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.

This morning I went out for flight #83.  The wind was strong, so I had to do a reverse launch, pulling the wing up, then turning around once the wing was up:

The wind aloft was so strong that I was moving backwards, so I just stayed low and flew the beach:

Trish made more crocheted creations:

The kids set up Lego scenes.  I’m pretty sure it’s two ATV drivers passing in front of spectators:

Trish showed B how to stich jersey knit fabric to create a skirt:

This afternoon I went out for flight #84.  The plan was to land a few miles north, land, and fly back:

The wind 50 feet above the ground was really strong, so I flew low to make better time:

Approaching the landing zone:

Kirk photographed me bringing my wing down.  I was the last one to land.  This was the first time I’ve landed away from my launch location:

For the flight back, flight #85, I had to do a reverse launch:

This track is for both flights:

As I packed up, this PPC flew by.  Note the ground effects:

Shabbos at the Salton Sea was pleasant.  I spent some time over at the flight line catching up with pilots I met last year.  There were many, many pilots flying up and down the beach in the morning and afternoon.

This morning I flew out to the canyons by myself.  I decided to drop down into this canyon:

It was fun contouring through the canyon:

After exiting the canyon, I noticed this abandoned truck in the badlands:

That’s a nice spot to camp:

I flew by a few groups of RVs at an ATV obstacle course area:

Coming home:

Trish photographed a number of other pilots flying by, including Kirk:

Sky King:

The kids photographed some action sequences with a Lego dune buggy M made:

I bought a PPG cover this morning at the flight line, and it fits perfectly:

This afternoon, a number of pilots got together, but most of us opted not to fly due to what looked like a gust front moving through:

Messing around with B:

Trish asked for a pose:

Tonight our neighbors got together to watch the Super Bowl.  I watched as much as I could stand (about five minutes):