Run!

Another tandem for me today, this time with my flying monkey friend Sam. 

Everything was mostly charged and breakfast was once again very nice with fresh fruit, ham and eggs scrambled with the fantastic coffee here and fresh juice.

The ride up was dark at times with towering cumulus forming right away. Word circulated that today could "OD" (overdevelop), meaning that the clouds cold grow too tall and become thunder-storms. 

We made the call to launch ASAP and land in the ultralight airport below. The instructors stayed up and surveyed the situation and tried to render help when 2 pilots from another group landed behind the power lines low on the hill and were unable to make the glide out due to poor choices being made durring their flights. A third pilot landed into the side of a small foothill, clearly trying to make the glide over it to land with all of us. Had

he looked around he would have noticed one of our pilots landing safely behind him in one of our bailout landing zones.  He must have been overwhelmed at the time. The leaders of the other group seemed unconcerned about their missing pilots and turned down our offers to help. Go figure. 

Meanwhile Sam and I punched out front to escape the strong turbulent air of the mountains behind us and found a weak climb on a spine leading to our group LZ. After a few turns it became stronger and we were back up to cloud base in no time.  

Having altitude to burn, we did some big wing overs and some high-G turns.  Fun. 

Sam nailed the launch and we stood up the landing no problem as well. We were pretty stoked that we were all safe on the ground with plenty of time to pack up and relax. 

The owner of the field is super nice and has an ultralight in a hangar he built. 

We all landed together (except one). The shade of the hanger was a welcome retreat from the sun until our ride came to pick us up and take us to our favorite lunch spot. 

The owners were very hospitable and treated us like guests.  Super cool. Big dog!

Back at the hotel, I'm parked under my fan and it's lovely. Outside it looks like a flyable day, but only for top pilots with tons of experience.  The "tell" today was the absence of any local pilots on the take off. We all got off and landed safely, and avoided the long drive down with time to spare. Unfortunately, those other 2 to 3 pilots are sill dealing with their situation. 

A short day to be sure, but a safe one for everybody in our group, so we can always try again tomorrow. 

Cheers!

SUN

The sky was different this morning in a good way.  I saw more blue than I had on all previous days. 

After the usual clouds burn off, the day seems to be poised for epic conditions. 

One of the retrieve guys seems to have a good handle on the weather here. He predicted rain on the one day we got a little wet, and today he is optimistic more than usual despite his relaxed demeanor.

Farmer, Josh and Brad are relaxed and quiet on the way up. This suits me as well as I'm flying tandem today and I enjoy the time to focus and stay centered.

We were all ready to go early and had a short meeting before launching.  Conditions are good!

I modified my passenger harness last night to accommodate instruments and my glider cheat sheet. We hope to fly for a long time today, and we will likely cover some distance as well.

Mark and I managed to get the group to go south about 23 km before we lost Shaun to landing. "Truck" and Scott both got a low save after the long crossing and continues on with me out  into the flats chasing Farmer's group. The flying today was much smoother and more like the typical amazing conditions we are uses to here.  Unfortunately Mark and I got low near Famer's group and landed in a little soccer field next to a pool in Bugalagrange. My two remaining guys continued to fly with Famer's group. 

It was very hot and the pool looked inviting but packing on grass in the shade was a welcome end to a fantastic flight. All 3 of my pilots in my group had personal bests today, and my tandem passenger, Mark as well. 

A short walk later we caught a bus to Andelucia, where we had a slice of Colombian style Hawaiian pizza and a Gatorade. Another bus came by, and now we are on our way to Roldanillo. 

This Carmel roll was a nice treat from the bakery near the bus stop. Yum! A little over 2 hours in the air. Nice day. 

Everyone was on the ground not long after we landed due to the clouds all resembling Marge Simpson's hair and All remaining pilots flying were cautioned to land precautionarily to avoid the rain and potential gust fronts that followed. 

I gave my talk tonight and even though it was a repeat it was well attentended and welll received by both the new tour 2 pilots and the repeat pilots from tour 1. Good times. 

Cheers!

  

TWO

The new group settled in late last night tired from 36 hours of travel for some, and somehow slept through the loud disco music here at the hotel and yet still showed up at 7am for breakfast.  

Our in-house disco, complete with two mirrored balls!

The day looked odd as ever when I woke, but improved right on cue as we arrived at launch. Nice. 

A pit stop to view landing areas took a few short minutes on the way up. 

Everyone got their gear ready to go after the strenuous hike up the stairs from the parked jeeps below. Another short briefing and it was time to launch!

The air became windy and it broke up the thermals making this the most turbulent and difficult day by far. It was a real challenge to get us all established.

Some had short flights but many made the trek back to our small town and beyond. I landed with two of the three pilots I was guiding and of course my tandem passenger/pilot who wisely chose to fly with me as he was still tired from his journey here from Alaska. 

It was all smiles at the soccer field for Team Monkey as Sam made the trek with us and his guide, Brian as well. 

School must have adjourned for the day as a few students came to chat up my passenger Ryan and me. Cute. 

A short walk had us eating lunch at our favorite spot in no time with fresh made grape and pineapple juice.  Amazing. 

Cipriano (chip re AHN-no) was outside to load our gear and take us to the bank and store so everyone could grab bottled water and cash. 

Soon we were back "home" to shower and take a dip in the pool or just relax under a perfect sky. 

Soon it will be dinner time and after that we'll likely have a talk by Rob or me for the group. 

Edwin, a local boy we often see, said he loved my T.V. debut last night at 8pm. We weren't able to see it at the house but he assured me I did a great job. Sweet!

Ciao for now!

Bye

Today is transition day. Group one leaves and group two arrives late. There was much celebrating last night at the discos with dancing  until the wee hours.  I opted to rehab my knee and try to get it well ASAP.  Everyone looked like they had truly vacationed this am, and will likely sleep very well on their flights home. 

Rain soaked the umbrellas and rooftops this am and it felt like a refreshing way to bring the first chapter to a close, and start a new one. 

Those staying on for more than one tour are going to the city to shop and look around. I'll probably hobble on down too. 

The weather should improve, so the new group will hopefully feel rested just in time for the flying fun, even if they have to wait a day. Cheers!

WET

The day looked similar to days before but one of the retrieve drivers indicated it was a bit too cloudy. Uh-ohh. 

We got out right on time and headed for the higher launch to avoid the comp and their last day. We were surrounded by clouds on take off but readied ourselves nonetheless. A horse showed interest and joined us for a group photo while there. 

FarmerChris. 

Bradley was off first and found lift out front where te clouds weren't touching the terrain. He would eventually fly back to La Union, followed by John B who landed about half way there. Josh and Arry launched too landing in Roldanillo. I became a passenger for Dawn, who was working on her tandem. We took off just as it began to rain. We flew out in light drizzle, found a climb, still raining, then mad a glide to try and get upwind of the wet.  No dice.

We landed nicely on the edge of Roldanillo and had to cover the gear once more while we waited for yet another sprinkle to stop.  Everything was damp, but we packed up anyway, and walked a few blocks into the town center and had a nice lunch at the favorite chicken spot. 

 We caught a bus back with josh and Arry and had plenty of time to flake out the tandem gear and let it dry before repacking it. 

The wind in the downstairs dining area did a great job and it was ready in no time.

Meanwhile, as we sat by the pool, petting Negrito the hotel dog, the others didn't fair so well up top, crowding into the small shack on launch, after covering gear with plastic bags given to them on the first day for situations such as this. 

Later we found ourselves in the town square, people watching and being watched. In fact, a local news guy rode up on a scooter and asked if I spoke any Spanish.  Moments later he pulls out a small cancorder and starts interviewing me as spokesman for for our group. We are supposed to air at 8 pm the next day on channel 22. Who knew?

My knee still hurts but I plan to hydrogen peroxide it today and stay on top of it. 

All good.  Cheers!