| Table Mountain. Flygirls first flight - 2006 May 30 |
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What an opportunity, thanks to a call from Stef Juncker. The adrenalin is still flowing through my veins, slowing me down and putting me to sleep in the lazy afternoon sun. A perfect day. Light north on top, straight up the cliff face. I look out over the city and down those massive cliffs and the butterflies start to flutter. I am going to fly from here, one the highest take offs I have ever done and a cliff launch. Stef gives me a full briefing and asks if he should let me go first and help me off or if he should show me the way. I accept the latter. I want to see what happens when he steps off the cliffs. He pulls up, the glider settles above his head, nice and steady and he walks off the cliff. Gently as a feather, he drifts up and away - smooth as silk. I am experiencing stomach cramps and adrenalin, but know that I am going to fly. I pull up. Jazz locks in above my head firm and eager. I walk off the cliff. The butterflies take a back seat as I step into space.
What a view. I cannot fully describe what it was like to fly Table Mountain. Floating 30m above that lip of solid rock one kilometre into the sky, cruising the length to Maclears Beacon near Devils Peak and back to the Cable Car, gazing out over the table top to Hangklip, SLP, Hout Bay, Cape Point and over to Lions Head, the City, Riebeek Kasteel and beyond . Waving tourists craning their necks into the sky, Stef doing wingovers of acro proportions, slicing down well below the top and working his way back up for more. He cuts across to Devils Peak, but I choose not to follow. I just know that I won't make it back and why cut short my first flight with anxious scratching. The air is so smooth that when a bit of movement occurs I am taken by surprise. I look around to see if the conditions have changed and notice more movement on the water, but still next to nothing to speak of. Its just air swirling around the outcrops. Stef has disappeared over Devils Peak and I am all alone. I cruise the lip some more, keeping a look out for Stef's return and sinking in the view. See him occasionally working a gulley on the otherside of DP. He is so low. But he keeps on scratching and jumps back over to TM still very low. He works the base of the mountain and it does not look promising. The air is slightly less buoyant and tiny coughs are interrupting the previously so smooth air. Cruising along the cliffs back towards the Cable Car, I see Stef trailing me just above road height. I move away from the mountain and head out over the city towards the primary school fields at Kloof Neck. I have so much height. Stef is now at the lower cable car and crazy low. I think he is going to land on the road there, but not a chance. I watch as he skims the roofs of houses and the trees and as he glides into 'goal' below me. Acting as a windmill he directs the last bit of airtraffic into landing. What a day. I am all zoned out and ready for bed, to relive the moments of flying Cape Towns most magnificent mountain - Table Mountain - I thank you. Stef - Thank You. Without your call I would still be waiting for the opportunity and the courage to fly the greatest mountain in South Africa. flygirl - all flown out (for the day) Images in the Gallery Section |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 15 May 2007 ) |
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