I'm posting this Josh Groban song to go with my flying pictures. I really feel it goes with them pretty well. Let me know what you think.

I am putting this picture on here to make a buddy of mine in Huntsville, Al. smile. Hey Dub, this ones for you. Hope you got to fly this weekend. You also missed some great food & fireworks last night, haha. Thought you were going to be here---oh well, maybe next time. The clock isnt right, but the altimeter is ! Oh, its agl not over launch, darn it. agl = above ground level for the none pilots that read this. It was a great weekend ! What a way to wind it out.

A better view of the new launch from above.

I am about 1,500' agl here just boating around in the great evening sunset. This sport really gives you a whole new perspective on life from up there. Plus, you cant beat the scenery!

This is a picture of the top of Lookout Mountain. I think I was at about 3,300' agl when I took this. If you have ever wondered what it looks like while flying in a hang glider---Now you know. You can see the new ramp in the distance.

This is the ultra-light plane that tows us up when there isnt any winds that allow us to safely launch the mountain. Some people prefer one or the other, however I like both methods. I am trying to get better at my aerotowing abilities, so I take later in the afternoon "glass-offs" to improve my skills. Soon, I will be able to safely tow in the heat of the day, when the air is rocking and rolling. The kind of air I really enjoy flying in. " Kid Dave", which is also the great comedian that I wrote about some time ago, was the towpilot that towed me up today. He is The Best !

You never know what kind of aircraft you will see around here. Especially on a holiday weekend. Happy Memorial day to everyone. Salute to all of our troops that are protecting our country while we enjoyed the freedom to celebrate it however we wanted to. Semper Fi !

I had a small get together at my cabin tonight to break in my new smoker that I just bought. Menu for the night----Smoked Salmon, smoked boneless pork tenderloin, cajun style potatoes, corn on the cob, french bread, and for dessert--lemon coconut bundt cake. Afterwards, we had our own fireworks display. Hope you enjoy the pics since you couldnt be here, lol.

Ohhhhh Ahhhhh! ! !

Ohhh Ahhhhh !

Ohhhhh Ahhhhhh

ohhh ahhhh

Some good flying was going on here today also !

This is Doris ( our social director ), and Shawn dancing the night away. Doris is the one responsible for all the details, cooking, cleaning up, etc.... for all of our parties. She can't be beat ! You would have to know her to know just how funny this picture is! ! Of course, the one before this one, which is censored, I didnt put on here because kids may look at this. Just kidding, She is great. Shawn is one of our Trike tow pilots, and trike builder, plus a number of other things around here. He isnt normally this jubilent, however... it was a hot day! haha

The food for the night was hamburgers and hotdogs. Mark did a great job at the cooking as always on the grill. Had 2 kegs of beverages for some. They floated those by 10, lol. Well, it was a hot day I guess, haha!

It was Mongo's birthday today, and he danced as much as he wanted to with all the ladys present, as shown in this shot.

Name of this band was--Just Reeves Band. They played music that ranged from Almond Brothers to ZZ Top. They only took 2 breaks all night. There are going to be some very sore people in the morning, and I'm going to be one of them. This guy can really blow a sax ! We danced all night to their Great music.

It isnt very often that you get to see a double rainbow. I'm happy these turned out.

Lots of pilots got to feel the mist from cloudbase today. It was a great hang gliding day! !

Pilots were running from the storm. The smart ones were anyway. The gust front came thru and there was only one glider damaged from not being tied down. No pilots, thankfully. However, there was an inexperienced pilot that didnt play it safe and come down quick enough. He landed without incident, however, he was darn LUCKY!! Bet he doesnt pull that kind of stunt again!
There are 6 pilots in this shot, click to see larger.

As normal for this time of year here, and considering it was saturday night, and there was a party scheduled, the treat of bad weather was expected. We even lost power for a while. It did concern us for a while, but all turned out great! ! !

Happy Memorial day to all. Especially all of those still serving, or that has served in the Armed Forces. Prayers and hope of a quick return home to all of our troops that are still in harms way. Read more about this Marine in the picture at: http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/homepage?readform

With the plywood not being treated with a non- sticking agent, I am real curious how the removal of it is going to come out, or off. I am excited about the results.

Being blown on like stucco. A method I havent seen before, especially for a foundation.

They are making sure they dont miss a spot.

When we saw this cloud tonight at the beginning of the party, we knew we were in for some weather. Pilots stay very observant of the weather most all of the time. We can usually tell you what its going to do, better than most, not all, but most of the weather people that you see on tv. All we got this evening was a little bit of rain, and a terrific light show. However, 25 miles away they got hail, tornado warnings, lots of rain, thundern & lightning. Thankfully, it just skirted around us.

What a Powerful force of nature to watch. Was really lucky to get these. All about timing I guess. If at first you dont succeed, then.......keep on shooting!

Spectacular show tonight!

Was really amazed that I got 11 total pictures of lightning strikes this evening. That tells you how active the weather was around here this evening. What a great light show! ! !

You have to remember, these pictures are taken at 10pm. What a light show. Don't know whats up with the weather around here on the weekend??!! Know that it isn't flying ! ! ! !

Not going to mention how many pictures I had to take in a 2 hour period to get these. But, I think it was worth it. Guess I am a true photographer at heart.

Thought this was hilarious !! I know some people like this for real ! Also a great friend of mine told me about a great slogan for a T-shirt. " I hope my ship comes in before my DOCK rotts."

Jono, a good friend of mine, took this from above. Hopefully this will be the last construction picture of the ramp. The next pic of it will be the finished product !!

Before shot here! !

This is a side view of our new Radial Ramp, before the flooring is blown on from underneath.

It's like what we always say. Would rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air, than in the air wishing I was on the ground, haha!

Call this one----- Fire in the sunset. Incredible sight this evening!

I am posting this one for all my " Cubical bound" friends. I call this one---Come out and Play?? hehe. You can click on any of the pictures to see the larger one.

I call this one---The Promise

New Ramp update. They had most of the plywood, then they realized it was wrong. They had to pull all of it off, and redo it. You see the process beginning again. They plan of putting concrete on it. From below. I have never seen this process, just hope it isnt having to be applied so dry that it becomes brittle. I think I would have done it a bit different. However, I am not an enginneer. Just hope it lasts a lifetime with all the work,money, and effort that the pilots have put into this.

This is a good side view of all the new supports attached to the underside of the new ramp. Just glad OSHA hasnt seen this project, haha! ! ! !! !

This was the start of the bon-fire for the evening. Shawn does a great job with the gas, haha. John & Candice spent all day preparing the food for the evening meal. It was partly cloudy most of the day, and they finished it all, and got all of it inside. Then, the weather changed !

Candice and Alain had a Fund raiser at the flight park this last saturday raising funds for the new ramp. John Burford was there with his smoker to do the cooking of meat & corn. He had some OMG Ribs & Crack chicken ( it is that addictive)smoked to pure perfection. I bought 3 extra whole birds to help out the cause.(had nothing to do with me not wanting to have to cook myself, hehe). They raised over $1,000 for the cause. Candice did such a great job at pulling this off, and John------I am bowing to the master smoker! !

Oh, did I mention that it rained?

This is not only part rain,,, it's Hail.

Linda Salamone and Judy Hildebran were there. They are leaving to head to a big competition. They are part of the Womens World Competition team. Good luck ladies!!!! Good and safe flying.

Isaiah is getting big. He had a real taste for the watermelon ! Eric and Ashley's son dove right in, and as you can see---got it alll over himself, haha

Some more of the crowd, but far from all.

Just part of the crowd.

I am putting this song on here for all of the Mothers that might drop by. Or maybe you have never heard this song, and might want to pass it on to your Mother. I miss my Mom alot, however, I know she is in a better place than us all ! So Mom, if your watching--this song is for you, from your loving son. I know you have your own wings now !

This isnt a very good picture of My Uncle Herman and Aunt Lily. However, it isnt the pictures that I see in my heart anyway. Could never capture them. Enough to say this----I know there were many tears of sadness here today, but there were more tears of JOY and celebration in Heaven when he got there!! Of course, Him and Mom will be having some discussions first, hahaha. Private joke there.

These next two posts are from a Masonic funeral service. It is written, so Im not doing anything contradicting to our oath or obligation.

The Lord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee, the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace. Amen!

Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. "Now the laborer's task is o'er; now the battle-day is past; Now upon the farther shore lands the voyager at last. Father in Thy gracious keeping, Leave we now Thy servant sleepin."

I was coming home yesterday afternoon from North carolina, and got the worst phone call I have recieved in a couple of years. My last uncle died. He was asking for me after the doctors told him that he didnt have long to live and sent him home from the hospital. Before they could get ahold of me, he passed away. I wouldnt have been able to get back in time anyway,, I was over 9 hours away on the other side of Raleigh, North Carolina working. But it is a comfort to know that I was at least on his heart before he went. I stopped on the side of the road after I got the news to compose myself, and this river was right there. So I got out to reflect a while, and clear my eyes. What I got out of the time was this. Life is like a river. There are calm and smooth areas of everyones life, and then there are the rough and difficult times. "How we deal with death, is as important as when we deal with life."( my sponsor Jim told me that was from the movie-the Outlaw Josie Wales.)
My brother, sister and I spent many summers at Uncle Herman & Aunt Lily's house. We were very close. He was the one back when I was 13, that got me interested in becoming a Mason. We took his pick-up to a family that lived way out of town, that had NO money and NO income. The bed of the truck was full of groceries that he and I had just bought with his paycheck. No good food ( in the opinion of a 13year old) but staple food. You wouldnt believe the condition of the yard/ house/ and lack of everything. Well, he had me unload the truck and put all the sacks on the porch. This couple had to be in there 60-70s. and there was 2 young kids running around playing in the yard. There only son and wife had died in a car accident, and they were the only family that the kids had. After we were thru, my uncle shook the mans hand, and hugs the tear eyed ladys neck, and told me to get into the truck we were heading home. I scratched my head for a while and finally asked him about what we had done. He simply said---" As Masons, it is our duty to help the destitude, and people in need, and thats what we just did". I didnt understand it until many years later, and then I became a Mason. Which is a part of the Shriners, only a different level. He was one of the best Men that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. One of my heros, like my Dad. I really loved him a bunch. I saw him and Aunt Lily a couple of months or so and was able to get some pics that I will cherish for the rest of my life. They ask me to be a pallbarer for him tomorrow at the funeral. What an honor. And thats all that I have to say on this.

I normally love sunsets. However, as I was driving down the road after I got the news today, this sunset diplicted Exactly how I was feeling. A little about me, and my tie to sunsets is because of my Mother. She use to paint, and just before she died, she told me that when she would ask God to let her paint the sunsets. And in my heart, I know what His answer was. And that is all I have to say bout that.

Remember Jen & Keith when they were expecting?? Meet Silas Augustus! He has more uncles and aunts around here than any kid has ever had ! ! ! Dont think they will ever have to look for a babysitter far! ! ! ! Congrats guys!

Isnt he a Q T !

These next construction pictures of the ramp was taken by Jono Fisher, a professional photographer. www.jonofisher.com . He does pretty good work, haha, just kidding buddy. He does work all over the world for some Major companies. Take a look at his website and you will see just some of the clients that he has. This crew doing the work really does a great job. I really wish that I was home more so that I could have given Darryl some relief on the welding. This thing is going to be awesome when its done. Hope that it lasts a life time! ! ! !!

View from the top of the ramp. If you click on any of the pictures, you can see a bigger view of it.

Before all the steel was welded on. If you enlarge this one, you can see a glider in the air, soaring overhead as they were working. How mean-------NOT! hahaha

From up top

A side view, up close and personal.

Another look, different angle

Waikiki, Hawaii. These next pictures are from my neighbors Don & Stacy when they were over there a month or so ago. This picture doesnt even look real. I keep expecting Godzilla to come walking thru, just kidding. Before you see the next pictures, if your a pilot, you might want to get a Drool rag ! ! ! !! !

Don is fixing to launch. Lucky bloke ! I am planning on going there later this year, I hope. This is a 1,200 agl sheer cliff launch with ocean breezes blowing in. Drool, drool

A picture just moments after launching. Breath taking scenery.

Cant wait until this is pictures of me here !

Enjoying the air with Rabbit Mountain in the background.

This is the downwind leg on his approach. Would be hard for some to land with the scenery around you.

Coming in on base to final. Sure have to be on the mark here. Very restrictive LZ.

Just before touch down.

Just after Landing. Don has a strut in his step, Im sure!

This is the LZ (landing zone)

This is a pic from a friend of mine at Cingular, Angela. She was taking a dinner cruise from the Big Island in Hawaii. While we were all working on 4-19 this year,,,,, she was there. Lucky Lady !