Day 4 Tour 2

The day looked like it had overdevelopment potential, as large cumulus appeared early and again later on launch. 

It was good launching conditions but the clouds were varied and unique today.

Flackos car got us up but as usual needed some minor repairs. No problem.

We gaggled quite well and I had a helicopter fly over me as I crossed the valley with several of my guys straggling behind me.

The clouds eventully came together but not in typical fashion. Nonetheless many had long and satisfying flights.

Dark and forboding clouds kept us paying close attention

I had 3 with me who wanted to continue and we kept going late into the afternoon as ominous clouds pulsed and grew, darkening the sky at times. 

In the end we flew nearly 50 miles in about 5 hours and most of us landed just past Tulúa shown here.  We got over 10,000 feet too, nearly 2000' higher than normal for a great day. Wow.

Scott landed just before Tulúa  a little earlier.  Austin, Jason and I were stoked to get packed up  before gust fronts and strong rain fell nearby.  We got a few drops on us but not like the city of Tulúa did, just a few km back. Flacko came to get us and we got back to the hotel just ahead of dinner.

The meat and Parmesan pasta was delicious.

After dinner I flaked out my gear to dry overnight after walking in light drizzle.

What a great day!

Cheers!

Martín

Day3 tour 2

 

What a beautiful morning!  I would fly with my group for the first time today.  It looked really good to me. 

The lighting was just stunning this am. 

A bowl of fruit was all I could muster but I was feeling good.

Flacko gifted me these Colombian specs to celebrate my return. I think they work?

This shot is for my daughters at Elmhurst Elementary School, Home of the Eagles!

I was determined to kick start my metabolism, I hiked my pack up to launch. Ugh!  But I did it. 

The day started oddly but worked out deapite the different cloud formations. A few of my guys made it out to the flats, a few did not. It was great to fly with them all just the same. 

Rob Milley sporting Colombian colors!

Rob Sporrer rocking custom colors too.

High above it all, heading North to Cartago, and back towards Obando. Nice big day. Nearly 4 hours.

Waiting with Tony for a ride. None of us made it all the way back into the increasing south wind. All good.

I'm officially back!

Hasta mañana amigos. 

Ciao,

Martín

Days 1 and 2, tour 2

The day was spent staring at my ceiling, aching from flu like symptoms and wanting nothing to eat while forcing myself to keep drinking water. 

I had a short bout of something similar just a day or two ahead of the first tour as well and figured I'd be okay by the next day again. I wasn't. This time I had a decent fever and it wasn't getting better.

Perhaps it will take two days?

Everyone took my guys on the first day  and great first flights took place. I missed everyone coming back to the hotel, I missed dinner and instead had some pepto tablets and a bowl of fruit in my bed. 

On the second day, my fellow guides stepped up again and took my group while I had an appointment with the local doctor at the La Union clinic.  I don't fancy hospitals, injections, blood tests or IV use, but the idea of missing yet another day was worse than my fear of sharp things. 

Two hotel staff accompanied me to the hospital to ensure me getting there and to make sure we all understand one another. I explained my symptoms and my dislike of puncture wounds but they informed me I would be on the receiving end of a shot in my but and an IV in my arm. I was too weak to complain (much) and they took care of business right away. 

It was an hour and a half later when the plump IV had drained completely. 

I was still groggy and found it hard to sit up without seeking a horizontal position almost immediately due to my light-headedness.  Surprisingly, I was able to pound a bottle of water that Viviana brought me. Eventually I did feel stronger and walked out of there under my own power to a waiting taxicab. 

Within an hour of returning to the hotel, I had my appetite back and was slurping up some homemade chicken soup with amazement and great satisfaction. I still had some Doritos from just before my appointment and ate them as well. Yum.

It wasn't long before guides and pilots started trickling in, at it seemed that there was some fender benders this day, and some glider repairs would be needed. Fortunately I felt really well and dove into some of the repair work with all the other guides and we mostly finished before dinner. 

We sat down to dinner and finished up in minutes afterwards.

Dinner was great but my now shrunken stomach wouldn't hold as much as it did before. Sadly, I had to leave the table with food still on my plate.

I was so amazed at my transformation back among the healthy. I met with my group for a little chat and went to bed, hoping my health would stay strong tomorrow. 

That's all for this two day stretch. 

Ciao,

Martín

Day 7 Tour 1

The last flying day for the first tour dawned cloudy and dark. 

While eating breakfast a rain shower pored down on the hotel and made the surface of the swimming pool dance with splashes and endless rings from the droplets as they fell. We pushed the departure time an extra 30 minutes to let the rain pass. 

It was a nice change of pace. 

The rain stopped and we loaded up as usual.  

Our chase driver Flacko assured me there would be no more rain. He was right. He really is great with Maya. 

Cipriano wrapped all the wings in plastic just in case.  It wasn't necessary this time, however. 

The guides: Matt, Rob, Brian, Dave and yours truly. 

The horse on launch was ready to go but wind blowing downslope (over the back) has many of us hiding out of the cool wind. I felt chilled and put on every warm thing I had. I sensed that I was getting sick. 

Not everyone felt as cold as I did. I was hoping a snack might give me a boost in energy. 

Eventually we hiked up the stairs and readied our gear. Tyler and Christan know how to chill when waiting for the wind to switch. 

Despite the bad wind direction and dark skies, there were some brief Windows that allowed 19 of the 25 pilots and guides. They soared around in light lift and stayed in the air for an hour or more. 

The wind started picking up and we decided to pack up and ride down. I still wasn't feeling tip top anyway, so it was best on many levels. 

We went to lunch once back in town and I was really feeling ill. I couldn't wait to get back to my room and lay down. Some people were leaving tonight and some the next day as others would be arriving on the next tour.  I missed the end of tour fiesta and was pinned to my bed for the next 24 hours with a fever, nausea, body ache and no desire to eat. The next morning I stayed in bed until noon and still found it difficult to sit upright or stand. I really wanted to welcome the next group but found myself laying on the couch in the lobby and didn't dare let anyone get too close. By night fall I was feeling better and joined some others for pizza in town. Somehow I was able to walk all the way there and back. After a few slices of pizza I had to lay down again. I grabbed a bench and got horizontal. In short while my queasiness passed and we made the trek back to the hotel. I was optimistic about guiding the next day.  

I've been staring up at my ceiling a lot as of late.  I'm ready for a change of view. 

Hoping to feel better soon,

Martín 

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