Paragliding!
Louisa the paraglider
One of Lou’s goals for this year was to go paragliding, so yesterday (Saturday) at 5:30am we began our hour and three quarter journey from Spencers Wood to Glynde - “right in the heart of the premier flying sites of the South East of the UK on the beautiful Sussex South Downs.” There we joined Airworks for a one-day introduction at the Bo Peep fields, where we were introduced to our equipment (after lugging it from the car park and then down the hill) and learnt to launch, turn and land. Non flying skills which seemed to take up the most of our time (apparently day one is the hardest) included mushrooming and packing (for lugging the equipment) and hiking - from our landing spot back to the launching spot - each time further and further up the hill!
Today (Sunday) was mostly about recovering…
Louisa paragliding
Despite the physical exertion, the actual flying was a lot of fun. Watching the more experienced paragliders - who spent considerably more time in the air and less trekking up and down the hill - if they came down the hill at all - was all the motivation we needed (admittantly, we didn’t need much) to keep pulling ourselves back up the hill.
Louisa landing
So now Lou is determining how she can get us onto the full course. Airworks also do trips to the Himalayas and France - so there is an opportunity to travel and paraglide as well.
I certainly didn’t expect paragliding to be my first major activity to report this year!
January 5th, 2009 at 1:41 am
Oh my goodness!! Did you also paraglide Adrian? I’ll bet that was an expensive little “must do”. If it doesn’t break you back it’s bound to break your pocket. Although it does seem like a thrilling activity. I’m sure you are being very careful.
Love you
Mum
January 6th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Nice one! Always wanted to try this myself. Next stop…skydiving!
January 6th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Mum: Of course I went paragliding too! Why pay for one when you can have two for twice the price? No way was I going to let Lou have all of the fun! The one-day introduction wasn’t too bad price wise - but the full training and gear is a completely different story. Still, you should be happy to know that it can be a very safe sport.
Phil: What’s stopping you? Lou and I have been skydiving (tandem, over Canada, on our honeymoon in 2004) and can attest to the thrill. I’m sure it took almost two hours for my adrenaline to come down afterwards. Luckily it didn’t ruin Disney for us (we thought nothing would compare). However, it is currently filed under “once was quite enough, thank you!”
January 7th, 2009 at 4:17 am
It’s the word “CAN” in “can be a safe sport” that is of a little concern! Still, after some chap was taken by a shark recently down at Secret Harbour, I guess snorkelling CAN be equally as dangerous.
When is your next lesson then? I told Dad I wouldn’t mind hot air ballooning for my birthday, that could be fun - and hopefully not dangerous.
Love to all
Mum