Its just so.... nice.

[Fingers]

3 top to bottoms at east hill has managed to change my perceptions. Two weeks ago at Money Laws I was freaked and had two weeks to think about it. So much so that I was talking myself out of it, "who you kidin fatty, your not built for that", "your only going to hurt yourself", "give it up"

So as it was that this morning God on the right shoulder was smacked about the face and the words "Balls, its a good day to die" came flooding through from the left. Saddled up and were off Ron, see you at the cafe 10,30.

Got there at 10am and after driving through not a jot of wind I drove up the hill to see. 7 to 10mph but coming from the W-SW Ron! "Its OK Steve, I will be there soon, rig your wing". ...........11am Ron arrives "Get ya tools out Ron" there was two "little" jobs needed to do on the wing to make it not only air worthy but sphincter relaxing. 12am and I could start to feel Gary's anxiety at this waisted time on something that was stopping him from flying like a bird, sorry Gaz. "These f$@kin design students sitting in their bl@$dy offices" was some of the printable words coming from the huffing, puffing and irritable mound that had been under the canvas for 45 mins. 12.10ish and the job was a goodun, which was just as well as 5 more mins would have seen the Ginger unleashed.

So here we are all ridged up and not so quite ready to go, Gary can go first. He was telling me how good he had been on Wed so he will show me, "the unsure one" the way. Well a good take off was only spoiled by his first turn to the left which could only be described as erratic and uncomfortable looking. Three hip sways, a tap of the cane and a doff of the top hat he was on his way down the ridge on his home leg to then eventually turn, tap tap, turn into the landing field.

WOW....... Erm..... "and this is the ace designate, what hope do I have?" Erm.........erm...

I was so relieved when Ron decided to slip in a very informative lecture about wave coming from the west and how it was way to far off the hill. Who was I to disagree.

So it was that eventually, it was time for me, to either go, or not to go ....... I will not bore you with the poetry that involves the discovery of selfish pleasures akin to those early discoveries that be-fold a young man after watching to many performances of Pans People/Legs and Co.....

Hang Gliding? pass the Kleenex

[Bob Sutherland]

It was good then pray tell?

[John Wallis]

I was getting the debrief from Gary when the daughter phoned on the land line from France so had to cut it short but I heard you had a canny day with 3 high top to bottoms?

Hang Gliding? pass the Kleenex

Bollocks...Kleenex

Listen fatty most people can get on a paraglider and do it to a lesser degree. Not all can get on a hang glider and do it to a lesser degree if that makes sense.

There is a big difference between hang gliding and paragliding and having now done both I can see why the majority take up paragliding because it's all round easier. But the rewards are different (?)

Hope to see you out tomorrow somewhere

[gary stenhouse]

well it was good to see that steve got his first high top to bottom as i was starting to think he was about to through the towel in. but he showed that patience paid off with 3 lovely controled flights with 3 perfect landings that i do have on video. itt is true that the handling and turning of the hanglider is more skilled i do think the take off and landings are quite easy, this may be more as the fact i have done more take offs and landings than actual flying.

but with the coming weekend ahead then i am hoping that the flying will change. i think any out there who are by curios then i think you should have a go, the feeling of flying the hanglider is so dynamic and the way you can you pitch for speed is fasntastic.

beware the good days are coming and i still have a lot to do but i am sure it won't be long before we are fighting the air togeather