electronleaf

Lunar

2011-09-28T13:49:00.001-07:00

If one was so inclined
to imagine
the soft glow
of lunar light
on sands below
while in flight

Eagles

2011-03-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

February 20th was a Sunday, and looked like it might flyable someplace local. Both Tiger Mtn and Blanchard had favorable forecasts. Tiger looked better to many a pilot, and better even by my check of the weather. However Patricia and I decided Blanchard was the place to be on a sunny light south wind day. I called Ernie and Beth Friesen and hatched a plan. We would meet in the LZ at noon.
The LZ was sunny but far from warm. The field looked damp, very damp with standing water in the low spots. A heron hunted frogs in one corner of the field. Almost no wind and what wind there was came lightly out of the east. We piled into the truck and headed up.
Reaching the top I was welcomed by a vast expanse of glistening mud. The tide is out and the flats are baking in the winter mid day sun. This is a good sign as decent lift is often produced when the returning tide slowly inundates the flats.
On launch it was definitely south, not too strong but slightly out of the east making me slightly nervous. Several hangs arrive and begin to set up. Some high clouds moving in threatening to dampen our spirits and suppress what lift there is. Joel, a long time hang from the north end, got up to launch and as he waited for a good cycle I spot a local. A bald eagle, thermaling up from the edge of the clear cut below. This restores my view of the conditions out there. Joel launches and slowly makes his way over and above launch. Soon Beth and Patricia join him, tracking the thermals to the north, looking like they are having a great time. Ernie and I eventually get off the hill after some futzing around.
So this is my first flight with a new harness. Between all the adjusting and clipping of buckles, four buckles just for the flight deck!, I am the last off. Immediately upon launching I notice that the flight deck is press up against my chest, the radio antenna is poking me in the nose, and my feet are up in the air so I can't see what is out in front of me. Fortunately there is abundant lift out in front and I can still hear the vario muffled in my jacket. I set about getting some altitude before sorting this mess out.
After some adjustment and making sure my heated gloves are on I settle in to do some flying. The views are great, water, islands, and green fields. Patricia and I make a few turns together above launch. All together a beautiful day with great lift taking us several hundred feet above the hill with ease. It is very cold and Patricia eventually heads out to land and warm up.
I hang around for a while and spot an eagle climbing again from the bottom of the clear cut. I glide over to join in, arriving a couple hundred feet over her. I surmise that she is female been the larger of the two adult eagles flying at Blanchard that day, then again I could be totally wrong. We thermal up, tracking the lift which is now drifting from the west down low and from the south above a shear level, she cocks her head at me as we turn. When she banks over I can see the soft feathers of her belly ruffle in the wind. As I turn tighter to stay in the lift so does she, her wingtips spread wide with an occasional powerful stroke. I don't know if she stays with me because I'm on the best part of the thermal or if she is just curious about this clumsy object following her around. Evidently only part of her attention is on me and she heads east to fly with three other eagles. I follow and join her in another thermal before she outpaces me. I head back to launch where more of the nylon and string variety of locals have arrived. Also Patricia, Ernie and Beth are back for another round. Everyone launches in turn and for a while the sky is busy.
I spent some air-time with several different feathered critters on that flight. Two adult bald eagles who didn't seem to mind sharing a thermal, two juveniles who kept their distance and a small falcon too fast for me to identify. This is one of the most amazing parts of flying for me. For days, or weeks I think about those brief moments of contact with these birds in their own element. How many people get to experience this and how hard it is for me to describe the event. Somehow momentous for me but likely just a brief interlude between fishy snacks for the typical bald eagle.
The cold temperature and weakening lift eventually lead me to the LZ. I join the crowd of good natured north-end pilots who came to fly Blanchard this day. Blanchard occasionally produces amazing conditions for flying, usually in the spring when the unstable southern systems are moving through the northwest. An even more rare condition is created by a westerly push producing lift far out over the water and if the wind is persistent the lift can last many hours. Just as I finish packing up the President landed. The President of the Northwest Paragliding Club, who while visiting family in the area convinced them to visit Blanchard mountain to take in the view…yeah right.

Tiger

2011-03-01T12:55:00.001-08:00

Through the brush,
teeth, claws, fur,
pass with heavy breath, a growl,
downhill, a wake of destruction.

My mouth is full

2011-02-27T12:18:00.000-08:00

Squirrel

2011-02-27T11:54:00.000-08:00

Two robins

2011-02-11T10:12:00.000-08:00

Egypt has entered a new phase. I am reflecting, and wondering, the people of that nation have a long road ahead, hopefully peaceful. I look for someone to talk to about events. Tunisia and now Egypt, exciting times for the middle east. An area where some of the first and largest of ancient civilizations developed. I engage some co-workers, surprised by their lack of knowledge or awareness of what is happening in the world.

Distracted by small birds in the trees out the window.

Reading a email from a friend who has found love. I hardly recognize him.

Distracted by small birds.

How long and how fast life changes.

Our scanner/printer is not operating correctly, my train of thought is interrupted by an announcement from the front desk. 80's on the radio today.

Life is short and long. Short intense bits of happiness punctuate long periods of dull time.

A larger bird, a robin joins the small birds. Generally gray skies outside.

I scan the photos of parties in the streets in Cairo. I wonder at the hard work to come for these people. I hope we see more dictators fall to peaceful public uprisings.

Do birds talk to each other?

Again I wonder if my friend has never been in love before? How many times has this happened? Dopamine cycles in the brain. That rush of chemicals.

Analytical musings.

The work I do has diminished in importance.

Two robins!

Squirrel Problem

2011-01-11T19:57:00.000-08:00

Rough polars

2010-03-27T23:46:00.000-07:00

Tiger Mtn

Gasworks Park

Discovery Park polar

2010-03-16T00:58:00.000-07:00

Some Trees

2010-03-15T22:49:00.000-07:00

Strange little animal seen in Discovery Park.

2010-03-15T22:43:00.000-07:00

Strange little animal seen in Discovery Park. What is it? It's not a opossum or a rat. It had a short tail like a hamster, long whiskers, small black eyes, round ears, hairless feet with long sharp claws. About 8 inches long from tail to snout. Eating black berry leaves.

tree

2009-05-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

bugs

2009-05-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

Area B

2009-05-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

Deception Pass

2009-05-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

Teotihuacan

2009-02-17T15:10:00.000-08:00

View from the Pyramid of the Moon

Mask and Skulls

2009-02-17T15:07:00.000-08:00

Museo Nacional de Antropologia

2009-02-17T15:06:00.000-08:00

Shit

2009-01-22T21:59:00.000-08:00

I think I made a mistake. A mistake about twenty years ago. I vaguely remember there was a choice. Two choices, two directions, two paths I could travel in my life. I could go to college and get a degree, a job, and a career or I could be a bum. I chose wrong, I should have been a bum.

iPhone

2009-01-14T10:13:00.000-08:00

First blog from my iPhone!

More snow and a couple of tracks

2008-12-22T15:42:00.000-08:00

Seattle Snow

2008-12-20T23:45:00.000-08:00

Patricia launching at Lee Creek

2008-12-04T22:23:00.000-08:00

Big Jack

2008-12-04T22:21:00.000-08:00

Little Jack

2008-12-04T22:18:00.000-08:00

Niece

2008-12-04T22:15:00.000-08:00

Very Cool

2008-11-20T10:04:00.001-08:00

http://dipdive.com/

OBAMA WINS

2008-11-04T20:50:00.000-08:00

The whole world is cheering right now!!!!

RatRace 2008

2008-07-10T18:17:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple shots from the RatRace 2008

Look hard to see the wings.

Heather

Woodrat launch

2008-07-10T18:12:00.000-07:00

Heather launching during the RatRace 2008

Woodrat launch

2008-07-10T18:10:00.000-07:00

Woodrat launch during the RatRace 2008

WCPC

2008-07-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

On glide at the start of the final day of the WCPC.

Flying in Chelan

2008-05-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

The lake is the lowest I have ever seen it.

Crossing the canyon

Looking out at the flats. Andrei is thermaling in the lower center of the photo.

Pancakes

2008-05-09T18:03:00.000-07:00

Pancakes

Flying at Fort Ebey

2008-03-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

Flying at Fort Ebey

Eclipse

2008-02-26T18:01:00.000-08:00

Eclipse

Cape Kiwanda 2

2008-02-26T17:58:00.000-08:00

Rock

Erosion

Sunset

Beach

Cape Kiwanda

2008-02-26T17:57:00.000-08:00

Beach

Sand

Bone

Bottle

Whidbey Island

2008-02-26T17:53:00.000-08:00

Andrei

Ernie

Dirt

Making Pasta

2008-02-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

Roxy and puppy

2008-02-26T17:49:00.000-08:00

Roxy

Roxy and puppy

2008-02-26T17:47:00.000-08:00

Cairn Terrier Puppy

2007-12-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

Right after launch

Heading to the LZ

2007-12-27T12:00:00.000-08:00

Andrei's new wing

Thin lines

no wind launching

Flying Blanchard Dec. 24th 2007

2007-12-27T11:52:00.000-08:00

Conrad getting ready to launch.

Flying Blanchard Dec. 24th

2007-12-26T13:42:00.000-08:00

We had some great flying at Blanchard last Monday. Very rare for December. Well over an hour of soaring with some eagles and ravens. Only a couple of paragliders and one hang got up for very long. Andrei and I got above launch and were able to explore. Looked toward Bellingham but the retrieve would have been more trouble. I'll post some pics later.

Flying at Blanchard on Sunday 26th

2007-08-27T15:03:00.000-07:00

Hood Canal Mushrooms

2007-08-20T19:58:00.000-07:00

Coral mushroom

More Hood Canal wild life

2007-08-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

Tent Spider

Wild life near Hood Canal

2007-08-20T16:35:00.000-07:00

Snail

Newt

Star

2007-08-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

Dog kisses

Some flying photos from the last couple of weeks

2007-08-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

Irina coming into land.

Patricia getting ready for a flight.

Iain on launch at Black Mtn.

www.pbase.com/chrisa/chelanblanchardblack

RatRace Photos

2007-07-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

Andrei on and evening flight

http://www.pbase.com/chrisa/2007_ratrace

More glass off flight

2007-06-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

Sunset

Andrei and the moon

Out to the valley

Glass off flight last night

2007-06-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

John, Andrei, and Irina getting a great glass off flight.

Full service

2007-06-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

Launch is full service. Rob getting a hair cut.

In Goal!!!!

2007-06-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

Conrad

James

John

Cell phone reception

2007-06-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

Beth looking for the best cell phone reception.

Windy

2007-06-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

Windy clouds out of the west on Tuesday. We still had a great task this day. I made goal.

Two happy people and one.....

2007-06-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

Conrad

Arun

Meredyth

2007-06-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

Checking the task on the map

Ernie

Wind dummy launching off Woodrat.

Sitting around RR head courters after the task.

2007-06-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

Irina

George

Cherie

Score keepser at RR

2007-06-22T08:26:00.000-07:00

Score keepers, Bill Hughes and Greg Babush

More RatRace

2007-06-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

Cherie relaxing under a tree

Cleme

Brad and Kari on Launch, not sure about those smiles.

On Launch first day

2007-06-21T09:26:00.000-07:00

Merydith

Joanne and Kathryn

Irina

This is the first day on launch. Notice how serious Irina is checking the task.

Rat Race

2007-06-12T15:52:00.000-07:00

Just a couple more days till the RatRace!!!!!

NBBJ Building near REI Flagship store

2007-05-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

Sun shades

concrete detail

Lights in the alley

More photos from Discovery Park

2007-05-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

Lynn kiting

Molly hunting

Lynn and Baron

From Last Sunday

2007-05-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

Baron looking rejected

Karen kiting

Lawrence watching his student

Nothing new

2007-05-16T10:46:00.000-07:00

Still waiting to get a new phone.

Can't blog on the go for a while longer.

Ratrace

2007-02-21T22:54:00.000-08:00

Looks like I'm confirmed in the Ratrace!!!!!

http://www.mphsports.com/

2007-02-06T21:07:00.001-08:00

Nav class

2007-02-05T09:01:00.001-08:00

Monday morning meeting

2007-01-26T15:25:00.001-08:00

Light shades

2007-01-23T12:31:00.000-08:00

At the checkout.

Fort Ebey, Whidbey Island

2007-01-18T11:04:00.000-08:00

The beach at Fort Ebey

We tried to go flying at the Fort on Jan. 6
Wind was very strong in the morning but a couple people got
flights in the early afternoon before it turned southeast and very strong.

Pizza day at the office

2007-01-17T12:03:00.000-08:00

The pizza arrives

wine was served

NWPC Awards Gala

2007-01-17T11:31:00.000-08:00

Lynn at the NWPC Awards Gala

Matty

Dave Byrn

Sandpoint building

2007-01-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

Large building at Sandpoint. Looks like they are getting ready to tear it down. Taken Jan. 1, 2007

2007-01-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

Office shot

New office space

2006-12-28T22:41:00.000-08:00

Reception desk before it was finished.

Gina hiding from the camera.

Facing south, it's very bright during lunch.

2006 Baldy fly-in

2006-12-28T22:37:00.000-08:00

2006 bike and fly

2006-12-28T22:33:00.000-08:00

Work is boring

2006-12-28T15:20:00.000-08:00

Here is a screen shot.

Arun walking in the LZ

2006-12-22T14:02:00.000-08:00


Arun walking in the Tiger LZ

Freaking out

2006-12-22T14:00:00.001-08:00


Freaking out

Bruno Flying at Fort Ebey

2006-12-22T14:00:00.000-08:00


Bruno Flying at Fort Ebey

Mullet seen on Tiger Mtn

2006-12-22T13:59:00.001-08:00


Mullet seen on Tiger Mtn

Beth Landing

2006-12-22T13:59:00.000-08:00


Paragliding Tiger Mountain Short video of Beth landing at the Tiger Mtn. LZ

Why won't this work?

2006-12-22T13:57:00.001-08:00

Why won't this work?

Today

2006-11-13T20:48:00.000-08:00

Alone today.

Halloween flying photos

2006-11-01T15:47:00.000-08:00

http://www.pbase.com/chrisa/2006halloweenflyin

2006-09-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

Lynn

Whidbey Island flying

2006-09-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.pbase.com/chrisa/whidbey060904

Some sunset flying pictures from Whidbey Island.

Heading 2 Paragliding Nationals. Should

2006-08-24T22:43:00.000-07:00

Heading 2 Paragliding Nationals. Should b fun.

Chelan Adventures

2006-08-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from last weekends adventures in Chelan.

Some of the people at Tiger Mountain Flyin

2006-08-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

Moondogge rCamp Muir Hike

2006-08-07T16:01:00.000-07:00

Some photos from our hike.

Driving

2006-08-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

Driving

Co-worker Gina

2006-08-01T05:31:00.000-07:00

Gina