Today was a pretty good day I met up with Avidflyer and we flew up into Napa County to check out a few strips. First stop was Crazy Creek Glider Port, then a strip we will name Hardin Ranch, and then a nice 1600ft strip that sits up above the western shore of Lake Berryessa that we will call Lakeview. I also flew over a few other strips but did not land because we didnt have permission... yet.

http://s55.photobucket.com/albums/g160/ ... 20Circuit/

Very nice! Anxious to see it grow.

I really need to come down that way.

AKT

Those were some great strips! I think we should call the Pope one either Harden Ranch or Party strip and the Berryesa one Lakeview. I think if we add a couple more we'll have us our very own circuit. Of course neither of us had a camera so sorry for the crummy Iphone pics.



So were standing around nervously hoping the people walking towards our plane were cool about us landing there. Suddenly there is like 20 people all drinking beer and inviting us to their BBQ. Pretty cool group!



Landing Lakeview

Kevin, You definitely need to make it out this way!
Here's a couple other strips that can possibly be added to the circuit.

Moskowite


Hidden Valley


Mysterious Valley


Indian Valley


And possibly more. We met the owners son at the Hardin Ranch strip. He was a very nice guy and flys a straight tail 172 that was sitting at the strip. He knows of more strips in the area.

Rob, Stacey, Joey, and Tieton -
Looks like a great day and a great place to fly!!! Thanks for sharing the photos!!!
It sounds like a nervous moment at the BBQ!
Are you open to flying with a nosedragger????

mch

Mike, you are welcome to fly with us anytime! You would be fine at all of these strips. The nice thing is these are all a lot lower than up in the Sierras so density altittude isn't an issue.

I'd like to tag along too. Heck if Mike can make it in I ought to be able to wedge my Coyote in. Rob, looks like you and Joey are becoming flatlander versions of aktahoe.

Definitely want to hook up and fly this. Its pretty country. Spring would be awesome. Assuming we get any rain whatsoever.

Count me in!

Looks like fun!! I've got a couple GoPros and a Contour camera I could loan you guys next time you head out if you wanna try either of them out.

Thanks for sharing!
Don

gp125racer1 wrote:Looks like fun!! I've got a couple GoPros and a Contour camera I could loan you guys next time you head out if you wanna try either of them out.

Thanks for sharing!
Don

I've got a couple GoPros and a Contour camera I could loan you guys

Just for the record. Are you sober when you say this??

Looks like fun, can I come play sometime?

I know the owner of Mysterious Valley - his hangar is a couple down the row from me for the last several years. He told me I was welcome anytime - next time I see him I'll ask if he's open to others.

Pretty cool to see these circuits coming to fruition!

Who says there is no backcountry flying in Kalifornia...

Keep logging them here. We now have a Nor Cal / Sierra thread on all four points of the compass!

AKT

Piperpainter and I will be out playing near Berryessa tomorrow then doing lunch at Petaluma. I don't know if everyone is working but more are welcome to join us.

The "Indian valley" strip used to be known as Wilbur hotsprings strip, a couple miles to the south east.
"Lakeview" belongs to the house and buildings to the south. Owner used to be between Bay area and Berryessa.
There is a small strip with boarded up building about a mile or so NW of north end of Mysterious valley.
There are masses of farm and crop duster strips in the Sac valley and of course Buzzlatka International in the delta.
There is a strip on the big island in Berryessa. Be wary, the owner dug a big hole in it many years ago.
There is a strip at a ranch at the NE tip of Berryessa. There are also a couple landing sites in Pope valley besides Matt Hardin's and another SW of Berryessa belonging to the house on other side of the ridge. No X or R on any of them.

Many years ago I landed a T-Crate on the Big Island on Berryessa.
Back then the military would fly there in big helicopters and land.
During the winter when the ground was soft, the tires would sink in and leave large holes.
It was like a mine field!
If I had hit one, I'm sure I would have flipped over.

It didn't take long for the "Shore Patrol" to show up either.

Once I got that spark plug cleaned, I flew out of there

Hit a few strips with piperpainter this morning. Here are the pics:

Rendezvous north of Vacaville.


Landing at Lakeview




Jesse came along




Indian Valley/Wilbur Springs


Bryan checking his wingtip clearance at the narrowest point of the strip, I told him it looked a little sketchy... He agreed and didn't land


And here's another one I'd like to get permission to land up above Mysterious Valley

Just a heads up, Once it rains and we get winter wx, the island gets wet and muddy, so does north end of Wilbur, both ends of Hardin leaving a firm 1200ft in middle,and also the middle of the strip above Mysterious valley.

Thanks for the heads up. Matt told me the same thing about their strip.

I was hoping to get out and catch up with you today, but it was'nt meant to be.
Looks like winter might begin on Weds.