After the change to standard time we head up the hill at about the
same sun time. Three truck loads. The paraglider pilots will come up a little
later to their launch next to ours.


The air isn't as clear as on the previous two days. The winds are very light in
Santa Barbara and at launch, but it appears that up above there are high
northwest winds. A few little cu's appear and disappear right away in front of
launch.


Not finding any thermals coming up and shaking the tree below and to the left of
launch, I jump off and head to the left to get up by the antennas. The lift is
light, but I hang in there and by jumping back to the Thermal Generator by the
towers I was soon 600' over launch. The lift was punchy and enjoyable. I climbed
in my borrowed Wills Wing 3 - 170 through a topless glider.


I leave the lift to get down low again where the air is actually more enjoyable
and the challenge greater. I then try some new areas and fly near the hillside
and get up again high over launch. This is pretty fun. I like being right next
to the hill side. There is so much room.


I leave the lift again and avoid it for quite a while to get low enough to make
it a struggle to get up again. Unfortunately I pick a bad cycle, head for the
beach, but am too low as I come over the Riviera. I'm also falling too fast over
town.


I turn back and head to Parma for yet another fun landing, now in the upper
Parma landing area. Landing this Falcon is so much fun. Some locals think that
the Parma LZ keeps non locals away from their sites, but I found it very
inviting. The locals want more pilots to come and visit. Free guide service
after all.


Everyone else made it to the beach. It was another terrible day in paradise
breaking down on the manicured lawn. I feel sad that we are leaving Santa
Barbara on Monday. We will be sure to return to this winter flying paradise.