The Rainbow Connection

All of us under its spell, we know that it's probably magic...

Although we haven't had the most perfect weather this time around, this place is still heaven. Yesterday after working until about 3pm, I headed out to the sand blow to find the wind a wee bit too strong and cross.  After that rest day, we were all pretty keen to get in the air today so we went out around 11am and spent an hour or so waiting for stronger wind....I was feeling like Goldilocks ;-)  It turned on perfectly though and we spent the day picking out the many sharks in the beautiful blue water below - the same water we've been swimming in all week - that is, until the sharks were spotted this morning (in knee deep water no less!!!).

I can't get enough of this gorgeous place.  There are more paragliders than hang gliders, but we all seem to be able to play together with no problems.   In this shot it's too light for us to stay up so the PGs are fooling around in our landing area.  But normally, they're out front and never get in the way at all - hopefully we don't get in their way much either.  

From the sand blow launch down to Double Island point at the far left side of the picture is about 15km.  Most of the ridge is useable - it's just that last 5km or so where the ridge no longer faces into the wind.   I've never pushed it all that much - don't want to end up on the deck that far down.

The sand blow is enormous and other than a small section that has some giant tree stump skewers, it's all perfect for landing.

It's pretty hard to see, but here's one of the MANY sharks we spotted all day long.  They're not way out to sea, they're extremely close to shore.  There were very few swimmers today - only the brave.  

Who ever said Disney was the happiest place on earth has never been to Rainbow Beach.

Arrived!

After three relaxing days of driving at a snail's pace up the east cast, stopping at all the empty, secluded beaches, Hadewych and I arrived at the Sunshine Coast airport to pick up the kids.  Kathryn, Franco and Damon flew up from Sydney and we all drove together from there to my favorite flying site in the whole wide world!  We arrived a smidge late for flying and it was a bit northy anyway, so we're just getting settled in, checking the dune, having a swim and whipping up a house dinner for tonight.   

I love being here and I love the group of people sharing this holiday (two PG boys and three HG girls).  The banter between the hangies and the PG boys is loads of fun and who knows, we might even manage to convert them this time.  

Too many things I haven't done yet...too many sunsets I haven't seen

Back down under to my favorite place in Oz!  I arrived on Monday and spent a cool, rainy weekend in the most special little town in all of Australia - Pearl Beach - before starting my drive north along the east coast.  Like last year, my plan is to check out every beach that catches my fancy between Sydney and the Sunshine Coast.  First stop, Forster, just a couple hours north of Newcastle.  I swung by Merether Beach and picked up Hadewych who is making the drive with me this time.  We arrived in time to have a swim and relaxing dinner in our little haven in the trees.  

My Travelling Star

They hunger for home, but they cannot stay.  They wait by the door, they stand and they stare. They're already out of there.  

Run before the wind, run before the rain, over yonder hill, just around the bend.  Never knowing why, never knowing when, every now and then, there you go again.  

I'm pretty much always questioning my desire to go.  I know there's nothing seriously wrong with me, but a few people have asked recently why and what it means to me and that makes me stop and wonder all the more.  I've never been able to put my finger on what causes it or even exactly what it is. Running from something?  Running to something?  Trying to escape boredom?  My ADHD? Some combination?  

But, a friend recently posted an article on my Facebook wall.  The subject matter was what the author called "Wanderlusters", a term I have heard, but never really defined.  A wanderluster is someone who can't sit still and has a constant desire to explore, to see and to experience as much of the world as possible.  According to this article, scientists have isolated a gene - the DRD4 gene.  Holders of this gene are predisposed to migrate and are typically novelty seeking, hyperactive risk takers.  The whole concept brought strange comfort to me.  They say that the drug companies like to come up with names for common medical conditions because people have a need to define what is wrong with them and of course, as a result the drug companies can then sell whatever snake oil they have to cure what ails them.  Seems I'm pretty typical then.  The fact that it brings me comfort to know that some scientist may have figured out what is wrong with me is hilarious really.  

Meanwhile, off I go again.  After returning from Macedonia and spending a couple of weeks in the Arizona desert at the Santa Cruz Flats Race, it was time to complete my circumnavigation of the continental US.  (Circumnavigation is a good word...makes me feel like I'm with Shackleton on the Endurance.)  With about 2500 miles to drive and the great state of Texas to cross, I thought I should find something worthwhile along the way, or the drive would make me looney.  

Favorite stop was Big Bend National Park.  Who knew there was something so cool in Texas!?!  It's lovely and remote and full of wildlife.  Went for a horseback ride in the desert, hiked the canyons and waded across the Rio Grande to Mexico.  Perfect.