In the days after the storm the atmosphere can remain quite unstable. This becomes our playground. 

First we hike the 2000 feet up to a launch at Mission Peak. I'm flying this day tandem on the Ozone Swiftmax. 

Taking off we are able to find thermals that take us up to close to 4000ft. Our climbs are really only limited by the fact that we are reaching the clouds. It is possible to go higher, but not safely or legally in the US. I did try to get to the windward edge to surf/soar up the face of the cloud, but it didn't work this time. 

This picture is take right as we are trying to push forward to get cloud surfing. 

Below us is Fremont, the Tesla Plant, 680 is the closer highway, and 880 is the one just a bit farther. Across the bay if you look carefully you can see both NASA Ames, and Shoreline Amphitheater. The color of the bay changes, there are some reddish brine ponds on the eastern shores closest in frame. To the immediate right of us are piles of salt. 

A keen eye can see that there is very little wind. The bay is reflecting like a mirror. 

Multi-million dollar homes scatter the hillside, but in some places large palaces loom above the others in private kingdoms on tiny mountains. 

There is a white square and a white water tank in the lower left of the view both of these tend to be good trigger points for thermals. The Mission Blvd section of road cuts out a volume of airspace that my best guess is for the old glider port. 

Warm springs BART is also in view. 

Across the Bay you can see rain. Near Windy hill and Stanford (If you look close enough you can see Stanford Tower)  as well as los altos. 

The picture is taken by Bob, another paraglider pilot who climbed up in the same thermal as us. 

We ended up flying down range to another park called Ed Levin, and almost landing twice on the way there, but we got low saves back to the clouds both times.. 

As Bob and Ismo (another pilot who is from Finland and doesnt mind the cold!) went down range, we decided to attempt to fly back to Mission Peak. We did it!!! Ismo and Bob went on to have amazing flights. 

https://ayvri.com/scene/1q5r1p96k3/ckkiu9nfa00013b6gzw75q1ju