I am selling the last of my possessions -  Plot of land in Hout Bay (see Building an Eco Home) 892m2 -  R3.8 M last written offer received

                                                                         - Two Years old Toyota Fortuna Diesel 3l 4x4

(UPDATE:- 05 December 2008.  The Universe is a magical thing, the best travel 'computer' known to Man! My folkes are wanting a 4x4 but cannot afford to buy one at this stage, so they are taking over half my cars monthly repayments whilst I am away.  That way they get to go to Namibia over the Christmas period and do the Skelton Coast, Etosha etc (Take me, take me!!!)  Bonus to me is that I can afford to retain ownership of my 'Flygirl Mobile' :-).  I love my Toyota Fortuna and very gald that I am not forced to sell it to fund my wanderlust.  The Universe is taking care of everything so I can travel and do the XC Open World Series next year.  Isn't the Ribbon of Life GREAT!)
                                                                       
                                                                      - My business in the Film Industry supplying boats to the Film Industry - www.gaynor.co.za

Please contact me should you be interested.  I will be travelling for several months in 2009, perhaps a year, and need to finance my journey, should I find no other way.

I have been asked to withdraw my application to compete in the Pre-PWC at Porterville to prevent the possibility of the competition losing its CAT2 status if an investigation goes ahead.  If this happens, I am told that I will be ostracised by the competition pilots who depend on these points and the image of paragliding in South Africa will become tarnished. (My thanks to those competition pilots who are trying to resolve this amicably)

I have also been advised that my FAI licence will be revoked should Rob's allegations be proven and my right to fly anywhere in the world is at stake. 

I do not fear the findings of an investigation.  I have done nothing that warrants a banning from CAT2 competitions in FAI terms and I certainly have done nothing that deserves my licence to be taken away from me.  This is about personal disagreements between Rob and I, but I have been asked to sacrifice myself for the good of paragliding in South Africa.

It is tough hearing my friends ask me to do this .....

Ten months ago I voluntarily withdrew from all local forums to protect the community and myself from the abuse of very public and personal clashes between Rob and I.  There was no alternative.  For me the forums are to be protected.  They exist to encourage and nurture flying - not to be used as a platform for personal attacks.  I have also kept my website as free from the turmoil as I could, until now.

Wayne Heuer and Eal Valentine from my Overberg Paragliding Club have both offered independently to sit at a table with Rob and myself so we can talk this out in order to come to a win-win solution and avoid embroiling our small community in a very public and international scandal.  I don't want to hurt paragliding and so I agreed to sit at a table with Rob - but Rob has refused.  The only alternative he has given me is to withdraw my registration from the competition. I am now waiting to receive the allegations in writing in order to build a defence. 

The proceedings will be documented on FLYGIRL, as they are likely to set an international precedent and so may be of use to others in the future.  This will all be filed under SAHPA-SCHOOLS-NOTAMS. 

If you really feel you need to know about these unhappy proceedings you are going to have to go there.   This is to keep the ugliness free from those who just want to fly and read about adventure and living life.  I know I do...

So there I was, all ready to climb on a train tomorrow and head off to De Aar for a sneak training session and what do I find?

The train is fully booked both Wednesday AND Friday!!!!  Sign of the times.  It is too expensive to drive long distance now.... South Africa's people are hurting.

- Then there is the opportunity to base in Manilla and travel and fly in Australia, January right through to March.  Don't need much of an excuse for this one, I love Australia and flying in Manilla and the other comps will do my flying a world of good, but I have to find a way to finance it and that might be tough.  If I could expand on FLYGIRL and offer accommodation and info on paragliding establishments in Australian as I do in South Africa, that might work.

- I am really keen on the paragliding XCeara 'Safari' in Brazil for November 2009, although the boys on PG Forum think the conditions might be a bit too challenging.  Imagine that - a site more challenging than De Aar and Dasklip!  I may have to rethink that one.  But there is so little English information available and I am relying mostly on youtube videos and translations.  Just being there as a visitor reporting back on events as they unfold for a month would be fun for me.  With a few days flying for myself of course!

- The Ceara province is known for its kite surfing and I want to lose myself in South America for awhile anyway - exploring.

- I happened to watch a movie on Columbia last night and it looks magic - even if Arnold Swartzeneger was taking on the drug cartels and guerillas :-)  The PG lads say is is pretty peaceful now and Gringos are not captured much for ransom anymore :-)

- Spend time with a friend

So many opportunities and the river is starting to flow.  2009 is a blink of an eye away and I have had to apply for a new passport in order to accommodate all the visas us South Africans require for a long 'walk about'.

Of one thing I am certain, 2009 will be very different.

Light winds in Shark Bay, Langebaan for much of the day - only started working at 2pm so we worked on our tans whilst 'kite-waiting' :-)

When the wind filled in from the channel and reached us, Lesley was out there having a great time streaking up and down Craig was teaching me the basics of how to get up on a board.  I was flying the big  boy, a 'C' size 16 Best kite and using a long training board.  We only had 2 hours of 'airtime', but made the most of it.  My legs are still uncoordinated and I have to focus on pointing the board down wind when getting up, balancing over the board and then pushing my back heel in and turning the board cross wind, steading the kite after its vertical dive and controlling the power in the kite better with 's-moves' to give a consistent pull.  But I am getting the idea. My bench mark for standing on the board before losing it is 25 seconds.  Not as long as I hoped but better than my first attempts.

Putting my feet into the straps whilst controlling the kite and balancing my body weight in the water was problematic until Craig told me to stop anchoring myself to the ground in the shallows.  As soon as I stopped fighting the kite, the board and the ground and just allowed myself to float in the water, the kite became less reactive and more mellow and putting me feet in the straps became faster and more efficient.  Such a small detail, but a really good lesson!  It is amazing how quickly a person picks up on this sport.

I have developed a bad habit though.  When I put too much power into the kite whilst up on the board and I am launched into the sky, I tend to kick my feet free of the straps holding them to the board instead of just placing the board back down on the water when I land and carrying on my way.

But I experienced 25 seconds up on the board in one run, so progress :-))))

Kitesurfing lessons for me again tomorrow in Shark Bay :-)  Fresh SE forecast and I have different tutors for the day - paraglider pilots Craig and Lesley.  Who knows?  Maybe I get to stand up for longer than a minute!  Maybe two?  So excited :-))))

My mantra for the day will be:  But the speed was power, and the speed was joy, and the speed was pure beauty.

So today I exhausted all avenues through SAHPA to have the ban Rob Manzoni put on my flying at Dasklip almost a year ago lifted for the Pre-Worlds and South African Paragliding Cup in December.

From Charles Swart, SAHPA spokesperson:   Your  banning was on issues that Rob did not disclose in detail but seemed to refer to private disagreements between the two of you without being specific. As owner of the property he does not need any reasons to restrict access thereto ....   .....we have no legal grounds to oppose your banning from Dasklip.

So on the face of this statement, private disagreements with this controversial land owner are enough to ban a pilot from flying FAI sanctioned CAT 2 comps in South Africa.  Well I am not the first and doubt I will be the last.

With kite surfing, I feel elation when I get small things right, but it is a concern how quickly things do get out of control.  I have to keep forcing myself to be aware enough of the kite to bring it back to neutral no matter what a tumbling my body is taking.  As the SE wind strengthened and increased in gustiness, I should have stepped down from a size 10 to a 7, but left it too late.  By the time I called it quits - which was not that long - I was riding the GIN with the depowering strap fully engaged and found I became less bold and started holding back and this curtailed my learning.

Brad started his training for the first time.  He is not a paraglider pilot and has never handled a kite before and after he found himself suddenly ejected into the sky, he has second thoughts about this sport being right for him.  Richard played a bit and might take it up, but we all agree with Ian - the feeling is great when you get up on the board, but almost at the same time as you hurtle along, you suddenly feel that maybe what you are doing is not such a great idea anymore and you could get hurt, but in Ian's case, he just keeps doing it to the max :-).

Tom did recover and go back into the water and he did well too, enjoying some nice board standing up for awhile.  One by one, we retired to the beach and by the time Stef finished off with a downwind run to Cape Sports it was blowing 20-25 Knots.

We all dined on fish and calamari before the drive home - whereby Stef was Stef and we were all in one vehicle and I had no escape ... sigh.  Don't ever give your camera to Stef and I suggest wearing ear plugs and a blindfold if you are unable to deal with the embarrassment of his antics and stories as I am not.

What did I learn?

I cheated myself today not giving it 100%.
I did get up on the board for a few seconds at a time and this was a first so there is improvement.
Next time I will change kites earlier when I feel I am losing control and confidence in a situation and being overpowered.  Stef feels that stronger wind is better to learn in because it is easier to pull out of the water, but I am not so sure that that philosophy will work for my temperament. 
I did do one thing right though - except for the accident with Tom and ok, the one time I got twists, but still managed to relaunch myself, I kept the kite flying no matter how difficult a situation I found myself in - and that is an improvement I am pleased with :-)

A long time ago I resigned myself to managing a life time of shadows.  Sometimes those shadows are strong.....

The past 10 months I have worked hard to fill the space those shadows occupy in my mind with all that is beautiful in the world and I have succeeded to a large degree.  I have steeped myself in the protective balm of nature, am working with people who respect one another and treat each other with due consideration, surrounded myself with those who love and understand who I am, with children whose laughter and excitement for life is infectious, spiced it all up with new experiences and adventure and in the process I have discovered new friendships where strangers have done things for me that I would never have been able to bring myself to ask, simply because I never had faith - in myself - or in others.

A healthy environment is all important to who I am and this year I actively created one around me that is filled with light.

However, the last two days I have had to confront the past, the reason I stopped flying end of December and the shadows have come snarling and snapping at me once again.  I am formally objecting, through SAHPA, to the ban that was put on me at the end of the All Africa Open in 2007.  I intend to compete in the Pre-Paragliding World Cup and South African Paragliding Cup in December 2008 which is being held at Dasklip, but have been banned from doing so by the organiser Rob Manzoni.  I believe the ban to be invalid as both of these competitions are CAT 2 events and as such, are beyond personal issues, falling under the regulations governed by FAI.
And so the struggle begins ....

I am often asked: What of your home?

Plans for my eco home are still with the municipality.  My architect has been slow to get results and I have not chased for them myself.  The reason being is I need money to build and that is not available at present.  Perhaps at the end of the film season.  I also accept that perhaps the slowness of this process and all the hurdles I am having to negotiate are there for a reason.  Perhaps my life force is to flow in another direction

There is something in the air :  I am filled with the desire to travel.  Having torn myself from my home in Llandudno, I am loath to put down roots again so soon. All things happen for a reason and the uncertainty right now is necessary to encourage me to change the direction of my life.  And it needs changing if I wish to evolve, which I do.

My passion is this website.  I give so much of myself to FLYGIRL.  If I can find a way to combine my love for writing, adventure, taking photographs, travel and FLYGIRL, I believe I will be on the path that is right for me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DESSIE of DE AAR!!
Des went and got herself an early birthday present on the 18th October 2008.
She matched my Koringberg flatlands FAI Triangle but did it in De Aar, clocking 62.52kms :-)

Big difference was that Des aced it in just under 2 hours whereas I flitted about like the butterfly I am and closed the triangle only after 5 hours!!!

An exhausting weekend.  Body feels like lead and my heels are bruised.  That is learning to kite surf for you :-) 

Stef got back from Zimbabwe where he was presenting a couple of hypnosis shows and called me for another session of dragging, this time from Dolphin Beach to Milnerton Lighthouse.  I was doing really well from Dolphin to Sunset Beach. Never crashed Stef's beautiful GIN kite (size 10) not even once.

My error was going ashore with him at Sunset to say 'hi' to fellow pilots Stefan and Gerrit who were playing with their paragliders on the tiny sand embankment.  The wind was onshore North West and a little lighter at this spot.  Try as I might I could not battle my way back out through the small shore break.  It was exhausting.  As I became more and more tired, so handling errors came into play and I started to stall and crash the kite.  I could see Stef getting nervous that it might get damaged in the surf and eventually I conceded to drag/jogging part of the way along the beach to the light house where I exited.

Karen, a Birdmen student paraglider pilot and another lady friend of Stef's picked me up from there and we continued by road to Lagoon Beach where Slovenians, Tom and Tania joined us. 

Tom had done a tandem in the morning from Signals before it was blown out and then proceeded to his next lesson in kite surfing - standing on the board.  He got it right a few times too :-)  The life of an international commercial tandem pilot :-))

In the lagoon there was much activity as the kiters carved up the flat waters and practiced tricks with massive kites - some size 18!  Stef wanted me to try a board but I was too tired to play and just took photo's.  Will try see if I can get someone to take a few photo's of my own participation which will probably be in Langebaan as Stef is busy all of this coming week.  Craig and Lesley have kindly lent me their kit so I am going to put it to good use :-)

Saw my first shark shadow beneath the surface of the water.  About 15 ft long and moving slowly downwind of me from shore break to sea. I looked around for other kiters, but I was alone, my legs and torso trailing in the water looking pretty tasty.  Breathing evenly and careful not to splash or do anything too sudden, I waited to see what the shark was going to do.  Then I realised it was the shadow of my kite!!!!  :-)

What did I learn today?

I learnt how to use the depower strap when launching and dropping the kite and when walking on land.
Also a lesson on using the centre line to kill or right the glider if on my own, but this needs more practice.
Craig's harness was much more comfortable which helps a lot.
Stef was trying to teach me how to steer my body through the water to get off the beach in an onshore wind, but this was unsuccessful.  I am missing some element.  I could not see how it was possible to go across wind when the power zone was downwind onto the beach.  The wind was quite light too which meant when I steered the kite away from the shore I was close to stall and this is why the kite went into the water from here on.
Smoother figure of 8's are required with a more direct downwind swoop through the power zone.
I have to get my coordination right with regards to pulling in and letting out the bar.  This is still very awkward.
The jerking motion of power on and then slack is annoying me.  Have to figure out how to keep a smooth pressure on - Stef's says just practice, but I need to know what creates the smooth pressure in order to work towards it. I think a lesson is required to fill in the gaps in what Stef has very kindly taught me the last two days ... and smooth water would be nice :-)

I am very, very grateful for Stef introducing me to the sport of kite surfing and for all he has taught me.  I just want to be up on the water now!

Some boating shenanigans in the morning followed by PPG watching at Dolphin Beach, then afternoon solo flying.  Some flew Signals and top landed, but it swung south and was getting turbulent in the lee of Lions Head. I opted to fly instead from Lions Head.  Pete Major, myself, Gene and Grace all got off from lower take off in no wind.

I am very happy with the Astral 5's no wind launching.  Very easy.

The balance of the pilots went to top take off where it was stronger and due south cross.  Top take is daunting and should be graded sport/advanced as far as I am concerned.  It requires good handling skills.  A novice escaped a bad take off unhurt, but had all our hearts beating wildly.  A couple of pilots launched but most walked back down.  We all had foofies - but it was a nice foofie :-) followed by drinks at La Med where all the beautiful people were out in force, wearing bikini's and the shortest of shorts :-)  Summer is here!

Tableview was cooking Friday.
  Could not get hold of Stef to go play so went down anyway.

Lots of aerial prowess involving complicated twists and turns and upside down hanging.
I really do need to get my own kit ASAP.  The conditions were probably too hectic for me, but still.....

Had fun helping people launch and drop their kites so at least I had some sort of practice to reinforce what I have already learned, but I think it is time I went for lessons.  There is only so much fun you can have from the shore watching others harness nature.

Nice zoom my camera has, hey :-)

I have discovered another fun activity - KITESURFING!

Always avoided trying this sport even though it combined two of my favourite elements - water and wind.  In the city of my childhood and early adult years, Durban was warm and the water a pleasurable temperature.  I used to free dive for crayfish regularly on weekends and after work I would run for kilometers along the length of the beaches and play in the surf for the pure joy feeling the water on my skin and the power of nature.

When I relocated to Cape Town in 1995 I went scuba diving once and was so incredibly unbelievably cold I never dived in the Cape again.  In time I discovered surf skiing which was perfect - I sat on top of the water!  Kite surfing always seemed so wet and people wore wetsuits so I knew they got cold.  It also appeared rather dangerous.

When I owned my sports talent agency I would phone up kite surfers for a commercial and occasionally find out that they had a broken collar bone , leg or were suffering from concussion and one had broken his neck!!  No-way - kite surfing to me was a dangerous sport.  I would rather stick to paragliding!  :-)  Aye, perceptions... but it was these considerations that stopped me from trying kite surfing all these years - and the the fact that I am generally a one sport kind of woman.

Faltering in my flying this year, I opened myself up to an array of alternative experiences.  Today I tried kite surfing.

Fellow paraglider pilot Stef Jucker invited me to Tableview for my first lesson.  He was teaching his tandem co-pilot for this season - Tom from Slovenia and they were already on day three or four.  The wind was light for kite surfing, about 15-20kms but for a first lesson that suited me fine. 

My first handling of a kite was a Cabrinha 'C' kite.  It was the smallest one Stef had in his collection.  Cautiously as is my nature, I tested the edges of the power zone (downwind) and confirmed my perception that making a mistake on land could have seriously unpleasant consequences.  Instead I flirted with it on the seaside edge which was much more forgiving should I suddenly find myself travelling 20ft through the air.  I tend to be a slow and careful learner, but this sport, well, I already know much of the dynamics from my paragliding and sailing activities so I reckon I will take to it quite quickly.

First lesson
The Bar is not to be handled like a steering wheel.  It only reacts if I pull it towards me like the sailplane Adrian Hepburn once let me play with (to flare and power up the kite) or if I pull one of the outer edges of the single bar towards me, acting like a brake toggle on a paraglider (to turn).  The bar must always remain parallel to the leading edge of the kite.  I have to stifle my instinct to pull in the bar when I am being dragged and I feel that things are getting out of control.  Each time I have to force myself to let the bar up to neutral.

There is a red quick release fitting which I must admit to having some doubts to about getting to quickly enough, but it is there waiting to be pushed up to disconnect me from the kite.

Harness -  Stef's spare third harness was good for the first lesson, but I want my own.  It did not fit well and kept riding up to my rib cage and trying to split me in half.  The fastening fittings were not working well.  I prefer the pull to be from my centre of gravity - my hips and bum.

Launching on land makes me nervous if the kite is on the land side of the power zone.  I need to practice it more to be comfortable that I know what I am doing and not going to find myself flying into a sand dune or wall, but this is why we moved to Big Bay for this lesson. Big flat beaches with few man made obstacles nearby.  Launching the glider after it has crashed into the water is an art.  I got this right once or twice, but still need to understand the dynamics better.  Patience is  important.  The need for assistance after it has tumbled in the surf is frustrating so I am going to avoid that more in the future.

For my first lesson, Stef said I would not be going into the water, so I remained in my shorts and long sleeved top.  This was fine whilst I was doing figure of eights with the kite, but  I realised that I could allow myself to be more adventurous if I was in the water.  Short leaps through the air to test the power of the kite and landing on my heels was jarring my ankles even in knee high water.  With an hour or so I was shivering with cold.

The wind was strengthening and more kite surfers took to the sea and air. I was learning to hold the bar and control the kite with one hand as well as walk into wind and remain cognisant of the flurry of activity around me.  Stef suggested we all go downwind towards Melkbos and I learn to drag myself through the water whilst controlling the kite.  That is when I finally put my wetsuit on.

Tom was progressing to standing on the board but the surf was making this very difficult for him.  Stef was flying his beautiful white GIN kite and streaking out to sea and back, waiting for us as we moved at a much slower pace down the coast, checking on our progress and helping us relaunch when we messed up.  I have to get over being distracted by the occasional small wave washing over me whereupon I lose momentary orientation with the kite.

I became bold however when I found myself on the inside of a shore break with larger waves rushing towards me. I powered up the kite in order to go faster and lift me slightly over the waves.  As my chest and stomached cleared the water I was filled with a maniacal glee as I approached 'Perfect Speed' (or my illusion of it :-).  I was gaining on Tom, I was all powerful, I was the best kite surfer protege of all time, I was...

..The sea drew back..  I was hurtling into an exposed trough of sand.  Right hand still on the bar, I held the other outstretched in front of me and smacked into the bank.  The sea folded over and tumbled me in a mess of broken shells, sand and aerated water.  Momentarily unable to control the kite, it followed my fate.  Stef came 'flying' in to help relaunch on the shore, but proclaimed my day over.  The glider had inverted and the lines were a mess. 

'Oh, please, please, let me continue.'

But Stef's patience had finally run out. Besides he wanted to stick with Tom who was dragging himself int the distance no longer trying to stand on the board, his strength failing fast.  Toms' words later:  'I am F*&^%ed up.'

Sigh.  I was having FUN!  I am so going to keep the kite flying in future no matter what the wave situation!

A magic day, ending with drinks at the Blue Peter in Blouberg, together with Tania, Tom's girlfriend who came and retrieved us all.  Stef was all responsible like whilst teaching kite surfing, which was impressive - no fooling around - straight kite talk - total focus.  Of course he completely blew it over drinks - the Stef we all know returning to blood red embarrassing proportions.  But it was nice to glimpse a serious side to the man nicknamed 'Stef the Clown'

Thanks Stef!!  Great day  :-)

I would like to take this opportunity of thank Flytec Switzerland for fantastic service.

I bought what has been describe as a jinxed 5020 unit a year ago and have had non-stop problems with it.  It might not sound like much of a compliment to admit to having problems with a piece of electronic equipment, but these things happen.  When they do, it is nice to know that there is back-up and the problems will be sorted, albeit at the source.  In this regard, I wish I had contacted Flytec in Switzerland earlier! I sent it in to Flytec Switzerland via parabuddies Petra and Tobias together with a full history - some of the problems exasperated by pilot handling error.

Susanne and Conny had the unit repaired super fast and sent it by post back to me.  They replaced parts - FREE OF CHARGE and did not even charge me labour.  All I had to do was pay for the postage - 30 Euro.  Considering I owned up to doing things which would have made the warranty null and void I am especially grateful to them for repairing the instrument at no cost.

Thank you Flytec! 

And thank you Petra :-)

Because of the strong winds tomorrow I cannot be lax about my responsibilities as boat coordinator.  In the film industry we are often required to push the limits, to work on the edge, take after take, to get The Shot.  At the same time I have to protect the interests of the owner who is not present and who has entrusted me with his R2.8 million yacht.  Knowingly sailing into less than ideal weather, albeit with an experienced skipper and the right to abort, I have to know that we are insured should Murphy stick his head up and the engine cuts out whilst we are close on a howling lee shore, negotiating the harbour entrance, and the boat founders.  (This is what happened in July when a fishing boat had engine failure on a lee shore and another went to its rescue.  They both ended up in the beach.  The wooden boat on the right was eventually broken up by the sea.)  These things happen.  I have to protect the owner and myself against this possibility.  This is my job.

The owner of the production house was brought in too late to solve this hiccup and understands my position as he will not take on the responsibility himself and accept the risk in writing - and so, for the first time in my 10 year career, I will not be bringing a boat to Set tomorrow.  The couple of thousand rand I will earn is not worth the risk of losing R2.8 million and the person who would be claimed against when there is no commercial insurance in place....is me, the boat coordinator.

The simple things in life are free...

Justin is my nature buddy.  We have been outdoor adventure buddies for the past 7 years or so.  One day we will be paddling, swimming, or, like today, Justin will take me for a walk to show me a waterfall with a cave hidden in its recess .. and then our paths will not cross again for a year or two when we will pick up as if no time has passed at all ....

I adore him of course.  We are so alike in our need for freedom .. and avoidance of intimacy .. Two islands in an ocean so big .. With no possibility of a bridge .. Our only meeting is in the waters of our latest adventure ..

A beautiful day for flying from Koringberg and just about everywhere else and I had a marathon of quoting to wade through...

I will be missing the farm day at Koringberg with the kids tomorrow as well.  Instead, shooting in Simonstown on a yacht. 

Film season has begun ....

There are not enough hours in a  life time to do everything ....

Today I experienced one of the most calming and simply perfect flights of all time. Well at least as far back as I can remember.  And it involved a monumental mountain - Table Mountain to be exact.

If you ever get a chance to fly with Earl Valentine as a tandem passenger - take it.  He has such a way about him, totally relaxed and into his flying, that even I was enthralled with the cliffs and gullies.  I am a person wholly influenced by my environment and all I can say is that I never thought I would feel so totally at ease in this situation.  From launch to landing, I had fun!

Earl, today's flight was incredible.  I am deeply grateful.  To have experienced the peace and calm as I did.... well, it might make all the difference to my flying and mountain associations.  If today was possible, then so is tomorrow.   What made tandem flying next to a mountain with Earl such an anxiety free, awesome experience?  When I figure that out I hope to emulate it in my own solo flying.  Can I do it for myself?    Of course I can..... 

Fellow work negotiators :

Anthony Allen!  Yes, the Flying Ant can still fly a paraglider without a motor :-) AND he was flying a FreeEx.  Gerrit (purple something, APCO?), Richard Nieft (Blue white Shaolin, Philip Kannemeyer!!!! (orange, grey, blue Shaolin) , a UP glider, pilot unknown, Stefan,  Stef Juncker on tandem and a few more I never got to see clearly all the way from Table Mountain :-))))  Apparently Lions Head was working all day.

I am going to try and restrain myself with regards to feedback on the Tim Biggs Amazon River talk, but I may have to edit this in the morning.  How can anyone give a talk on an adventure in the Amazon Basin that spanned several months, in such a hollow, 'I-want-to-be-a-motivator-these-are-the-words-my-phrase-book-says-to-use' manner?  It was loaded with worn out phrases that described nothing at all and was so lacking in content, colour and passion I am almost furious! 

The Amazon is a writhing, seething, pulsating mass of colour, sound, texture, smell and taste.  It is the most bizarre, incredibly unique, awe inspiring womb of life. A place where beauty, sorrow, wonder and hardship live side by side and I came away from this talk with little more info than what was on the flyer Brian's Kayaks sent out.  And if I hear the only adjective used for everything in the talk, 'it was great', within the next 24 hours, I will scream! I want to know why he found it great.  I wanted to relive the experience through the story telling.  I wanted to be rushing down those rivers with him!

Deeply disappointed.  I had so been looking forward to this talk all week and I now feel I have been robbed....  Spit and fire!

8 October 2008

Complimentary wine tasting  this evening, Wednesday.  Backsberg Estate Cellars will be on board the Sea Princess (Waterfront Boat Company and CIVAIR) at the V&A from 5.30 pm onwards.  Good alternative to the rush hour traffic.  You get to meet interesting people from all walks of life, win boat cruises, CIVAIR clothing and a few bottles of wine whilst enjoying a glass or two of Backsberg.

7 October 2008

On Thursday night Tim Biggs is giving a talk on paddling three tributaries of the Amazon River - and no, it was not a weekend of even week long trip where a city slicker gets to feel like Harrison Ford's most famous character. This was living the experience fully for several months and then completing it 24 years later.  Do you know how big the Amazon is?

My family and I lived in the Amazon for several months on a yacht in 1977/8.  It was one on my greatest and most enjoyable adventures as a child.  One of my yearnings is to paraglide and travel more in Brazil and explore further afield.  I am looking forward to this talk and reading about Tim's own adventures in the 'lungs of the world'.

Who would have thought that it would be so difficult to write an article about what motivates me.   I am all over the place, my thoughts often hi-jacked by what has de-motivated me in the past.  I have always said that my mind and my emotions are my weakest link.  It is what holds me back.  I have done the most incredible things in my life, many unthinkable to me, simply because others believed that I could. 

Don't get me wrong, I can move 'heaven and earth' when my own faith in myself is strong, and often do, it is why I have a solid reputation in the film industry for delivering and why I can sail up the west coast of Madagascar in a hollowed out tree trunk for two months with only local fisherman for company. But what if my faith in myself was more constant, stronger, fully active?  What would I be capable of then...?  What would I achieve?  Would my life be fuller?  It is hard to think of it being packed with more adventure and colour than it already is ..... hmm, no, I can visualise that, there is always room for more :-)

My Siren.... Travel and Adventure - Horisons calling.  They always have .... and I answer that call every year, but what if my biggest adventure was right here, in this vessel called a human body?  What if, being the best that I can be with what I have been given is the biggest adventure challenge of all time?  What if I had the faith in myself to push the envelope, with intelligence, and find out what I am truly capable of...?

What if.....I dared to be me.....

The gulls who scorn perfection for the sake of travel go nowhere, slowly. Those who put aside travel for the sake of perfection go anywhere, instantly.  Jonathan Livingstone Seagull

I believe someone took off today .... surprised?  Yes I know that it was blowing 74kms at Sir Lowrys and 40 kms plus at Signal Hill and very strong and gusty in other areas.... So I have to ask myself, who takes off with a white speed wing from goodness knows where, gets smacked with a massive frontal collapse over the V&A, falls  vertically into the harbour and has to be pulled out by the NSRI.......?

As witnessed by my sister and customers, two of whom fly themselves, at the Boat Show held at the Cape Grace Marina.  I was at the Outdoor Adventure and Travel Expo in Franschhoek where it was blowing a hoolie..

Special treat from me today.  I was invited to the Ysterplaat Museum in Brooklyn and I had 4 entertaining gentlemen as my guides. Two are ex Denel, one an ex RAF Communications man and Reggie, a Grip in the South African Film Industry who loves to help restore these old aircraft, some of which are still operational.  Norman answered all my numerous questions whilst Chris gave us a showing of the planetarium he restored to working order.

Gentlemen - thank you, I had a lovely morning!

Should anyone like to visit the museum, you are welcome to go around on Saturday mornings after 9am when the Friends of the Museum are doing their restoration work.

Harvard aerobatics aircraft - 2 at this base are still operational

The MiG - with a kill badge - retired.

 The Spitz A1 Planetarium, the only operable one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Thank you Matej for the photo update :-)  I have added Roberts pic to the De Aar Pilots registration.

If anyone has face photo's of the pilots taking part in the De Aar Pre-XC Open World Series, I know it takes a bit of effort, but please could you email it to me?  I really enjoy putting faces and names together and the De Aar one is special to me.

It was a tough hike for some of us, but lots of encouraging things learned.

1. We shaved 20 minutes off our previous hike up this part of the mountain and the kids and I were really pleased about that - 1hr 40mins is the new bench mark.

2. I normally bring up the rear of the walkers to keep an eye on the one struggling the most, but occasionally I move into the centre.  Kiara found today particularly hard, right from the beginning.  I did not realise it would happen so soon, only hearing her sobs too late.  Being at the back of anything, struggling to keep up and not seemingly making headway is incredibly demoralising.  For the rest of the hike we walked hand in hand, talking to take her mind off the pain she was going through, giving advice and encouragement when it was appropriate, encouraging her to enjoy the view when she stopped to catch her breath.  What was important was for her to draw strength through another's energy, to know that someone was there for her and that she was not being left behind.  Knowing this, Kiara never gave up, never suggested we turn back.  I learned a lot from this little girl today.  And so did Gracie.....  On the way down it was gratifying to see her younger sister offering a helping hand down the steepest  half of the mountain ... and Kiara accepting it with grace and renewed spirit.

3. On the way up the kids rotated carrying the daypacks.  Although there was the occasional grumblings and whinging about whose turn it was,  by the end of the hike they got the idea that the strongest, the one out front needed to carry the most load and eventually they shared the duty without needing me to referee.

4. I should take the boys ice skating the day before more often .... :-)  it slows them down the next day on a hike :-)))

5. Sharing.  Before we started the hike, I shared my chocolate with all of them.  At the top of the mountain they get a reward of their own chocolate.  It was gratifying to note them sharing in return without being asked.  Kids are so smart.

6. The only hiccup is Justin testing me regularly.  One of which is him repeatedly removing his seat belt whilst in the car.  Tanner is influenced by his antics and follows suit.  Another is demanding expensive things and expecting me to pay and trying to make a stand on it.  Justin is my nephews friend, not family, so I am not sure why he has a sense of entitlement. My nieces and nephew certainly don't.  A bit harsh, but I don't believe in raising my voice, nor repeating myself so Justin is grounded from the next 5 outings. I enjoy being Auntie but with 5 kids in tow, there has to be some boundaries and lines drawn in order for me to continue enjoying the experience.
 

Ice skating with the kids for 2.5 hours is not for sissies......  We could barely walk to the car afterwards our legs and especially knees were flopping all over the place

The girls decided to skip this session, still recovering from blisters and so I had Tanner and his best friend Justin for company.  For some reason the ice felt really slippery today and I felt I was starting from scratch again.  Had to change the exercise to forward sculling as sculling backwards was not happening.  I think my back, hip and waist muscles have tightened up to protect my lower spine from this new exercise making me stiff and awkward.  Towards the end I managed to get it together focusing on relaxing techniques to help the flow on ice.

Ice skating is like hang gliding.  Surprised?  Well, this is the sensation that came to me today as I glided over ice in those moments when it was effortless.

Part of me enjoys trying to skate for the exercise it delivers.  It is non stop tension for 2.5 hours that has my entire focus in order to improve and stop from falling too often.  I like that.  It brings me into the present and an activity that brings me into the present gives me peace.

Grand West also has a ten pin bowling arena.  Tanner had never played before so we had a great new adventure.  Auntie was trailing badly for the first half of the game, the two little people showing me how it is done.  I redeemed myself towards the end, but Tanner, who has never played the game before.....still won :-)

I am amazed at how Tanner naturally adapts to any sport he takes on.  I don't think I have mentioned it before, but he recently won Player of the Year at his school and received a trophy from rugby player Schalk Burger which was an incredible moment for him :-)  I think it is great how some sports stars encourage excellence in children by making an appearance at school level.

Friday I have five children to hike up Table Mountain with again.  It was the girls suggestion.  I love that they are enjoying this outdoor activity :-) and it is good for me.  Exercise and being with people who just want to have fun is a great environment for any one - and for me the children are a blessing.

This weekend there is an Outdoor Travel Expo in Franschhoek from the 3-5 October. Not a great website so I not sure what to expect from the expo itself - but then I don't need much of an excuse to visit this beautiful part of our world :-)  Click on the PDF on the home page for more info.

A couple of pilots have asked about accommodation in Cape Town ahead of the Pre-XC Open World Series in November.

One of the requests was to stay with pilots, the budget being in the region of R220 per person sharing, including breakfast.  In this case I can highly recommend Birdmen's Nest.  They are situated in Tableview about 15 mins from Cape Town and offer 9 en-suite rooms.  The bonus factor is that Candice and Barry are a charming husband and wife team operating a full time paragliding school, offering international paragliding tours to South Africa and tandem flights, so you will have the inside track on where to fly whilst in Cape Town.  They are great fun too!

If a view is important and you want something even closer to Cape Town and the V&A, I have been asked to recommend BnB's on the beach or seafront.  Over the next few days I will offer options in Camps Bay, Mouille Point (next to the V&A) and Sunset Beach.

However, Barry and Candice are the only pilots offering a BnB facility in and around Cape Town.