Your time is all you really own in life....

Flying home from Salt Lake the other day, I read this statement on a blog.  I didn't have to stop and think about it at all.  It just was my truth...instantly.  There are times that I feel twinges of guilt for not having a big retirement fund, not paying off my house more quickly, not saving for the future in general.  Mostly I ignore them...I hate guilt and I find it especially easy to bury my head in the sand.  But sometimes they get the best of me and I spend more time than I would like worrying needlessly.  Culture, I guess, brings this on us.  

One of things I appreciate about the hang gliding culture is that I'm rarely less fiscally responsible than the next guy.  Spending the majority of my time with like-minded (read irresponsible ;-) people tends to make me feel less like worrying about whether I'll be 70 years old and broke some day because I think to myself "at least I won't be alone in my poverty"  and I remind myself that money is a renewable resource, time isn't.

The more I travel the more I realize that there is nothing that stays behind in my tiny little house that means much of anything to me.  No doubt, I love my home.  But home is spending time with Maxie (and his parents ;-), a game of Yatzee with mom and dad, lunch with Steve, the sound of the waves outside the door and the sticky Florida heat.  I've said a hundred times that the only possessions I care about are my hang gliding equipment, camera and photos.  The glider can be replaced.  The camera and photos amount to little more than memories and a way to make sure my ever failing memory can be jogged.  My real contentment and satisfaction come from seeing new places, meeting people and learning things about myself.  

Science Daily reported recently that buying life experiences is much more likely to produce long-term happiness than buying material possessions.  If time = wealthy, then I am, by a long shot, the richest person I know.  

Better than a Sharp Spike in the Eye

The USHGA went skiing today.  Seriously, half the Board was out there and we even allowed a few panty pilots to come along (only the cool ones though).  Today was Snow Bird, nearly as nice as Deer Valley and waaaaay too much sun.  What a blast!  One last day tomorrow and then back to (hopefully) spring flying conditions at home.

Even Better than my Favorite Shoes

I've never thought there was anything that could top hang gliding (and I still don't), but this week of skiing is coming a very close second.  A big gang from the USHGA board meeting stayed on in Salt Lake City after the meeting for some group ski time.

Yesterday at Deer Valley was about the most perfect ski day I could ever dream of.  I don't know how we can top that today, but we're gonna try!

Giant thanks to Paul and Barb Voight.  They organized a great trip and Paul is as great a ski instructor as hang gliding instructor and I wouldn't be having half the time I'm having without his teaching skills.  

Lone Scouting

I'm cruising around Georgia this week, checking out all of the possible airfields for this year's Rally.  I'm hoping we find our way to Vidalia, the sweet onion capital of the world.  Funny how you (or maybe just me) hear about a place and think for years that you want to go there...for no very good reason.  Vidalia is one of those places for me.  There are heaps more....totally random places and things.  I often wonder where those strange ideas come from, what the particular interest is in a place.  Dad would say the place doesn't matter, it's just the going that does it for me.  He could be right.

The Ring

Although I've never been big on marriage, I LOVE the idea of a ring as a symbol of commitment.  I've often dreamed about exactly what ring would look perfect on my somewhat chubby, poorly manicured finger.  For as long as I can remember, I've imagined an emerald cut diamond set in platinum with smaller baguettes along each side.

Following last year's trip to Ecuador, several pilots formed The Cloudbase Foundation to support children in various areas where we fly.  I am a member of the board of directors of the foundation and this morning I received an email from another board member regarding the ring.  I clicked on the link to find the amazing, gorgeous ring pictured above.  No, it's not going to be mine unfortunately!  But the story is really cool.  The owner is a paraglider pilot who inherited the ring from her grandmother.  She is auctioning the ring and distributing the proceeds to various charities, including our Cloudbase Foundation.  Read all about the "With this Ring Project" - it's incredibly cool what she's doing!

Bogong Cup, Day 6

We decided for a task at Stanwell Park today ;-)  Well, the real truth is we got impatient waiting for good weather in Mt. Beauty, so we drove back to Sydney the day before yesterday.  There was a bit of angst that conditions would improve and make a task possible, but in the end, we worried for nothing.  Another high wind day yesterday and no task :-(

But Sydney turned out to be a great choice.  Stanwell was blowing about 120 degrees off, so we thought flying would be out.  We spent the day down at the beach below sunbathing and swimming.  By afternoon we headed up to the park and had a little picnic and bird watching session.  The cockatoos were very friendly and became more and more brave all afternoon.

Around 6 or so, after laying around in the park all afternoon, out of the blue Zippy looked up and the wind sock on launch had switched around 100 degrees or so and suddenly it was flyable.  We rushed up the hill, rigged as quickly as we could and managed to get an hour and half in the air before sunset, derigged in the dark and driving away very happy for an unexpected flight.

 

Today's Sky

Good decision to cancel the task today ;-)

Day 5 - More Wind

There was quite a discussion at the briefing this morning about yesterday's task and the flying conditions.  It's always interesting to me to see how differently individual pilots experience the same air.  Reports came in that at the higher altitudes there were 60 km winds, some landed in 30 km winds, yet some still felt it was a perfectly safe task and a few said they really enjoyed their flights.  I am hardly the one to argue this issue because I didn't fly (conditions looked way too rough for me) and I am generally quite conservative when it comes to turbulence.  But as a competitor and an organizer it is an interesting discussion.  What kind of hang gliding competition do most pilots want?  Do we want a test of flying skill or a test of courage?  While I wouldn't win either one, I have zero interest in a contest that is merely a test of who is willing to take the most changes and who can endure the most bouncing around in the air.  But it appears there are people that don't mind that sort of thing. 

The forecast is calling for more wind tomorrow and likely even more the next day :-(  There is some chance of a task on Saturday, but it's too far out to tell really.  

Jonny won the day yesterday coming in about 13 minutes ahead of the next guy, Swiss Nick and Rowan came in third.  I fear that this could be the final standings for the comp.

Rough Riding

We watched the clouds forming over launch today and worried a bit.  A combination of wind and an inversion layer made for rough looking skies.  I opted not to fly, as did a few others.  However, most went and had a pretty rough ride of it.  Several landed straight away at the airfield in Mt. Beauty.  The rest are still on course.  Our apartment is just above town and I can see goal at the airfield from here.  No one in yet, but it's nearing 6pm, so if any are returning from the 100km course they should be here soon.

Day 4 - Finaly a Task!!

We're at the Emu launch today. Mostly blue skies and a bit on the cold
side. But, we have flyable conditions so we're all happy. The task is
a zig zag up the valley and back to the Mt. Beauty airstrip.

Bogong Cup, Days 2 and 3

Still no task here, but somehow it's fine with me.  It's beautiful and despite not flying in the Forbes meet, I still feel the need to rest up from it.  Yesterday the wind was howling so by the 11am briefing they chose to can the day.  Paddy, one of the local pilots, took us on a grueling mountain biking tour.  I wasn't exactly up for single-track riding, but it was great anyway.

The temperature dropped dramatically today.  The clouds, wind and precipitation came in a spoiled Day 3 as well.  We sped up the mountain after Jonny and the Canugnra boys in search of snow.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  This is summer in Australia?

It wasn't sticking to the ground, but it sure felt cold!

Bogong Cup

Not exactly ideal weather here for the Bogong Cup.  Yesterday was cancelled for high winds before even going up the hill.  This morning's briefing sounded discouraging to say the least, but we're re-briefing again in a hour to see if things improve.  In all likelihood we won't drive up the hill today either.

We're finding plenty else to do....bird watching (cockatiels and gulaws), kangaroo hunting (there's a gang of them out at the golf course most evenings), a bit of kangaroo imitating and a lot of staying out too late trying to drink the weather better (not working so far).

We heard there was live music in Bright last night, so we headed over after dinner.  Turns out it was a youth brass band doing pop songs.  We stuck around for Stairway to Heaven, Georgia on my Mind and a few others before heading off to the pub for a fairly decent cover band with a great little girl singer and a lot of local color.

Me and Ken Together Again

Just had a beautiful flight with Shedsy and Zac from the Mystic
launch. This place is lovely and it feels so good to be back with Ken
enjoying his super smooth handling ;-)

Forbes Wrap-Up

We're cozy in our lovely cabin at Mt. Beauty now.  The Forbes Flatlands comp ended well...particularly well for some.  I've been praying for a month for bad weather on the last day of the comp because Carl had to head home a day early for work.  What luck!  After nine straight days of flying, pilots were exhausted and voted for a rest the last day as the wind was a bit high and the tow paddock was a bit rough.  Turns out it was very rough.  A monster thermal came through and chewed up and spit out one of the dragonflies.  Luckily, there wasn't too much damage and a collection at the closing party raised nearly enough to cover the repairs.  Most everyone gathered at the town pool to stay cool in the 100+ degree heat.

Jonny boy won again.  Not unexpected from my point of view.  Attila was second and Zac came in third.  It was so fun to see him doing so well!

Shedsy, Zac and I made a leisurely drive to Mt. Beauty today.  We quickly got out of the heat and into the nice cool of the mountains.  The weather forecast isn't looking fantastic, but surely it will improve.

Shedsy whipped up a lovely pasta dinner.  This is such a nice relaxing place so far and our cabin is great!

Wearing down...

Eight straight days of flying is starting to take its toll on everyone.  Even the young are getting slow and tired.

Here's Mexican Rodrigo coming into goal.

Me and my sweetie.

For Dillon

After quite a few days in Oz, we finally managed to round up a few kangaroos.  These ones are for you Dillon!

Yesterday

Thomas Suchanek came out to visit at launch and goal yesterday.  He still has many friends in hang gliding, but only flies sailplanes.

Jonny was quite pleased to move into first place after Zac's bad day yesterday.

A few champions together....former, recent and soon-to-be ;-)