Evening on the North Side

 

The North Side

 

Every September I think back to a time when I took a hang gliding trip with my buddies to Utah.  It was 1980 when the “Ship of Fools Expeditionary Force” comprised of Jon Boy, Black Weasel, Mr. Natural, Dangerous Dan and Frisbee Scumbag road-tripped to Point of the Mountain south of Salt Lake City, UT.  The “Point” pokes out into the valley from the Wasatch Range and provides north and south-facing soarable aspects.  The South Side would get soarable in the morning while the North Side turned on late in the day.  We were camped at the South Side launch and would fly it in the morning, then drive to a local mountain site, fly, and return to the Point for the late “North Side” show.  A good time was had by all.  Come night time we were entertained by hanging out with other flyers, both local and international, scheming the next day’s antics and listening to music.  Sometimes we went where we couldn’t be heard by others, cranked up the tunes, broke out my blues harps and sang like nobody was watching. 

Mr. Natural & Frisbee Scumbag

Recently I heard a song that took me back 40 years to a warm night when the sun had set behind the Oquirrh’s and we had retreated to the North Side Launch.  Since it was 1980 there was no development on “The Bench”.  Just a flat wave cut feature from a time when The Great Salt Lake water level was much higher than it is today.  No housing developments in either direction.  Neither Draper nor Sandy amounted to much so their lights were scattered and insignificant. The lights of Salt Lake City glittered in the distance.  

Mr. Natural, Black Wesel, Dangerous Dan, Jon Boy and Frisbee Scumbag

We sat on the sloping launch while the tell tale ribbons fluttered in the warm air releasing from the valley below tempting us to set up and soar in the dark.  Instead we shared some Thai Stick that Mr. Natural broke down and rolled on an inverted Frisbee.  Black Weasel turned up the tunes on his Bronco’s sound system.  It sounded perfect.  Dangerous Dan and I sorted through my quiver and chose our favorite harps.  Black Weasel wanted a touch more volume so he turned it up and tweaked the EQ.   

As the warm night sky caressed our skin Dangerous Dan and I played harp while Black Weasel sang lead.  Mr. Natural provided back up and inspiration.  Frisbee Scumbag contentedly chewed a stick as only a Golden can.  We were awesome.  

You may not like this tune but sitting there at the North Launch on that September night in 1980, warm wind in our faces, backing up Supertramp, we were best thing you have ever heard. 

Think about it.