FlyNirvana BLOG

Today I flew for more than two hours. My vario was now sounding me out but since I never paused to look down at the screen I had no clue as to my exact height above takeoff. Have my own theories about flying with or without that beeping gizmo but since I’ve only just started using one I’ll hold my tongue.

Once more I landed beautifully and confidently after a simply amazing flight. Traveling from one ridge to another is a lot of fun– the conquering hero now feels as excited as a child who has discovered a shiny new toy.

I feel fantastic and can’t wait to tell Rao and Yogi all. But for now I pack my glider in silence, looking out at the sun as it dips over the mountains ahead taking deep breaths of wonderfully clean mountain air as I dwell in this wonderful moment.

It is our last night and we are meeting up for dinner at the Colonel’s place – bonfire, huge moon and many friends. I finally caught up with Damayanti who I had the pleasure of meeting on my first evening here. Jyoti Thakur a local pilot and Pendu’s friend who ranked after him in the last competition came over to talk to me about yesterday’s flight. He had been flying tandem below me and wanted to know how I gained height with such weak thermal activity. I told him the story about my new vario going quiet on me and inviting me to use my other senses.

An interesting person, Jyoti: a shepherd boy who dared to follow his dream. He was drawn to paragliding as a child and was told by his people that shepherd boys could not fly - It was simply not an option. He often played truant from school, running off to see and touch the gliders at landing until he had saved enough money to pursue paragliding.  It’s the kind of inspiring story that films based on. I visualized the entire scene as he narrated it in the most unaffected manner. He reminded me of Yogi, Ravi and the kids back at Kamshet – this is one sport that has the power to make dreams come true – after all free flight has been an age old quest for man! 

Tomorrow morning we will be on our way home to Mumbai. Back to husband, son and Diwali in Kamshet.  Cant for the life of me; figure out why I hesitated so much about going on this trip. Sanjay & Pendu gave me some serious encouragement and I’m so happy they did. I widened my boundaries, and my senses are overfull with new experiences, beauty, admiration and gratitude.

Peace Bliss & Happy Landings

Astrid

Today’s hour long flight was a triumph. Thermalling can grow on you- it takes a fine awareness that is challenging, absorbing and exciting.  My variometer was acting up and remained silent for most of the flight but there was no stopping me. I turned and turned and milked the tiniest updraft. Pendu’s occasional reassuring voice on the radio kept me going. 

It feels great to be high – to rise up mightily above it all, to fly with and follow the magnificently graceful Himalayan Griffon vultures and black shouldered kites.

The conquering hero has now developed a confident stride.

Met for dinner at the 3 women’s dhaba – this mother & daughters team is simply fantastic. Great home cooked food and loads of genuine friendly warmth. I’m grateful for meeting and connecting with so many wonderful people. Pendu and Chintu who had arrived only yesterday played the flute for us, Gokul whistled along - a magical setting for an impromptu concert.

Peace Bliss & Happy Landings

Astrid

Had a flight on the 22nd and the 23rd – a little bit of thermalling over the house thermal and then heading out to the landing field. I’m pleased with my progress but have a million questions in my head while airborne that somehow seem insignificant once I’ve landed. Met Steve in the evening and he offered to take me tandem the next day – sounds like a plan – I’m excited and eager.

By now my days are pretty much fallen into rhythm. – making an early morning cup of tea for Sunil Shirish and me, then a quiet visit to the monastery followed by breakfast with the group, heading out to the flying site and hanging out at the teashop there until it is time to fly, landing at sunset point, catching a quick bite, time out on my own to wander explore and reflect until its time to meet the group for dinner.

Today I had an hour and a half long tandem flight with Steve. It was breathtaking and an amazing learning experience. I can’t wait to fly solo tomorrow.

Peace Bliss & Happy Landings

Astrid

Woke up early and was pleasantly surprised to see what seemed to be a party of pied rather large paradise flycatcher like birds gliding excitedly from one tree to another. Still haven’t identified them but it sure was an interesting opera while it lasted.

After breakfast we drove up to Billing, the flying site located at a height of 2600 m, 14 km away by road. As we made our way upwards the temperature dropped progressively.  Gliders were already up in the air although the inversion hung low.

I played with Panku a little Himachali boy at Chachu’s tea shop until it was time to head up to the takeoff and get into gear. A top to bottom was all I was interested in doing on day one – clearing the takeoff with my dignity intact, a straight glide and a good landing.

After a heart pounding flight ½ hour top to bottom passing through thermic, lifting and sinking air and feeling the different nuances in the air here I landed below at Sunset point in the village of Bir 2080 m below.  I proceeded to calmly pack my glider – feeling like a conquering hero.

Sunil, Me and Gokul flew out of Mumbai in the wee hours of the morning. We are on our way to Bir Billing for a paragliding holiday.  After an uneventful but pleasant journey, we alight at Kangra airport and lug our oversized glider bags into a vehicle that will drive us up to the village of Bir above Dharamshala where we will be based for the next week.

 We stop en route for our first Himachali dhaba fare and then it’s an upward climb to Bir via Palampur. All the way the mountains loom ahead of us and as we continue to climb they transform from shadows to jagged lofty peaks. As we get close the driver points out the takeoff site to us in the distance and suddenly the friendly banter that we kept up on the way gave way to silence.

I broke the silence to admit to Sunil that it looked pretty daunting and suddenly we were all laughing once more.  We drove straight to the landing area looking for reassurance where we met Pendu who has been in Bir for past two weeks and the rest of our group who had arrived by train the day before.   It is Pendu’s birthday today and we have reached in time for the party.  Today we party and defer the takeoff anxiety until tomorrow.

 Am thrilled with my room at the Sangira guesthouse set in the middle of a tea garden and on the path of the gliders coming down to land in Bir.  I spend my first evening sitting in solitude – enjoying the scenery, the birds and the dramatic transformation of evening into dusk. It’s been a while since I’ve traveled without husband and son and I’m getting into the solo groove pretty neatly.

 The party was at Shaan’s place – she is a fantastic hostess and makes great rum punch. I met old friends and new and danced the night away.

Walking home in the moonlight was simply surreal. Spotted a barred owlet on the way. Wonder what tomorrow will bring

Peace Bliss & Happy Landings

Astrid

I had a great first flight of the season at tower hill. The wind was mild and I did 15 minutes of kiting a bit behind take off, ran with the wing inflated up to takeoff and then ran down hill with wing inflated for another 10 feet or more!!! - Hesitant running = not enough forward speed according to sky guru Yogi!

The wing is great - good colors, easy inflation & handling, responsive but not as sensitive as the sport 2 where I only had to think of turning and the glider would turn. This one is less demanding though and does not need my constant attention therefore leaves me time to chill as opposed to being on guard.

Yogi’s comments - mast wing hai! DHV-1 nahin lagta hain. Billing mein ja ke mazza karo!

I must have had a 1/2 hour flight - thermal ling, scratching and feeling the wing. The flight was just great, conditions smooth, good landing near but not at designated landing spot and husband waiting at landing to take me home to Mumbai in the ‘new Scorpio’!

Life rocks!

Astrid

Pic: Yogi test flies my new Mojo 2 at tower hill on Sunday morning!
Picture credits: ’sparrow hawk’