From all my observations, this looks like a repeat of (or an even better day than) yesterday.
Everyone was up early for the 6:15 breakfast to get on the road early to beat the bicycle race road closures. Enthusiastic fans were sprinkled along the our route until the turnoff to the mountains.
The horse and her young one would not be seeing the Eagle group until next year.
Rob Golden taking flight on the last day.
The conditions were light at first but we were all patient veterans of similar slow starts from earlier in the week. Once it turned on, the entire hill was emptied in what seemed like record time with uncommonly nice launch cycles for all. Bonus!
Seemingly all of us got up fairly easy, though a few were a little low out on spine 1 when I launched, but they got a climb and we all quickly circled up and away to cloudbase in minutes.
The entire group gaggled well again on spine 2, affectionately called "jumping off spot" by me.
A view from base, recycling Colombian style.
Breathing the air at cloudbase is moist, cool and refreshing, just don't invite too many friends at the same time and place.
It's not legal (or as safe) in most cases to fly this close to clouds in many parts of the USA. Drier desert air tends to make much stronger thermal updrafts and also a more turbulent cloud base. This place is like Disneyland for paragliders.
A little too close to base?
Everyone was staying high at the jumping off spot. The day was quite strong, and inevitably there were moments of pilots whiting out a little here and there as we practiced 'recycling' near the base of the cloud, trying to stay very close to the white nebulous bottom of the cloud while also trying not to misjudge the lift, and accidentally whiting out. It is serious business whiting out and we all know the risk of mid air collisions if more than one pilot finds themselves in "the white room". We all managed to fly safely, learn some recycling skills and move to to the flats without incident. It was the start of another great day. Wahoo!
The groups went on glide for the flats and I had my group wait a while and tank up a little longer to let the others mark the first climb. Yes, I was teaching my group to "pimp" the others and gain an advantage.
Juho and Chris digging out from below after joining gliders still lower than themselves. The plan was working. All the pilots in my group made it to Zarsal and then La Vitoria. It was patient flying but everyone who stayed close to the gaggle at this point survived for long flights. Juho and chris made it much further.
Flying in the flats with Janelle. In the end, she charged out ahead and ended up landing. She had a personal best nearly every day and today was no exception. Wow, you GO, girl!
Randy above Chris, Juho and Stefan.
Randy flew really well and promised to switch groups (and radio frequency) for the final day to focus on challenging
himself with Dave's group. His watchful eye and proximity flying with his girlfriend Janelle was impressive, but unnecessary. She eventually said she wanted to focus on
her flight (without him hovering over her) and be free. In the end, Randy ended up focusing on her anyway.
A rare shot of Bianca when she isn't above me (yet).
I suppose it was noble of Randy to dote on his girl, but I had promised to buy him a beer if he promised to keep up with Bianca, who was the star pilot of Dave Turner's group (I had also promised Bianca TWO beers if she would make it hard for him to keep up with her). She did it for free.
Apparently Randy didn't take the bait, shadowing Janelle, and landed right next to her in La Vitoria, meeting my favorite landing crew led by young Kevin who knows all the guides' wing colors and calls out to each of us by name as we land there.
Kevin (in the green shirt) introduced himself to the lone couple. I love that kid.
Dave and Jef enjoying 'Milo Frío" an 'Ovaltine style' malted milk beverage.
Dave went back to try and help Jef who was getting low near Roldanillo. After a few attempts to spiral down and show him the climb Jef landed there anyway. Ugh, nice try guys. Stuck on the west side, Dave wisely opted to fly back to La Union, while the rest of his group flew on with the gaggle.
Meanwhile, back at 8,000' above La Vitoria...
Marge and son Josh, chillin poolside.
I still had Eagle instructor Marge Variano (flying alone for parts of the day) keeping an eye on her son Josh, a pilot who had less ran 6 hours airtime when he arrived here in Colombia. His flight today would last about that long until he and his mom would eventually land together side by side. How cool is that?
Josh, Ran, Juho, Chris and Peter.
Way to go Marge and Josh! Of course, Eagle instructor Chris Klontz has been crushing it along with Eagle van driver Juho as well.
Several others from the other groups flying smart and staying with the gaggle including "polar bear" Clyde Kelso. Rob and Brian were each coaching their remaining pilots.
Rob Golden, about 4 hrs earlier today.
I noticed a lone pilot behind the gaggle and low on his way to La Vitoria. It was Rob Golden. He was on a different radio frequency so I switched to his channel. I let my guys go on while I helped Rob find a huge climb on the sun/shade line to the southwest. When he got back up to base, we were one or two climbs and glides behind the gaggle that flew north. I figured we would catch up near Obando.
Sarah Purcell, a new pilot with a pink
helmet. We were amazed by her flying.
Sarah, who was in Rob's group had to be the newest pilot of anyone in tour 3, and she flew on past Obando with the gaggle until finally landing for another personal best after over 5+ hours in the air!
The day was perfect and great climbs and clouds led many us to Cartago, (and for a few of us, all the way back to La Vitoria).
Rob Golden and I went on glide for Obando, and reunited with the gaggle. Unfortunately he was too low when he arrived and couldn't get the climb above the city and landed just beyond it. It was still a great flight.
The rest of us headed further north, climbing and gliding to Cartago when we finally turned and headed back to the south to avoid airspace just ahead. It was getting late in the day. Going back looked challenging if we were to go back the way we came.
Despite his encouragement, Anne, the last one of Brian's group still in the air had just landed after she reported over the radio that she was just too tired to go on. It was a full day and a personal best for her and she was pooped.
Anne and John G riding on the Cipri.
Having nobody left, Brian took a deep line on a series of ridges to the east that we had never flown before. I too was inspired to try the deep line home, knowing Juho and Chris could handle it and pressed on, getting low over the rising terrain, as Brian specked out ahead and above.
Rob opted for the valley but it wasn't working, so he landed just short of Obando. Always on point, he kept his radio on and gave surface wind reports as the day wore on. Wind was increasing on the surface as expected.
Stefan and Bianca joined us in the mountains and we eventually were able to rendezvous with Brian who flew to the end of the ridge, whereas we chose to cut the corner and I and found a super buoyant line direct to Obando.
I pushed ahead and was first to La Vitoria. Stoked!
The afternoon wind had arrived and we all compared wind observations via radio.
I estimated the wind on the river by La Vitoria was 15+ mph or so. Challenging but safe to land there on the north side of town.
Bianca and Stephan landed just short of La Vitoria in strongish southwest wind.
Brian, Chris, Juho and I landed in strong southwest wind too, gusting from 15 to 20 mph at times but with the addition of a very warm welcome from our young local friends in La Vitoria. Sweet! Everyone landed safely. The 2016 Eagle Colombia tours are now complete.
The Cipri arrived within minutes and we loaded gear as the kids climbed on too. Good times.
Back on La Unión, fresh potato chips were just the ticket. Yumm!
It was getting late so we grabbed a light snack and everyone seemed to have skipped chicken and juice...well Brian managed to quickly grab some to go. Strong move, as Farmer would say.
After a delicious last dinner, we thanked the kitchen staff and hotel staff for another year of great service and they thanked us as well, treating us to a video presentation and gifts for the Eagle guides.
We presented Sarah with the eagle award for best flight after today's long cross country. She's on fire!
The polar bear award went to Clyde Kelso (AKA: polar bear) who has struggled for years to stay with the gaggle and not go off alone like a lone wolf. He stayed with the gaggle today, and had a personal best flight. Clyde has provided the Eagle and Polar Bear awards since the first tours.
Ran, juicing it up at our favorite juice bar.
He immediately re-awarded his polar bear award to his fellow Alaskan resident, Ran, who also had several remarkable flights as a very new pilot. Bravo to both.
Martha, our beloved massage therapist joined us for dinner and we said our goodbyes. She kept the guides and tour pilots limber and rejuvenated after long hours in the air, day after day. We were grateful for her service. One hour costs about $12 US. We tipped her additionally, and sent her lots of pilots. Win-win.
Three weeks with lots of "sports action" and everyone walked away virtually without a scratch. We all leave here happy, fulfilled, hungry for more and grateful. I can't express how emotional and elated I feel right now. I feel so fortunate just to be a part of all this.
Tonight and tomorrow we all leave at various times in vans, busses and private cars depending on our departure times out of Cali. These goodbyes are hard on me, but I remain hopeful to see everyone again, next year, right here.
Tomorrow I get to sleep in a little. I'm beat.
Hasta mañana!
Martín
