This morning I launched flight #91 and flew east, away from the dunes:

On the way back, I could see most of the dune field from this altitude:

There are now many more RVs here for the three-day weekend:

Again, flying the dunes:

Oh hello there:

Jonathan and I followed this group for a bit:

This video contains this morning’s flight, as well as all the previous Glamis flights from this week:

After the morning flight, we packed up to escape the ever-increasing dust and drove southeast to the Ogilby Road and American Girl Mine Road area.  This BLM area is just a few miles from the southern end of the Glamis dune field, but its far enough away that we’re spared the crowds:

Canyon and Jonathan and I launched (flight #92 for me) and flew out over the neighborhood.  Behold the blessed isolation:

Hello RV:

M and I raced along this road.  There was quite a bit of wind, so in this direction I had to do S-turns to avoid leaving him behind:

The air was pretty thermic, as today was a hot day.  I landed about an hour before sunset:

Good Shabbos from Ogilby:

See the trip map for today’s drive and our current location.

This morning, we launched (flight #89 for me) about 15 minutes before sunrise so we could view the sunrise from the air.  Sue let me use her Ozone Roadster 2 wing so I could keep up with everyone else.  It was still a bit dark when we launched:

Sunrise over Glamis:

It was another great flight, getting low and flying the contours of the dunes:

Kirk captured some video of me flying Sue’s wing:

Kirk also caught me landing:

After breakfast, Kirk and Sue let me and M drive their RZR around the little dunes around our camp:

Most of our flying group left for a weekend fly-in in Maricopa, so we reluctantly said our goodbyes. 

This afternoon, Trish did some face painting for B:

Trish also made a stamp for the Etsy store where she sells her crocheted creations:

This afternoon I launched flight #90:

Glamis is really starting to fill up for the weekend.   I passed a number of groups out on the dunes:

The highlight of the flight was following this pair of sandrails:

This video contains highlights from today’s flights, as well as other flights from this week:

Tonight was terribly dusty in the RV as many of an estimated 150,000 visitors arrived for Presidents Day weekend.  I’m glad we’re leaving tomorrow.

This morning, we took off at 7:30AM to fly the dunes:

Following Steve and Dave through the dunes:

Flying over a moving train was fun:

Kirk photographed me flying with Sue (right):

This video has footage from today’s flight, as well as yesterday’s flight and the flights for the next couple of days:

The rest of the day was windy and warm.  We put up our various sun shades:

B sewed an outfit for her doll:

I set up for the afternoon flight, but couldn’t start my motor.  Others flew:

Jonathan and Sky King:

Sky King:

Dave:

Steve told me it sounded like an ignition problem, and I figured out that the steel braid I had used to shield the ignition wire to reduce radio noise was allowing a voltage leak through the ignition wire’s insulation to get to ground.  Once I un-grounded the braid, the motor ran fine.  I removed the braid altogether, but by that time it was too late to fly:

Tomorrow’s skies beckon:

Today I launched flight #86, once again flying inland to explore the washes and canyons of the badlands:

Eventually I made it back to the shore of the Salton Sea:

Flying over the RV:

Trish photographed my return:

The landing:

Other pilots from this morning flight trickled in.  Sky King:

Sue:

Charity:

Carl:

Linda:

Jonathan:

We packed up to head over to the Imperial Sand Dunes National Recreation Area, commonly known as Glamis.  B carved a new walking stick for herself during our stay here, so she left her old walking stick, which is now too small, behind:

We stopped at the gas station to dump and fill up on water, then drove southeast to Brawley where we bought groceries and more fuel for the paramotor.  Continuing east towards the dunes, we saw this Osprey fly by:

When we arrived at Glamis, Trish got started stowing the groceries:

It’s hard to believe that by this weekend, there will be about 150,000 people here:

I setup to fly the dunes:

It was a reverse launch for flight #87:

The dunes begin just beyond the camping area:

Dave flew by below me:

This video contains footage from tonight’s Glamis flight, as well as the Glamis flights for the next three days:

Steve and Charity came in for a landing:

Goodnight from the Glamis Dunes:

See the trip map for today’s drive and our current location.