My lifelong friend Gal, the guy who got me into paragliding, has come to visit. He only had 1 requirement: I take the full 3 days off to paraglide. No problem. Actually it's a huge problem with work and the kids, but priorities must come first.
Gal pointing out the sights on Black's Beach
We had breakfast in Del Mar. It was cold and foggy this morning. It didn't look like it would be a good day, if I didn't know better. A quick stop at Whole Foods for some lunch and we were off the the gliderport. It was just starting to turn on there.
We met Bill who was happy to see us. I asked about a flight plan. He said to do some more spot landings, this time approaching from well below the ridge.
Flight 74 - 79:
The wind was north so first flight out I headed south and immediately returned for a spot landing. I didn't turn in deep enough when I got lift just over the ridge. It's a bit hard to do that as you move very quickly. That was the biggest issue with all my practice moves. 4 more tries and it got better. It's really just a matter of getting comfortable with what your wing will do.
Flight 80:
There were a few other students on the deck that Bill wanted to give some time to. He asked if I'd head north and just fly for a while. I headed way out north past the golf course towards bath rock. Along the way I started noticing strong lift off of certain ridges. I did some figure-8s to get more lift. I was regularly 500 ft. up. I nailed this landing and popped right back out again.
Flight 81 - 3:
3 quick spot landings, all under Bills guidance. He pretty much shoo-ed me away again.
Flight 84
I headed south this time. This was my first run of the day to the pier. By the time I got back to the LZ I was way over 500. I ran far out over the ocean to lose altitude. What a great feeling. The water was turquoise-blue and clear today.
Flight 85:
I quickly headed back out for another spot landing. This time Bill asked me to start well below the lifeguard station. I rode the ridge without committing to a landing then came right in.
Flight 86:
I flew far north again. Now Bill was taking his hands off a bit, letting me fly and land mostly on my own. I wanted to enter very low as Bill and I had been training. I had to circle a bit to approach the LZ this time, missing it completely the first time. Then I came right in.
Flight 87:
This was pretty much my longest flight of the day. I headed south and found a lot of lift at the ridge before the pier. I just did lazy figure-8s over and over again.
One of the mansions south of Torrey.
Flight 88:
I did a quick run to land again and approach from below the lifeguard station. I pretty much nailed it.
Flight 89:
Gal and I stopped for lunch. I asked Bill if I could set my radio off of the instructor frequency. This was a first. Quickly after launching I saw that my speed bar lines were not right. I came back in to fix them.
Flight 90:
Then Gal and I headed out to bathtub rock. We hit the beach and walked back up. We saw the largest fake tits I've ever seen in my entire life.
Gal over bathtub rock
Flight 91:
My last flight of the day was very long as well. I went south as everyone was cramming into a small place up north. I had the whole ridge to myself there. I started getting a funny feeling that I should get down. I think I was getting a bit light-headed. I needed to come down but I couldn't find my place in the order. Everyone was coming in at once.
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