Yesterday morning after dropping the boys off at school I headed up to the upper garden to fix the irrigation and check on germination. It was not great as about half did not sprout so I have to go back up today and reseed a bunch, but thankfully the melons will grow fast.
I had been watching the winds forecast for the training hill in Liberty Lake and it looked okay for the day so I headed out about 9am and made it to the parking lot about 9:40. The Saltese Uplands is a Spokane County park and has perfect hills for training flights.
It took me only about 25 minutes to hike the 1.3 miles to the top. I stopped at one spot to look out at the launch possibility and a woman on the next ridge over yelled and waved me over to where they were standing with a "I fly too" call.
It turns out she is one of the Center Of Lift club members and seems to have a lot of flying experience. The winds were rather strong as her and her husband and I stood and talked. The winds came in waves and there were lulls between gusts that seemed to get longer as we waited. She told me of the various launch spots and some of the problem spots on the hill which worked wonderfully that I was able to get a site intro this way.
Finally I worked up the courage to try a launch and laid out my wing, got my harness and helmet on, started my camera on my helmet and started my watch recording the activity. I had to wait for the winds to calm a bit then I tried a forward launch in a lull but the wing came down on the hill so I had to reset. I then got set for the reverse launch as the winds picked up. On a bit of a lull I brought the wing up and it rose straight over me so I quick turned around and pulled on my As and tried to run forward. I could barely run and was mostly tip toeing along until I got a good step and launch of the rocks and I was airborne.
I flew along at a rather slow speed and at times my ground speed stopped as I hovered in the air over teh hill. I did not get a lot of lift even though it was there, I was a bit to unsure and just happy as hell to be actually flying my wing for the first time. I had even forgotten to hook up my speed bar which would have been useful but I didn't even think of it while in the air.
This picture is right as I was pumping the brakes because the wing had pitched forward and then began to oscillate front to back and my instant response was the correct one. Everything I have read HAS had a good bit stick well, well enough that I instinctually responded.
You can see my heart rate was quite elevated until I got settled into the flight about mid way through. I did get a bit of lift as I crossed over the ridgeline too.
I decided I was landing in the field on the Uplands side of the road and parking area as there are power lines that have to be cleared to land by the parking. This being my first flight I wanted to keep it safe and mellow. I touched down gently and I brought my wing down fairly gently. I was shaking from the adrenaline but I gathered my wing and carried it across the field to by the hill so I could get out of the wind a bit more to pack my wing up.
As I landed I looked up to see Lillo launch from the top of the hill. She is a little speck along the ridge.
She is experienced and caught the updraft off the hill and was able to get 3 or 400 feet of altitude above launch. I got my wing packed and walked the couple hundred feet back to the parking area and my truck.
She carried enough height that she made it over the lines and landed right near the parking area. She said she always lands there since it is nice grass without sticks and sharp weeds. It sounds like I will see her at Inkler's in a couple weeks.
I got home around noon but my head was unable to focus on much as I was in shock from my flight. I picked the boys up from school and after being home for a while I got up the ambition to go weedeat around the farm. I was not really wanting to but it needed it terribly. I started by the house and garden first.
Then around the hot tub but I have to leave the plants that have yet to flower.
The pine cones are a pain to weedeat through as they end up like missiles half the time and the other half they explode. So much of this was knapweed which I have to constantly keep up on so it doesn't seed.
I finished by trimming along the driveway but with the birds free ranging they are keeping the grass and weeds down in a lot of places.
The trailer got hooked up and all the barrels loaded for the grain run this morning. I also got to watch as the pictures came into the club Telegram as a bunch of people went to Tekoa to the south. It sounds like they might be going again this afternoon but it is a hour and a quarter drive from the farm. If I am going anywhere for now it is Saltese until Inklers on the 10th/11th, I want more practice flights to try and get comfortable with my wing and with flying.
Soaking was nice as my right shoulder is super tight and rather sore. Sleep came easy after the day I had.
I have been to town for grain already which the 3 barrels will be going to our friends across the valley mid morning. J has a track meet today at the middle school so we will be going to watch that. I have to reseed the melon garden, get seeds in open spots around the various gardens, dream of flying, and work on my sore muscles.
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That looks crazy man... I will rather stay on the ground. Beautiful surroundings though. I lived on a farm for a couple of years... what a rich experience... really amazing lifestyle!
Flying is only getting better with each flight. I got 2 in this morning. Farming life is a rewarding one, though not easy it is well worth it.
Yes, my grandfather was a farmer... up at 4 and home after dark... rain or shine!
Humans will not protect themselves so they will never be able to grow well the way you are just checking and now they are growing very well. I myself am very fond of paragliding but have not been able to do it yet because I am afraid of falling too high.
I too am afraid of heights. The looking down would do me in...
I am also
Gab#proofofshare
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Wow! Your first one! It sounds like you did well. No wonder you were a bit shocky. :)) Way to go!