Gliders & Lunch in Jean, NV!

 Glider Flying & Greek Feast in Jean, NV!


When a dear friend you haven't seen in for-e-ver and a day (thanks, Covid!👍) invites you to have an outdoor, socially-distanced Greek feast, you don't hesitate, you just go! In this case, lunch took place at a picnic table next to the runway in Jean, NV (0L7) while glider operations and sky diving were going on all around us. As another pilot said while landing, it was a regular ol' party at the airport, despite being essentially in the middle of nowhere.

The flight there was absolutely gorgeous in unseasonably warm winter weather. I always love flying through the desert. The landscape holds so much mystique and such a quiet, understated beauty. I'm fascinated by folks who live out there, too - I find myself wondering whether I could live a life of such simplicity and solitude...



Something about the wide open space makes my mind wander... Could living "off-grid" increase my creativity? What is the geological and evolutionary history of the areas I'm seeing? Did Native Americans live there? What animals live there now? If you have children and live out there, where do they go to school? I feel called to spend time exploring the mysteries of the desert and other desolate places.



I very much want to hike on this trail (and every other trail I see when flying 😃)...



It was a shockingly fast flight from KLGB, only an hour and 15 minutes - quicker than driving to Santa Monica or the Valley!


After maneuvering around multiple sky divers, we were excited to see our friend flying a tow plane to take a glider pilot up for a whirl.


As we landed, our friend directed us to the "East Terminal"... 😁





We enjoyed a delicious feast from Yassou Greek Grill Cafe (https://www.yassougrill.com/) and watched gliders floating around the hills and then gently settling back down to Earth.


It seems like a really different and pleasant way to fly amongst the clouds, and I look forward to riding in one sometime soon (you know, when we're no longer in a pandemic and I'm not afraid of being in small spaces with other humans again 😆).

The best part was getting to see my buddy...albeit at a distance. I'll take it. 💓


The flight home was lovely, too. Flying over Lake Arrowhead is always fun. It looks so small from the air...


And finally coming home, preparing to land on runway 30 at KLGB, seeing all of the cargo ships lined up and waiting to deposit their goods at the ports of LA and Long Beach, with the beautiful Bolsa Chica Wetlands in the foreground...home sweet home.







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