US'16 0629 -Edna/ car/ sheep/ Monroe

At 0700 we departed in the repaired van direction Mt.Edna, as Stacy told us there could be a flyable window with south winds of 12mph till about 1200 before it would OD (=overdevelop).
Just about 20mins later we got a warning light on the dashboard 'Check Gauges' and the water temperature was at the upper limit :-((

Mt.Edna (where the road 'disappears')

So we turned around and slowly headed back towards Richfield. We refilled the radiator with 1gal of water and for a moment all looked fine and we turned around again heading for Edna. But our 'luck' would hold for only a few miles, then it started all over again: overheating, turning around, refilling water, limping back to Richfield. Here in the garage they changed the thermostat. 1.5hrs later we headed out for Monroe Peak (as for Edna, the window would had already been closed when we finally would have arrived...)

Going up Monroe everything looked fine until just below the 'Monroe 10' launch, when we were stopped by a herd of sheep being driven up the mountain for the summer.

Waiting behind this flock of sheep to clear the way for us would have meant, that we'd miss also the launch window on Monroe Peak. So rather quickly and unanimously we decided that Andy and Stacy would launch from 'Monroe 10', which was just a short hike up from the road, while I would drive the car down once they had launched. This way they have been (just) barely making the window; whereas when I would have wanted to fly, we (or at least I) would have missed it: I'm just too slow getting ready and I don't want to be rushed into taking off; furthermore the launch with its sage bushes and stones is not exactly the kind I'm looking forward too ;-)

waiting for Andy & Stacy to launch

Andy

Stacy just airborne

CB's developing also over Cove...

As the OD was growing rather rapidly both decided to head out for the LZ quickly, even if it meant to get out of 4m/s (800fpm) climbs.

situation when I got to the LZ in Monroe (looking towards Edna)

Considering the adverse situation(s), I think that's the best we could have done today. And while I'm writing this blog it started to rain outside...

Answer to yesterdays 'question'; "It's both f...ing close to water"  ;-)