Friday, December 31, 2010

3rd time unlucky....

Paragliding the Wilderness coast is meant to be one of the best flying experiences in South Africa, or so I have heard. This week I accompanied some fellow pilots and drove 4 hours up the South Eastern coast to avoid the howling South East gales that have been pounding the Cape Town and surrounding areas for nearly 3 weeks now. Like any addiction, there comes a point when enough is enough and you need to make a plan!!!  According to the forecasts it was meant to be perfect conditions for 2 days, so right direction and strength for flying the coastal slopes.... We knew it would be overcast, but that is no matter, fly we must!

After a 4 AM start from CT, a quick rendevoux in Hermanus at 5:30 to collect  2 more desperates, we hit the road! Arriving there around 8:30, we tumbled out of the bakkie eager to get some air only to find that the wind was running the length of the beach instead of apposing it which meant NO AIR TIME! We ground handled on the beach for a while and played on the dunes with very little satisfaction before we packed up damp and sandy wings (a big no no) and head off to find beer and beds....

We booked into The Beach House http://www.wildernessbeachhouse.com/ a great little spot that has recently been "made over" where we recieved fabulous food, cold beers, hot showers, and brilliant white linened beds at a very affordable price. The following morning we woke up to mist and rain and strong winds so decided to head back to the sh1ty city.

That was officially my 3rd trip to the Wilderness to get some flying in and the 3rd time nothing happened, with no refund available! For now I am happy with my Hermanus mountain and hoping the forecast is correct for new years day.... if not, at least it will only be a 4 min drive wasted!

Line Checks...

Watch Out...

Bottom of me Boots

Game Over!
Happy New Year to all and wings up, thumbs up for 2011!!!