Autumn leaves are falling and I’ve got the blues. Flying-wise, 2008 was my best summer of the past 17. I achieved my long-term goal of 50 miles with a 100K flight. The success was due to my work shift finishing at lunchtime on a significant proportion of the few good XC days.
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Posted 18 October 2008
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August 2008 was the dullest since 1929. An improvement finally came in the second half of September. I enjoyed the dog ends of the summer thermals at Nont Sarahs on Thursday 18th and at Hawkswick on Saturday 20th.
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Posted 22 September 2008
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The best (and the most frustrating) thing about flying XC in the UK is the constant challenge of the rapidly changing weather. On Saturday 23 August, a transient ridge of high pressure presented a narrow window of opportunity between weather systems. With bad air downwind to the east and a front approaching rapidly from the […]
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Posted 26 August 2008
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After this latest flight, I felt like I’d just won a bronze at the Olympics. Chuffed to have gotten something out of the day, but a tad disappointed not to have pushed a bit further.
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Posted 17 August 2008
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The Czech Republic might not the first place that you’d associate with the term “paragliding mecca”. But the facts are: 275 Km flown this May, 309Km over in Poland and some world-class manufacturers. And the interest extends beyond paragliding: Czech has produced writers like Kundera and Kafka, and Leo’s 3 year old Czech “girlfriend” from […]
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Posted 01 August 2008
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I saw Roger Federer on the TV the other day, explaining what it felt like to win his first Grand Slam. “Overwhelming relief. It doesn’t matter what else you do in your life, you’ve won a Slam”. Those words echoed my sentiments after I achieved my first 100 Km flight on a paraglider in the […]
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Posted 08 July 2008
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I decided to be adventurous and try a site I’d not previously flown, so off I went to Hawkswick in the Yorkshire Dales.
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Posted 03 May 2008
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Finally, the first afternoon this season that you could term “nice”—proper cumulus clouds to over 5 grand.
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Posted 24 April 2008
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Today was too cold for Yoo A and Leo, so I left them at home and enjoyed a guilt-free 3 hours in smooth 2-3 m/s thermals. The thermals maxed-out at about 2500ft—so we couldn’t go far—but it was very pleasant nonetheless. Roll on Spring!
Tracklog
Photos of the day on the DSC forum
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Posted 16 February 2008
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“Had enough?” I’d just landed next to family and friends after a good couple of hours soaring, kiting and ground-skimming in the light lift. Enough? This was my first flight since last November! How can I possibly have had enough?
But their faces told me it was time to go. After all, it’s not fair […]
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Posted 10 February 2008
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