Preface
Todd Robinson Flew 90.3 miles today from St.John. Rich played follow the leader and landed with Todd in the last available field before Lake Shasta. Matt flew around 59 miles to Redbluff. Lori and I drove for these top pilots. Just in case Todd doesn’t mention it, ask him about his close encounter(s) with the CHP plane. Awesome job guys.
Linda
Record Flight on July 4th – Todd’s story
The day didn’t look very good but I thought if I could stay in the air for five hours I should be close to a hundred. I got off the hill about 1:20 and went right up to 9700. The going was good up until the 45 mile mark. I got low just before the bad lands and had to work it to 5500, a little low to jump the bad lands, but I went for it. About half way across I thought “what am I doing? Linda will not like this if I go down here”.
“Where there is sink there is lift” is what Rich said on the radio and sure enough, Wham! I got a good one back to 7500. So now I was around the 60 mile mark and flying the valley. The lift was great over the flat if you could stay above 6000, so thats what I did all the way to Redding. My flight path took me right up I-5 where I had a close call with a C.H.P. plane. He didn’t see me so I made some turns. As soon as he spotted me he turned my way and got too close for comfort.
Over Redding and the Sacramento river I was getting low right over a rock concert but I found a thermal there that smelled funny. I got real high in that one ;-).
So now I am over the south end of Lake Shasta looking for an L.Z. on the north side, but its just a sea of trees down there. I called it a day and landed.
My dream of 100 miles from ST.JOHN is so close!!! thnx Rich and Linda! ooohh yahh whats a guy have to do to keep the coffee can for more than two days?!!!
Todd
Over Hwy. 5, approaching Lake Shasta. (photo by Rich Sauer)
Closer to the LZ on the west (left) side of the highway. (photo by Rich Sauer)