Ant Saves the Day!!

I wagged work today after being coherst by Monkey Boy to go for a fly. It sounded like a good idea considering i may not get another for a week or more due to the desperate effort to complete a three quarter renovated house for my sister and partner before they leave for the Philipines. Jay also mentioned he probably wouldnt get another chance for a while due to teaching and other commitments.

So with a quick text to my friend Amanda who owns the hair sallon next to my shop asking if she would be a pet and put a "due to an emergency, Moon Star Magic will not open today" note on my shops glass door, i was off to Beechmont to see what the day might bring. I think ill have to get a propper laminated sign for Amanda to put up, considering this is starting to happen on a regular basis.

On reaching Beechmont we were greated by unexpected light winds with no cloud at all. We decided to set up with Jay's main goal to get off the hill pretty soon. Now i havent been in this sport for long, but i have to admit i didnt have a great feeling about staying up in this weather, so i mentioned id be staying on the mountains edge for a little while yet and if Jay wanted to be my wind tech he could go right ahead.

Once set up i had Jay assist me to launch where i decided to wait until things in my mind got better. Jay on the other hand jumped in to his ride, did a quick radio check with myself and ran off. From the get go the poor barstard struggled and on one occassion i was possitive he was down for the count and on his way to the bombout. If it wasnt for a minor miralce and a saving last second thermal he would have been.

I watched him scrath for about 15 minutes before noticing the winds pick up a little and the swarms of swifts (sparrows) thermaling in more of a forgiving nature. I was now happy with the conditions and radiod to Jay that id hopefully be joining him soon. To be completely honest, the day had only improved marginally and I was sure as hell that id be having a sleddy.

I made one big mistake today, and that was launching without knowingly doing a propper flight check. I remembered on launch, and rather than risk ground handling my glider to the side did a quick visual check of all my bungies, tension, pit pins and everything else i could do without physically getting out and looking. I remembered quite well putting my dive sticks in because i always make a big deal doing so. I just thought it was safer than parking the glider myself with no wire assist then walking back to launch alone, and i was quite confident all was good. Jay had given me a hang check before launching also.

Jay who by the way also took up his video camera was by this time was hovering over launch at about 2000 feet waiting to see me run off. I did so in style and within one minute was astounded to pass his height. I couldnt believe it. We both got in the same thermal together and went for it. All the while Monkey boy was getting some sweet footage of myself flying around. After eventually falling out of the thermal as it passed over the back i hit a little sink then a little lift for a while before getting the sign from Jay that he'd just cored a craker to the left of launch. I looked over to see him doing well before venturing over myself whilst at the same time loosing height rapidly. I made it over the power cables with only 50 feet to spare i think, and once over cored a beauty.

I circled over and over for a few minutes before giving up when it lost its guts, and after loosing alot of height thought id get back on the ridge while i still could. Jay by now had sunk to the low point of the ridge to the right of launch and wasnt looking to good. Fortunately i was able to core a couple more thermals and rather than go down found my way working steadily up. I think i reached cloud base in just enough time to watch as Jay came in for, in his own words "a lazy landing" which saw him stumble forward and hit the deck with his stomack, and at the same time hurting his ankle.

After giving me the all clear I was told not to worry about him and to enjoy the flight. Not a problem mate, i can certainly do that. I just flew and flew. I hit sink but always managed to recover. Earlier on that day i mention to Jay that i missed flying Tambo and that i wanted some thermaling action. Well i got it today. I had time enough to try and read the terrain and try to work out where the best lift might be. I flound myself on the opposite side of the ridge right of launch making the most of the southerly winds that were being directed upwards from it.

On two occassions i came very close to bombing, getting down well under launch but on each occassion managed to get back up. Jay had bombed after 45 minutes in the air and although i knew it was hot in the bombout wanted at least one and a half hours fly time. I also knew he had a slightly hurt ankle and knew if i bombed id be the one walking up the mountain, and on a day like today that wasnt to appealing. It was nice and cold up here at cloud base and i wanted it to stay like this forever.

After getting to cloud base for the 3rd time i noticed a single cloud in the distance and steadily moving closer. A minute later Jay brought to my attention that a cloud was forming in front of me just out from launch. Sweet! i thought, a knew experience to be had, and with the bar pulled in i headed towards it. It was amazing to reach it and see the wispy wooly bits of cloud flying all over the place, slowly kneeding together to form a fuller one. I hung around for a few minutes before hitting a little sink. It was at that moment I thouht hey that'll do, ive had enough now, how awesome was that!!

I let myself sink out to about 2400 feet then turned to go cross country and land in the top paddock. Ive always disliked landing there but today couldnt have cared less. I actually pulled the bar into my legs and picked up heaps of speed on my down wind leg. I was hooting and enjoying every second of it. I decided this time to see if i could spot land and picked out a nice patch of thick grass about 10 meters away from an old rotten log. I got in hang whilst on my downwind leg. I flew to my left then into final without taking my eyes off the target. I was luckily enough to land exactly where i wanted. I turned at the creek gully this time but didnt pull enough speed on for final thus hitting a wicked wind gradiant that saw my flare to be useless. I think i also got carried away with the whole sot land thing and compromised speed for getting my goal.

Anyway apart from that all was great and i radiod Jay that i was AOK. Unforetunately the reception wasnt to good and he was left worrying about me for quite a while. I packed up in my knewly found hot hell and threw my glider harness and gear over the fence whilst putting my packed away glider in an inconspicuous possition behind the gate.

Now for the suckfull part of the day i thought. Now i have to walk all the way back to my car in the sun. I jumped the fence picked up my harness threw it over my shouler before picking up my helmet and radio. I took about three steps before this bikey dude on a ducaty pulled up and asked if i wanted a double to my car. Your kiddin!! i thought, how good is this??? Yeah!! i yelled in excitement and once again put my hang gliding helmet on and jumped on for my second ever Motor bike double. My first was when i was abou 16 and i hated it. I kept leaning the opposite way to try and regain balance. This time i just went with it and within 5 minutes was shaking the anonomous riders hand. Turns out he's a local on the mountain and has been slowly getting back into paragliding. His name was Andrew. I said thanks mate i hope i can return the favour some day and he was gone.

"Monkey Boy, Monkey boy over", i radiod to Jay. A relieved Jay said that he was glad i was ok and that i have to start taking my phone with me in the future. A good lot that will do considering i dont get reception on the hill. I drove back to my car, tied my glider on top and drove the 45 minute drive to pick him up. On arriving i noticed him running around trying to find cocoons for his young son Jessy. Hurt ankle my ass i thought.

All up 1 hour 30 minutes

On this flight i wasnt scared at all, I looked forward to it and couldnt wait to get off the hill and into the air. Althought i did find myself in the toilet making one last pit stop before leaving. Not sure what that means. I finally got home and have just had a nice cold beer with a good old fashion Singh candle lit curry, Mmmm curry.