WHAT A DAY!!!!!!! Holy balls was that a great day despite my very pronounced nervousness and my internal whinging about flying. I didn't feel like a swim this morning so the 3 of them went and enjoyed it. I had a bit on my mind with what was coming and I always work myself up even if it is completely useless to.
We went for a walk around the neighborhood then got ourselves out the door to Harvest Right the maker of our freeze dryer. I had to drop off a tax form for my sales. Wince we were in town I figured I'd just drop it off so my ss# wasn't floating thru the ether.
We then headed for food. Utah is a wacko state with their alcohol laws and we found that breweries are not very kid friendly, UNLIKE EVERY OTHER STATE.... Thanks to the LDS but they have relaxed over the years.
We ended up at Squatters brewery as they are a food joint and bar legally... Good food, good beer, and nice environs at an outside table.
Then we headed to the gear room which is a consignment and new outdoor store. They have a wall of used climbing shoes so we were able to get R another pair and then B got herself a pair that fits better than the others we have gotten her. We are going to be able to go bouldering now with the whole family!
Back at the Air BnB we went for a walk to the park we discovered in the morning walk. The park is HUGE. Really, it is all well kept right here but then it goes out into the trails that spread over a many many hundreds of acres through the city.
We walked back to the place of stay then after a bit of rest we headed south to the Point Of the Mountain and Super Fly paragliding. I got to talk to, (fuck I can't remember his damn name) but I got to pick his brain about things I have wondered for a year. My weight on my size wing is fine I'm just being a bitch about it and don;t have the experience to understand what is happening. I need to take a wrap on my brakes as most ALL Gin brand gliders have too long of brake lines. Then LET MY WING FLY, STOP FUCKING WITH IT IN LIFT.
The weather looked on point and he told me to get up there by 5:30pm which I was focused on for the next while.
Right next door to Super Fly is Kidstopia. I'm not sure if Chris planned that for the paragliding parents or what but a damn good idea. The boys had a blast despite the slim number of other kids there. A girl and her brother ended up playing with them and they had a blast playing tag amongst the various levels of the place. Really not bad pricewise either and I would love a place like this in Spokane.
We left at 5:30pm and drove the 2 miles up the hill to the Point Of The Mountain Flying Park. This is hand down the best place I have flown YET. We got parked when barely half the parking spots were taken. The winds were working and there was pilots flying for at least an hour before we showed up. It was truly an amazing experience to be amongst the throngs of pilots trying to get airborne.
I fucked around for a long time, over 20 minutes, trying to get my nerve up. I kited a bit and it kept going wrong. I watched EVERYONE around me to see their technique, I watched the launches and then tried my best to emulate it. In the end I managed to get myself into the air.
After 25 minutes of faffing about I got my wing up and powered into the wind.
I made my turn and then pushed forward with all my might. I danced on my tipee toes and bounced off the ground a couple times then I was in the air.
It was a bit wild at first as I was floating about 10 feet off the ground with no sink. The buoyancy of the air was INCREDIBLE! Completely unlike anything I have felt so far.
This was my first time amongst a gaggle of pilots and it takes serious focus to be aware of ALL the other pilots around. I got within a wingspan of other pilots but felt little concern.
The wrap on my brakes made ALL THE DIFFERENCE and I am so thankful to have this knowledge now. I learn so much from conversations and I really wish the rest of humanity had that ability.
SUCH A FUCKING AMAZING PLACE TO FLY! Just look at that step that is a CONSTANT source of lift. Holy shit I want for this in Washington state.
What I had not counted on was the difficulty in getting down to land. The lift is so good that you can get caught in it and stay in the air for a LONG TIME. My arms and shoulders are COMPLETE BITCHES and got super sore after a while.
I found myself working towards the upper ridge as I was watching others descend and needed to figure it out for myself. I found that making quick circles I could lose elevation.
I can't stress enough how much the "warp" on the brakes helped. THIS is where I REALLY need to quit the bullshit of being to shy to ask for help. Holy shit this was exactly what I needed to hear!!!!
As my shoulder and arms hurt more my mouth got drier and drier and I found the aim at the ground overwhelming.
It was interesting flying AT the side of the ridge but with the new grip on the brakes I felt a LOT more comfortable making sharper turns without losing the altitude.
I was having trouble getting down out of the air and found myself making circles at the hillside then I was STOMPING on my speed bar which helped a ton. I was SOOOOOOO happy I remembered to hook it up before takeoff.
Finally, ( I say this after only a 10 minute flight) I was able to get back closer to the ground. It was a constant feathering of the brakes and stomping on the speed bar.
I got a really nice and gentle landing about 50 yards from where I took off.
I gathered my wing and walked back toward the family.
They were all super excited for my flight and I was SUPER worked.
I'm AMAZED my helmet cam managed to record the entire thing as it has wigged out on me before. Just look at that parking lot now PACKED with pilot vehicles. There were at least a dozen full time pilots there judging by the vans they had parked...
HOLY SHIT!!! This is such a unique flight park that I HAVE to come back here for a much more extended trip.
Just look at that, I counted 37 but R counted 42 in the air at once!!!!! WTF!? I WISH we ha this number of pilots around Spokane.
We ended up at dinner at the Ramen place in the same complex as Super Fly. Good sushi roll and beer and I got to watch everyone fly up above. There were people who got 3+ hour flights today....
Today we are going to go up Little Cottonwood Canyon for bouldering. There are easy problems for everyone and we will be sticking to the very bottom of the barrel gradewise. Then we find food mid to late afternoon before heading to the MAYNARD JAMES KEYNAN 60th bday concert with PRIMUS and LES CLAYPOOL!!! This is turning into a super trip.
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Amazing! How brave you are to do paragliding. @flemingfarm
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I never knew you take Beer
That looks tasty!
Glad you had such a super day! Good you got information to improve your flying experience. I can’t imagine flying like that for 3 hours!
The most fun thing in summer is when we go together to bathe friends on the pool in summer.