Veintinueve

Brekfast was at a leisurely 7:30 and was a simple chicken filet with tomato, kiwi Nd bread. The juice smoothie was good but hard to identify. The coffee was excellent. 

We said goodbyes throughout the day, depending on departure flight times. There were several different vehicles arranges to get everyone back to Cali. 

Several of I sent to town for lunch at the upstairs restaurant in La Union. Yum.

Of course we had ice cream after that. 

The day started cool, then became very hot and many headed for the pool. I stayed in the shade to stay fresh for the coming week. 

The sky clouded over and darkened. Across the valley it rained late in the day.

I saw this nice dog on the walk back. I returned to the hotel with plenty of time to relax, reset, and ready my gear. 

Saying our goodbyes for the final departing pilots. 

As the sun goes down, Tanke a moment to contemplate the final group arriving late tonight. I have a tandem tomorrow with Petrus. I'll have two continuing pilots and two new ones in my final group of four. Should be great. 

Safe travels to everyone on their way home. Sweet dreams to my sweet family counting the days until I return. 

Buenos noches,

Martín

Veintiocho

Looks good today.  Too good?  Several people hiked up this morning leaving more seats in the trucks. It looked like a sunny and hot hike ahead, bad for the hikers, not so good for the pilots either. 

Tandem for me today. 6 of 7 days. Only Rob Sporrer did tandems all 7 days straight. Awesome. 

Everyone ate and trailed out to load up on time. I think we had fried eggs, my phone was upstairs charging for breakfast. 

Lots of people on top of the Cipri for the drive up. A special treat and great view. 

A beautiful butterfly landed on jims shirt. 

When opened, the wings revealed intense color.

The sky blues up dramatically and a cane field fire's smoke became pyro-cumulus  in almost zero valley wind. Cloudbase seemed higher than average and the cycles were getting strong. Time to go!

Folks prepped and started launching. The air became strong and yet difficult to climb through an inversion half way to cloud base. It was too much for some and several pilots landed voluntarily. Others didn't launch, and some roughed it out and managed to cross to the other side of the valley, where conditions improved.  Brian's and my group crossed more or less together. It was rather blue, but I found a climb off to the left, gave Brian a call on the radio, but he didn't here it. 

Brian forged ahead, and then landed the bumblebee tandem (black and gold)  ahead of his group, draping the wing over a branch with a hornets nest in it due to switchy, thermic conditions on the ground. He ushered his remaining pilots still in the the air to follow me, in his absence. I was able to coach them up over La Vitoria and then Hugh and I charged ahead after a patient climb to cloud base just ahead of them and Rob Sporrer who joined us on tandem as well. 

The day shaded hard at this point, and it was the wrong time to transition, I know this now in hindsight. 

My phone was in my pants pocket so there was no glamour shot of john and me, high in the air. We had a very nice landing thanks to his running, 3 hours later. 

A "Fiver" sugar cane hauling truck train. 

We landed near good shade trees to pack, right next to the road connecting Zarsal and La Vitoria. Hugh was tha last person in my group flying and he landed one km farther towards Zarsal. Well done Hugh! Rob and Brian's remaining guys, Rob G., and and Ralph glided over us and land near Zarsal as well. 

Flaco was there in 20 minutes with a cooler full of cold drinks. I treated myself to a Redbull. Yum. 

It was the last night for most, but some remained for the final week. We said some goodbyes after dinner and some the next day. It was quite a night.

A double rainbow before dinner. 

Beef medalions tomato with quail eggs and rice.  Perfect. 

Desert was tirimisu and it was amazing.  

Julian the consierge at the hotel sang for everyone. What an amazing voice. 

A very young couple danced for us all too and they were amazing. 

We thanked Alicia and the cooks for such fantastic food all week (every week) and then vead broke out the party fun foam canisters. 

I doused a few people and then got doused myself pretty good,

We played poker into the night and I was on a lucky streak. I must have come away with $50 by the bed of the night. 

We said our good nights, knowing breakfast would be on a flexible schedule for the next day. Ahhhh. 

Plenty of snacks keep my favorite lamp company on my nite stand. 

Goodnight from La Union. It's late here now. 

Martín