories.  Also, near Carlsbad is a fairly legendary flying site called the Guads (Guadalupe Mountains).

From launch, it’s about 70 miles to the nearest gas station.  With 2 kids it’s going to take some creative efforts to keep them entertained.

http://www.gameskidsplay.net/games/xtra_games.htm

So far, we have a kite, a cornhole game (bean bags in holes), and a brand new 3 room tent to stay comfy.  Smores will help too.  🙂  I’m excited that the Guads can be toplanded making everything easy for us!  But if I sink out to the bottom LZ, it’s a 45 minute drive (1 way) for them to come get me.

Gwen calls me a “skirt” for covering my nose when it’s #2, but I know she just wishes she had a nose like mine to hold up a shirt so well.

After the Guads and exploring the Carlsbad Caverns, we’ll get in high gear for the best Texmex spots in Ft Worth, TX.  Mexican Inn and Joe-T Garcia’s are epic gut busting places.

Miss Potato Head…

If anyone know’s of unique, or great kids type entertainment in any towns or along our route, holler at me!  Sitting Bull Falls is a waterfall and swimming hole near the Guads that we might try.

Hot Springs anywhere?  Oh boy, oh boy.  Leaving in 2 days…

-The Herrings

1st day without the big monkey on my back (J.O.B.)!  Yesterday was the last day at the office.  Time to play.  It was on the top edge of my wind comfort zone.  Blowing NE between 10 and 20-22mph.  And the ramp-up to 20+ was pretty immediate and would blow snow around.  It had just cleared from fairly poor visibility and it was about 25 degrees up on launch.  Wanted to really stay on top of the glider!

My big concern was what my newly cut eyeballs would do in these conditions.  I don’t want those freakish “flaps” coming unstuck!  I’m 5 days out of LASIK surgery and supposed to put drops in every hour to keep them wet since post LASIK eyes don’t tear for a while.  The sunglasses and visor combo I think made it reasonable.  I had to unfreeze my eye drops for one last pre-flight wetting! 

It was mega-soarable but really rolling air.  Right off launch, I got up high enough for some altitude burning and in 4 minutes of airtime had done wingovers twice and climbed back over launch wondering what to do next.  It was tense flying because of all the “texture”.  Faster than should be possible, you could zoom up to cloudbase at 7900ft and then buzz around.  Went cruising beside the towers as close as I dared to those wires, and then back over to launch and then out over town wondering how far the lift went.  I found the end and happily came down.  It was exhausting flying for some reason.

I’m pretty sure it could have been a great adventure 10 miles S to my house and very doable.  Even if you just soared the hogback in ridge lift.  Ida tried that in a second if I wasn’t worried about ruining my new eyeballs.   

Really wicked air on launch.  All the wind socks were showing a good wind direction, but whipping around like a squirrels’ tail when he’s up to something.  Just tried to keep the nose down and things level enough to get max speed before leaving the ground and it worked out pretty good. 

So the eyeballs held up fine and didn’t act overly dry or anything.

Landed in the Miner’s field and dodged all the 4ft castration poles on purpose b/c I have 20/15 vision now!  It was all possible b/c Allen Sparks donated his time to walk up to launch with me on a brand new knee and drive my truck down to pick me up!  And he took all these great pictures too! 

Thanks Allen.  Got home just in time to clean up and go to a kid’s Birthday party and got my first dose of playing the Wii.  I most certainly should NOT get one of those.  Even Golf is fun on that thing…

Airtime:  24 min

Flights:  1