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Position: 42°43’06.2″N 0°18’02.0″W
We jump off a mountain for fun and adventure! As you will see Carol is completely comfortable flying around suspended by a few bits of string. I on the other hand, being something of a control freak, prefer it when I’m doing the driving. We also had different landings. My pilot introduced me to the BabyBjörn fall flat on your face paragliding as a full contact sport approach. Although in fairness, he reassured me it was, ‘completely normal for a first landing.’ Carol’s pilot took a more relaxed scoot along your butt until you stop landing.
From our vantage points we had fabulous views of the lake and valley. The winds were gentle, and I soared over a huge vulture a hundred feet beneath my feet. Carol’s favorite part, aside from all of it, was circling the treetops above the lake just prior to landing. And all this in covid-inhibiting masks.
The upshot is we are sold on paragliding and only wish we had time for lessons. Both our pilots said we could make a solo flight in week, then spend the rest of our lives learning a very technical skill. The wing and harness are bulky, but (un)surprisingly light. That led us to consider the merits of hiking up a couple of thousand feet first thing in the morning and gliding down for several hours until lunchtime. That would balance the sport’s lack of aerobic demand and the fun of pretending you’re a bird.
Years ago I went skiing in Flumserberg, Switzerland, and discovered the most practical use for a paraglider. At the end of a long day, the conditions required taking a gondola back to the base. Two guys bombed down the edge of the mountain, took off their backpacks and unfurled their wings. No doubt they were into the glühwein hours before the rest of us.
Good stuff!
👍🏾
A Bold Star for each of you, I think!
Old and bold!
Wow mike 👍👍👍 so adventurous and looks so fun 😄😆😀
Thanks for sharing this experience, I can’t wait for you to arrive singapore to catch up !
Stay safe, shalyn
Hi Shalyn, we are looking forward to reaching Singapore, too. Hope you are doing well and staying safe! By the time we arrive perhaps everything will be back to normal.
For once, I am not jealous. I am more than happy to watch you do this from the comfort of my couch. And I am very glad your ankles are stronger than mine and you didn’t end up in a boot!! But Please explain where the camera was and how you shot this??
Hi Anne – each pilot carried a GoPro on a stick and set it to wide. I landed first and shot Carol’s landing. Then the magic of editing and colour correction took over.
Yep, this one is for you two.
Me? Staying on the ground.
Looks like great fun!
We’re sold on it!
Must be some great flying on Molokai!
Cool – OK I’m jealous. I dream I am a bird flying – which is slightly less risky but … glad you are both doing this! Enjoy yourself- like I have to tell you. Stay well. (PS given person – Patti – who commented above – and based on 23&me I have 2-3rd cousins who are Golbeski’s (Golbesky – w/ or w/o “I” in middle) – father’s side and my maiden name is Pieczarka so just sayin’ !)
The world is so small. Anyone hail from Chicago in your tree?
I was born in Chicago! 🙂
Looks heavenly!! Nice to see you two flying up yonder. Amazing xo
There’s something serenely simple about paragliding. So different from old style fixed wing gliding.
Only the sound of the wind! Reminds me of hot air ballooning… might have to try this 😁
Definitely worth a try! It’s very relaxing, although watching the experts paragliding can be pretty crazy, too!