[Bob Kuczewski]

I had a nice flight at Blossom Valley today ... no USHPA required.

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Thanks Sam!!! It was fun to fly high again. Was Blossom one of the active sites when you were in San Diego?

Look'n good Bob!

You were going to go to Horse Canyon. Is that also called Blossom Valley or did you go somewhere else?

I checked the wind forecast at Horse that day and it looked great - W @ 10 all afternoon, so i assumed you were having a great flight there.

Frank

Hi Frank,

I was hoping to go to Horse on July 4th to fit the Independence Day theme. But John cancelled and rescheduled for Blossom on the 5th.

Blossom Valley is much closer to San Diego, so it probably saves about an hour of driving. But the road to the top is nearly impossible for most vehicles. I don't remember what we rode up in, but I was amazed that it made it. We had to get out and walk at one point. I don't think your truck would make it.

I prefer Horse because it's much easier to gain and maintain altitude. People have made epic flights from Blossom, but I think it takes a lot more skill and discipline. For example, our driver was able to fly and top land to avoid anyone driving back up. That was impressive!

For me, I was happy with a sled run. I'd done some of my early paragliding flights at Blossom with Alan, and that's easy because you can make hillside landings at several locations. But with a hang glider, it's more important to make it to the LZ. I turned in a few thermals along the way, but I was mostly following your example from Point of the Mountain: keep it simple ... and safe.

All the work at Dockweiler must be keeping me current. John said my launch looked great ... and John can be a tough critic. My landing was also perfect and right in the middle of the field where I wanted it. So it was a pretty good day.  

[Frank Colver]

Thanks for the description, Bob. I had not heard of Blossom Valley. Sounds like a good day and a good fun glide down.

I've always been surprised when a pilot doesn't fly because it's going to be a long sled run. Good grief! I remember when it was a good flight day if our feet got off the ground for a while.

So, I guess that no club controls either the launch or the LZ - great! Are they both public land?

Wise choice to move with John's schedule change.

Frank

[JoeF]

for Blossom Bob!

John's new photo:


His caption: "Bob Kuczewski getting fast food in Arco ID"
... from John's recent photo uploads: https://www.johnheiney.com/recent_photo_uploads/recent_photo_uploads.htm

[SamKellner]

Thanks Sam!!! It was fun to fly high again. Was Blossom one of the active sites when you were in San Diego?

Why I didn't reply sooner.

I have lived up to my reputation as procrastinator, Effie/wife #3 accuses me of that all the time, because it's true.

Blossom Valley just didn't measure up to the fond memories of Torrey Pines. Here's what I remember:

No LZ. Just land in the creek bed, everyone said. After wallowing around, for several passes, below launch in marginal conditions I headed out

over the canyon in search of some creek bed suitable for LZ. I didn't see any. The largest clearing, maybe .25ac, someones garden behind the house.

Then power lines dead ahead. Having just enough airspeed to clear them, then a huge dead tree closing fast. Wang right hard to miss that at ~25ft agl and out of airspeed.

You know what happens next. The nose drops hard. I did bulls eye the garden Took out both down tubes and my right shoulder was hanging down past my knee.

The home owner comes out not too happy about someone landing on his property. Luckily my new bride #2 from Australia, not Effie, was able to navigate, on the correct/right side of the hwy, down from launch, around and back

up the canyon to the scene. So it was straight to sick bay at NAS Miramar where the senior corpsman seemed to delight in jerking on my arm as if he were trying to remove it. OUCH! Probably caused as much damage as the

impact. No help, so it was off to Balboa. At least they knew what to do to get the shoulder back in the correct position. Laid me down on my stomach with the arm hanging off the edge of the table, and a couple of shots that

helped. After a while the Dr. came back and massaged the ball back into the socket. What a relief! It was months before I could raise my arm to 90deg.

So I'm sitting here this evening, after a days labor, talking to y'all, with my rt. shoulder talking to me about Blossom Valley.

,

[JoeF]

Oh, Sam! I did not know about that incident for you! Ouch! Sorry for the pain; I hope you have a very little-to-no current loss. Thank you, Sam, for the telling.

[Bill Cummings]

Sam, I never did anything like that - - - now wait a minute- - let me think.
Let’s see now- - there was 1, - - then 2,3,4,5 - - never mind.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Oh, Sam! I did not know about that incident for you! Ouch! Sorry for the pain; I hope you have a very little-to-no current loss. Thank you, Sam, for the telling.

Ditto from me Sam. That's one Blossom story that I've never heard. Thanks for telling it.

The current landing options are a little better, but it's still a bit of a challenge if you come up short. That's why I generally prefer Horse Canyon. But it's great to hear stories from the early days.

Thanks Sam.

[dhmartens]

Should have walked the LZ first.
Why did BobK leave Ushpa?

[Bob Kuczewski]

Why did BobK leave Ushpa?

From Doug's video: https://youtu.be/7Fvh4d1QUfY

Questioner:

What was it that you lost faith in Admiral? You've never spoken about your departure from Starfleet. Didn't you in fact resign your commission in protest?

Tell us Admiral, why did you really quit Starfleet?

Admiral Picard:

Because it was no longer Starfleet!

[Bob Kuczewski]

Look'n good Bob!

You were going to go to Horse Canyon. Is that also called Blossom Valley or did you go somewhere else?

Sorry I didn't answer Frank. They are two different sites. Blossom is much closer to San Diego, but the road to the top is in much worse condition. I don't think your truck would make it up Blossom.