Europe Flying & Euphoria
So, I'm off to France and the UK in June. 2 weeks in both countries should be nice - I love travelling, and spending some more time in Europe is something I've really been wanting to do.
The first couple weeks I'll be at Dune du Pyla - Europe's biggest sand dune. Airtime out there seems virtually guaranteed - basically you ridge soar endlessly out there. You can also do some low-level acro out there (wagga), and just screw around with your wing. Sounds like a good time to me! A few people have commented to me that spending 2 weeks there might get tiresome and maybe they're right. But hell, when I get bored, I find ways of making my own fun - it'll be fine.
I'm a tad concerned about the number of gliders that will be in the air at any given time out there - I've heard it gets crowded out there really quickly. Apparently obeying ridge-rules is also something much to be desired most of the time. Last year sometime there was a mid-air out there too. I'll just have to be cautious.
During the other 2 weeks I'll be somewhere in the south-western (I think) part of the UK. I'd like to see where the Brits get their skills from, and even if it means more ridge soaring, I'm cool with that. What would be really nice is a short (10 k or so) XC flight out there. I have no idea if this is a possibility out where I'll be, but I can hope. Regardless, the BHPA pilot ratings and procedures are a lot more regimented than HPAC's - it'll be interesting to find out more, and compare the two systems.
Today shortly after I pulled out of our driveway on my way to work (yes! it was great to be back, despite the usual casino bullshit and politics) my heart just about leapt out of my chest when I saw a paraglider in the sky. Yes, it's true that because it was before noon I was still half-asleep, but man, seeing it first thing in the morning really did scare me!
I looked at it in bewilderment for a few seconds, as it seemed to have hit a massive thermal and was shooting upwards, when I stuck my lead foot on the gas to get in closer for a better look. Guess who it was? The naughty neighbourhood paramotor pilot! So I lied in my last posting - this guy's wing is blue with orange trim, not just orange. He was flying a bit higher this morning, and what a morning he chose! I wish I had a camera on me - the mountains were breathtaking - so clear. He must have had a hell of a view from up there and the weather was absolute perfection.
Per se, I don't really have a problem with this guy flying over the area - it's more a matter of what could happen if he gets caught, and if/how it will affect the attitudes of neighbouring airports towards PG pilots. His careless attitude could land more than just him in trouble, that's all. Oh, and I don't think my blog postings have any impact on this - he's flying over pretty dense residential areas, not too far from a major shopping center. Personally I think it's just a matter of time before somebody complains about the buzzing-kite-thingy in the sky, or an Air Canada pilot spots him.
To be perfectly honest though, if it were totally legal and if I had a paramotor of my own, I would do it too.
The weather over the next few days looks promising for flying, although I'm not so sure I'll get any in. Saturday my parents are leaving for Mexico (yes, I'm jealous) so I have to drop them off at the airport mid-morning, and on Sunday I'm working again. Kind of crappy on one hand, but on the other I know that 60 days from now I'll be doing nothing but flying so I don't care all that much.
Tomorrow I have a another 4 hour workout to look forward to - all this exercise is killing me. If I keep this up between now and France, I'll be insanely buff. Realistic? I have my doubts - I like exercise, but doing this much is only out of force and is only for the next 2 weeks. My physiotherapist does acupuncture on me once in a while, and a couple days ago she stuck a pin in my hand in a spot that is associated with the shoulder. It felt so goooood - 5 minutes in, my hand, me, and my shoulder were all experiencing some sort of euphoria. I SO need to convince her tomorrow that I need this same special treatment again!
The first couple weeks I'll be at Dune du Pyla - Europe's biggest sand dune. Airtime out there seems virtually guaranteed - basically you ridge soar endlessly out there. You can also do some low-level acro out there (wagga), and just screw around with your wing. Sounds like a good time to me! A few people have commented to me that spending 2 weeks there might get tiresome and maybe they're right. But hell, when I get bored, I find ways of making my own fun - it'll be fine.
I'm a tad concerned about the number of gliders that will be in the air at any given time out there - I've heard it gets crowded out there really quickly. Apparently obeying ridge-rules is also something much to be desired most of the time. Last year sometime there was a mid-air out there too. I'll just have to be cautious.
During the other 2 weeks I'll be somewhere in the south-western (I think) part of the UK. I'd like to see where the Brits get their skills from, and even if it means more ridge soaring, I'm cool with that. What would be really nice is a short (10 k or so) XC flight out there. I have no idea if this is a possibility out where I'll be, but I can hope. Regardless, the BHPA pilot ratings and procedures are a lot more regimented than HPAC's - it'll be interesting to find out more, and compare the two systems.
Today shortly after I pulled out of our driveway on my way to work (yes! it was great to be back, despite the usual casino bullshit and politics) my heart just about leapt out of my chest when I saw a paraglider in the sky. Yes, it's true that because it was before noon I was still half-asleep, but man, seeing it first thing in the morning really did scare me!
I looked at it in bewilderment for a few seconds, as it seemed to have hit a massive thermal and was shooting upwards, when I stuck my lead foot on the gas to get in closer for a better look. Guess who it was? The naughty neighbourhood paramotor pilot! So I lied in my last posting - this guy's wing is blue with orange trim, not just orange. He was flying a bit higher this morning, and what a morning he chose! I wish I had a camera on me - the mountains were breathtaking - so clear. He must have had a hell of a view from up there and the weather was absolute perfection.
Per se, I don't really have a problem with this guy flying over the area - it's more a matter of what could happen if he gets caught, and if/how it will affect the attitudes of neighbouring airports towards PG pilots. His careless attitude could land more than just him in trouble, that's all. Oh, and I don't think my blog postings have any impact on this - he's flying over pretty dense residential areas, not too far from a major shopping center. Personally I think it's just a matter of time before somebody complains about the buzzing-kite-thingy in the sky, or an Air Canada pilot spots him.
To be perfectly honest though, if it were totally legal and if I had a paramotor of my own, I would do it too.
The weather over the next few days looks promising for flying, although I'm not so sure I'll get any in. Saturday my parents are leaving for Mexico (yes, I'm jealous) so I have to drop them off at the airport mid-morning, and on Sunday I'm working again. Kind of crappy on one hand, but on the other I know that 60 days from now I'll be doing nothing but flying so I don't care all that much.
Tomorrow I have a another 4 hour workout to look forward to - all this exercise is killing me. If I keep this up between now and France, I'll be insanely buff. Realistic? I have my doubts - I like exercise, but doing this much is only out of force and is only for the next 2 weeks. My physiotherapist does acupuncture on me once in a while, and a couple days ago she stuck a pin in my hand in a spot that is associated with the shoulder. It felt so goooood - 5 minutes in, my hand, me, and my shoulder were all experiencing some sort of euphoria. I SO need to convince her tomorrow that I need this same special treatment again!
posted by Veronica at 8:38 PM
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