The Eagle Has Landed
Well, anyone guess what I’ve been UP to yet?
The closest thing to flying like a bird, I expect. Paragliding.
San Gil has various reputable paragliding outfits, and parapente de Chicamocha was my final choice. One deciding factor was, that the 2 hour trip to the top of the mountain + tanden glide cost 50euros.
The views from the top of the hill were beautiful. Down to Chicamocha gorge, which the Colombians claim is the world’s second largest canyon. (This is slightly disconcerting, since I’ve trekked in Colca Canyon in Peru, which is billed as the second largest in the world. Well, they’re both big!).
Anyway, once we had been driven to the top, it was slightly late to change my mind. The rules were very simple. For takeoff, wait until the wind catches the shute and your instructor tells you to run.
Then hold onto your straps and run
Keep running even though your feet lift off the gound, as you may have another touchdown before final liftoff.
In fact keep running until your instructor and co-jumper tells you to stop running.
At which point, assume a sitting position and enjoy the views.
The things not to do during lift-off are to tightly cluch to your bosom and not let go of the assistant who runs by your side guiding you (the chute is not built for three persons), to run way too slowly or to fall flat on your face.
I am proud to say I did none of the three.
Returning to solid ground is a slightly trickier business, as you have to come back to the launch pad at exactly the right altitude and preferably not too high a speed.
The needed input from me was to lift my feet and do nothing else. Nailed it!
Though we managed to miss the mini golf course lawn laid out for comfort and made a dustier and more dramatic landing at the edge of the hill. Stayed on top of it though and that’s pretty much all that counts.
Well so much for the technical side of things. But what about the 20 or so minutes in the air? The views were awesome - like from a plane window but without a window. Or a plane. The mountains by the river gleamed in delicate shades of pink and pale blue and birds swooped in the same hot air currents that we did. I can now definitely state that I do NOT suffer from vertigo. So all was well - and then my achilles heel kicked in.
I, sadly, now must add flight to the list of nausea indusing modes of transport. Swerving and swooning round and round the rising hot air currents cost its toll. I managed not to need the thoughtfully included plastic hurl-bag (The instructors, sitting directly behind the possibly nauseous customers gave very specific instructions about the use of these, should the need arise. One imagines that somewhere down the line, each of these experienced instructors has run across that one customer, who didn’t know how to use the bag).
Summa summarum, it was fun, but I think my flying days are over. The eagle has landed.
I am proud to say I did none of the three.
Returning to solid ground is a slightly trickier business, as you have to come back to the launch pad at exactly the right altitude and preferably not too high a speed.
Though we managed to miss the mini golf course lawn laid out for comfort and made a dustier and more dramatic landing at the edge of the hill. Stayed on top of it though and that’s pretty much all that counts.
Well so much for the technical side of things. But what about the 20 or so minutes in the air? The views were awesome - like from a plane window but without a window. Or a plane. The mountains by the river gleamed in delicate shades of pink and pale blue and birds swooped in the same hot air currents that we did. I can now definitely state that I do NOT suffer from vertigo. So all was well - and then my achilles heel kicked in.
I, sadly, now must add flight to the list of nausea indusing modes of transport. Swerving and swooning round and round the rising hot air currents cost its toll. I managed not to need the thoughtfully included plastic hurl-bag (The instructors, sitting directly behind the possibly nauseous customers gave very specific instructions about the use of these, should the need arise. One imagines that somewhere down the line, each of these experienced instructors has run across that one customer, who didn’t know how to use the bag).
Summa summarum, it was fun, but I think my flying days are over. The eagle has landed.
Comments
Toivottavasti olet taas pian parhaassa vedossa jatkamaan seikkailuja. Ellet sitten päätä jäädä hoidokiksi jollekin pikkuleipiä leipovalle ja tuoremehuja sekoittavalle mummelille, Sekin on ihan varteenotettava vaihtoehto. Pus!