RIGHT AFTER we got back from Paso Robles I just had time to drop Cristy off, get some fresh clothes, some food, a decent shower, and a comfy night’s sleep in my bed at home before jumping back in the trailer the very next day and heading up to the Red Hills to my friends’ ranch. Every year on the weekend leading up to Memorial Day I put on a fly-in and Jack and Myrna Moyle’s ranch just outside of Chinese Camp in the Sierra Foothills. If you’ve ever driven to Yosemite on Hwy 120 you will come to Yosemite Junction where you have to make a right turn to continue up to Yosemite. Just as you get to the railroad tracks and over the hills to your right is my friend’s ranch.

Attendance was low last year because two years ago Jack and Myrna said they didn’t want to host any more fly-ins, as it had become too difficult for them to manage the cleanup. So everyone made other plans for last year. At the last minute they told me that Hannah and Tanner, their grandson and his wife, had offered to take over set up and tear down for the fly-in. A few were able to change their plans and show up. It was disappointing to them. But they understood after I explained to them that people simply made other plans because they had said, “no more!”

This year they made sure that I understood that the fly-in was back and and to be sure to get the word out. We still had lower turnout than in previous years but it was better than last year. We had over 20 people show up and 10-15 airplanes either fly-in to camp, or just visit for a while and then leave. As usual I took my travel trailer up there because I’m done sleeping in tents. There were also more people this year because I extended the invitation to the guys up at Lincoln Powered Parachute Field just north of Sacramento. Many expressed interest but only three showed up. However, the photos and trip reports they shared on Facebook with the rest of their group will ensure that more show up next year. I know them because I went to LPPF to have my powered parachute inspected and for some flying tips.

I show up Friday and set up camp as did the powered parachute guys. I greeted everyone but spent much of the afternoon up at my trailer setting up Star Link and the antenna my friend had loaned me for my POTA activations. I got the highest number of activations ever because I was able to work far into the night. Using my friend’s antenna I also got some of my most distant contacts; two in Ukraine, one in France, and one in Russia.

More folks flew in on Saturday with the intention of staying for Saturday night’s potluck and to camp overnight. Unlike last year there was too much food this year! We could have easily fed double our number. The next morning, Sunday, Hannah and Tanner invited everyone to the house they are building on Jack’s property. It’s already mostly built but with their new addition, Brinley, they are adding more bedrooms. Tanner assured me he’s only adding TWO bedrooms, one for each child. I joking said he could always buy bunk beds. He unjokingly told me Hannah had already said that to him! 🙂 Hannah made us her delicious sourdough pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage. Again, too much food!

After breakfast folks started packing up and heading home to celebrate Memorial Day with their families. The last one to leave was myself, around 2pm or so. This year I got a question about Red Hills merchandise so I developed some. Here is the logo I came up with for this year’s fly in.

Initially, I’m going to offer two or three hat colors and a men’s and women’s T shirt. We’ll think about mugs in the future.

All in all a great fly-in. Looking forward to 2027.

Here are this year’s highlights: