Day 6 Tour 1

It began as a spectacular day. It ended that way too. 

Fresh fruit, scrambled eggs and watermelon juice with a little café was just the ticket. I am flying solo with my group today. I'm prepared to fly for hours. 

I was DJ for the ride up by blue tooth from my phone to Flacko's radio. Good tunes, good times. 

The day was on!  All but three got up and stayed airborne for long satisfying flights. I got super low with one of my team and he landed as I got my low save for the day. Tomorrow we fly tandem together to maximize the experience and airtime. 

We gaggled well today and as a result many made it across the valley and either landed on the other side or flew back with me to make a modified box pattern connecting most of the four cities we fly over. 

As the day went on we experienced some taller clouds and some shading too. Overdevelopment was a concern. 

Rain was visible south and behind Roldanillo so we knew it was likely to gust and as late as it was, we expected strong west wind at any time. 

Carl and Spencer made it back to Roldanillo from Zarsal with me and climbed to nearly 9000 feet there. 

Carl took his glide to Oscars LZ below the take off, effectively making his flight an 'out and return,' something special in the flying world.  He reported strong west wind later as we flew on to La Union and   climbed out again. Spencer was the last of my group and wisely flew away to the east towards La Vitoria to land in the middle of the valley. Brian Howell had been with us the whole time and he and I easily made the glide to La Vitoria ahead of the wind and landed uneventfully. Five to 10 minutes later the wind picked up, but it was nowhere as strong as the La Union side where Rob was calling on the radio that the wind was gusting to over 25 mph. 

Our welcoming committee remembered us from previous years and hung out with is as we packed and then led us to the bus stop. 

Back on the bus, we headed home for chicken and juice. Always a welcome end to a long day in the saddle. 

Ahh, love this place. Good times with good friends and sharing good food. 

We still had a full dinner just a few hours later, and it was wonderful. 

After a debrief with my group, and call to home, it was off to bed.  I was exhausted. 

Sueños Dulces para mí. 

Martín

Day 5 Tour 1

Today had the morning clouds we like and it looked as though it would clear to be a great day. It would be our chance to make up for the day before.  

The ride diqwn on the truck roof yesterday took its toll on Dave, Rob and me. We sat up top to make more room for our guests. Took one for the team.

Negrito was making his rounds for a pat on the head and scratch behind his ears.

We blew a seal on the power steering pump today, nothing that Flacko couldn't fix.

Spencer had another great flight today. He has done very well.

Christian landed early with a few others today after being the last to land a few days ago. It happens.

Spencer and John both had great flights today. Spencer in this altitude shot, John was just out of frame. 

It was a great day for the flying monkeys T-shirt. Good times.  I was so stoked for these guys. John landed at the bridge to Zarsal and spencer just past Roldanillo.

I landed at the stadium and it was locked, so I had it all to myself. 

A friendly groundskeeper let me out and it was just a few minutes until I flagged a small van for a ride to Rolda. The guy was nice and we talked about how the dry weather has affected the flying here.  He wouldn't accept any money and dropped my right where the La Union bus would be. 

In two minutes the bus arrived and I was on my way. I grabbed a few groceries and hopped a Tuk Tuk for $3000.00 COP ( about $1 US Dollar)  to get to the hotel. 

There was much activity when I arrived. 

Koyoko made some more adjustments to her pod harness. Super sweet.

 Yummy dinner and deserts. We polished these off with ease.

Dave gave a great presentation about SIV, and everyone enjoyed it. 

Happy 10th anniversary to my lovely wife Carmen. I wish could celebrate it here but we are countries apart right now. Something to look forward to, when I'm back. 

Besos a mi esposa dé diez años. Te amo mucho. 

Ciao,

Martín 

Day 4 Tour 1

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Some clouds gave way to full sun and we made sure to be to launch on time.  Farmer launched just after 9am hoping to catch the early lift up to cloud base and top land before everyone else arrived. 

He searched around for a while in light lift but was unable to get back in on his faded green glider due to west wind over the back creating rotor turbulence. This also put launching on hold for all the rest arriving to the strong and switchy wind. 

The sky looked really quite good, but there was significant wind and the turbulence near the mountain made launching too risky.  

Riding down on top of the Cipriano bus. 

One other from our group launched in a good moment, and later Brian launched to guide him. They both flew towards Zarsal and landed safely.  It was not the best day to fly here, but very educational watching pilots from a separate group launch anyway and have very bumpy looking flights. 

Back in town it was chicken and mango/banana juice for John and me.  

Everyone is ordering all kinds of juice combos now. Good times. 

Love these birds. Mmmmm

Back at the hotel everyone relaxed, swam, showered and had a cold drink or two until a rain shower cooled everything off. 

I took a nap and missed the rainbow afterwards. It cleared up quite a bit after all the wet. 

Spinach soup?

Brian gave a nice talk tonight, then dinner followed. 

We started a little friendly poker game that made great use of the  devalued coins we have accumulated so far. 

We are hoping for a better launch window tomorrow. 

Adios!

Martín

Day 3 Tour 1

Clear with "eminent cloudy" it seemed. 

This is 15 minutes later, here it comes!

After clear and strong conditions the day before, we experienced cloudiness today that turned out to be a great opportunity for both new and returning pilots. 

The guide rig was at full capacity and included a few clients as well. 

We stared at the clouds for a while as Flacko began to change his flat front tire from the drive up the rocky road to the take off spot today. 

Despite the shaded conditions, we readied our gear and were set to fly as soon as it started to look good. 

Xavier asked if I would film his launch so I got a photo of him as I said yes. Once the first pilot launched and soared upwards, it was a mad dash to launch everyone and I forgot to film him today.  Tomorrow perhaps!?

These 5 gliders above me are my group. I was so proud that we all gaggled so well together today.  Not long after this shot I went on glide for the next mountain peak and radioed for my team to follow when they finished circling and climbing as high as posiible. John was first to go on glide and followed me to the next ridge. As he slowed down and disengaged his speed bar, his glider pitched back, then forward, quickly diving off center which turned into a spiral dive. I didn't see this happen below me but he later said that he was losing altitude very quickly and opted to throw his reserve parachute. It was the correct choice and he landed safely without a scratch a few minutes later. He was very composed and relayed his situation to me with his radio. He assured me he was fine and would pack up and hike out. A friendly farmer arrived moments later and loaded John atop his horse and led the animal by a rope and he carried John's backpack for him as well. Wow. 

Clearly the air was getting stronger and two other pilots decided to land. The remaining two pilots and I went down range but it shaded there too and wasn't as good as we had hoped. Another pilot landed on the return trip back and finally Christian and I were the last two of my group still flying so we got as high as we could and made a glide to the flats.

I went first so he could watch for lift and choose a better direction if my line was no good. We each found a little lift but Christian landed near the bridge in the middle of he valley while I was able to get a good thermal just on the other side, gaining altitude and crossing to Zarzal from Roldanillo. 

Zarsal below me. I didn't get very far past the city as I started to sink when the sky shaded again. I circled back and landed at the edge of town. 

After landing I got a ride on a motorcycle with a nice guy who saw me land. We were in Roldanillo in no time. I paid him a few hundred Colombian pesos (COP) and we parted smiling at the others' generosity.  I walked across the town square or 'parque' as they call it here, to the bus station and caught the next bus to La Union with 5 ninutes to spare. It rained a little on the 15 minute ride back and the air smelled like hot pavement as the wet droplets flew in through the open bus windows. 

Once in La Unión, i walked a block to the town parque, grabbed a Tuk Tuk taxi and was at the hotel in minutes. John was there at the entrance retelling his story To otee pilotos and we gave each other a great big hug. He was still very excited and really wanted to fly again tomorrow.

We repacked his reserve parachute and he is good to go. Getting back on "the horse" is a good idea, and it was very much his wish. He said he was having such a great flight today, that he was disappointed to come down earlier than he would have liked. We all agree that it sure is nice we all get to go and fly again tomorrow. 

It's been a big day. Time to sleep now

Buenos noches!

Martín

Day 2 Tour 1

Clear with expected cumulus. 

The disco went on all night at the hotel. Opting not to wear earplugs may have been a bad call. I was in charge of roll call and didn't want to be late to breakfast this am. Fearing that I would sleep in, I instead managed to wake many times throughout the night and even dreamed of being late to some unrelated dream event. Sheeesh. 

Somewhat tired, I made it on time and everyone was accounted for at breakfast. My "late arrival" (Tyler) was at the breakfast table ready to fly with me tandem.  We left on time, arriving just as the day turned on, perfect. 

 

Rob took a local as he had no student scheduled. He was very excited. Xavier translated so they could launch, fly and land uneventfully. They had a great flight. 

The drive up was sunny with clouds moving in from the south. A great day ahead, it appeared to me. 

The groups all seemed to come together and flew well today. The air was turbulent with the strong thermals at times. We all flew around at cloudbase and really had fun. Everyone has much to say upon landing. 

Spencer was the last to land in our group. I was happy for everyone as they all had great flights of 2 hours or so. 

We hiked to the road and Flacko picked us up in minutes. We drive to Cipriano where we all transferred (+ gear) to his yellow bus and headed to town for chicken and juice, picking up another pilot on the way. 

Tyler showing off his greasy chicken fingers and juice technique. Skyler enjoying lunch too. 

Christian has a great time and it shows. 

John has adopted my favorite juice combo: mango y piña (pineapple). Mmm. 

 

I grabbed a few supplies from town and got back on the bus to the hotel, with plenty of time to cool off and relax before my presentation at 5:30. 

It is so nice here. So warm, sunny and the humidity is really not too bad. Flying near the clouds is so scenic and refreshingly cool too. Ahhhh. 

Hasta pronto,

Martín