Treinta y uno

 

The day looked great, and after the day before it series likely to be similar. 

The coffee maker was full, yet few were up to enjoy it at 6:30 with me. By 7am ffolks were strolling in For breakfast. 

It was a nice quiet moment to enjoy the day. 

Soon people trickled in and farmer arrived holding a small Pringles can. 

I assumed he had captured something and boy was I right! It wasn't a cicada as I thought, but a scorpion instead. 

Fruit and oatmeal proved to be very filling. The juice was fresh, but unknown to me. 

Brian holding on for the bumpy section 

Marge hanging out on the "jeep."

Boris and yours truly. It was an extra fun ride today with the music cranked way up. Farmer can't help but sing along at the top of his lungs at times to get a rise out of Flaco. (I helped today as well). 

Paragliding line anchors the air cleaner. 

Flaco's rig is constantly being worked on, improved, repaired or modified in some way. It's always educational to watch him tinker with it. We arrive about 15 earlier than the main group. Extra time for...

Noticing a cool fly that matched my hat. 

Watching Farmer with a cool butterfly. 

We also noticed that small clouds were blowing over the back out of the northwest on launch. We wasted no time in ushering everyone off the hill as soon as possible to avoid missing the safe window of time to launch. 

It became a curious day to say the least. Most got airborne in time but the NW wind pinned the last few of us on launch for an extra 15 minutes.

Petrus and I finally got to fly tandem together and were the first of the last group to take off.

Joining the rest after a low save. Whew!

At least one pilot opted not to fly as it was getting too late and the wind was coming over the back more and more. 

The clouds were being pushed out to the east by the early west wind, forcing us all out to the safety of the valley.  Convergence formed diagonally from above launch towards Zarsal. It began to sprinkle and then rain upwind at launch as we drifted away to the southeast. Rob Sporrer flew solo for the first time in 8 days and clung to the wispies of the convergent cloud street, radioing for everyone to join him and share the abundant lift. Several pilots were able to climb up to it but we still left a trail of pilots along our path from launch to Roldanillo, Zarsal and some made it as far as La Vitoria. Petrus and I landed nicely just outside of Zarsal. All good. 

We hopped on a bus right after we finished packing. Empanadas and smoothies filled us up in Roldanillo, where we joined two others who ended up there before us. They were just finishing their roasted chicken. Mmm. 

Once back in La Union, Petrus and I had a proper cappuccino at a favorite spot. I spent the next hour trying to sort out my phone which somehow ran out of minutes after recharging it with Julian's help the morning before. Rob assured me we would just expense it and to just put more money on it at the phone store. It was kind of a personal mission of mine to make it right. But in the end it wasn't worth the hassle and I juiced it up with 20,000 Cp ($10.00 US) to last me the week remaining here.  The nice people at the store recognized my frustration and gave me a few coffee and chocolate candies on my second and final visit to the phone shop today. Esta bien. 

Before my favorite carrot soup With coriander was served, Farmer gave yet another fine talk to everyone in attendance, including Brian and myself. Gospel. 

Chicken dinner,  Locro (veggie mash) and rice did the trick. Yum. 

Sent this image to my young kids to wish them a goodnight. As I finish this post it has started to rain outside my window. Could be epic tomorrow!?? Vamos a ver. 

Hasta mañana,

Martín