Wandergliding: A Big Tree & Isabelle’s Birthday Flight

December 18th, 2010

I have been hanging out with some new friends in Goa, namely Zohar, Avishai and Noa from Israel, a French couple, Vincent and Isabelle and a Brit Jon.

Zohar and I headed out for a cruise on a scooter in the late morning. Some of the roads around the area are quite fun to ride with curves, hills and beautiful scenery through the countryside and by a palm tree lined river. By chance we ended up stopping at a massive banyan tree. Another Israeli woman Tal had told us of this massive tree and it definitely lived up to the hype. The base must have been at least 40 feet in circumference and a hundred feet tall. We later found out from a man named Deepak that lived in a nearby house that the tree’s age was roughly 800 years old and it was the biggest banyan tree in the state of Goa. Deepak was kind enough to invite us into his house where we were offered some cookies and he seemed to show off his flat screen TV. After a short stay we hopped back on the scooter (with Zohar driving the whole time...I was enjoying looking around) and continued touring around for another hour or so before heading back to Arambol Beach.

Try and spot me...

Now find Zohar...

What a massive tree!

Banyan Tree:

Our new friend Deeepak:

This was about as much of the tree I could get in the photo:

It was Isabelle’s 30th birthday on the 18th so we had to celebrate. In the afternoon we met up with Englishman Deano to see about a tandem paragliding flight for both Isabelle and Vincent. I met Deano back in September in France at the Coupe Icare festival and by chance we ran into each other walking on the main road in Arambol a few days ago...what a small world it can be at times!

The wind was a bit light but we decided to hike around to the other beach to see if it was flyable. Worst case scenario was that we’d get a bit of exercise. Madu, the long time resident paraglider pilot originally from Holland or Belgium (I met him during my first flight here), was the other tandem pilot. We walked the length of Kerri Beach and at the north end there were three men sunning in their birthday suits. I joked with Isabelle that I had pre-ordered them as a gift for her...she chuckled. We scrambled up the 150 foot hill to the Arambol plateau. Thankfully we saw three gliders in the air, including a tandem one, so our hopes were high that we would be able to fly.

Hiking up to launch:

The lovely couple ready to fly:

Arriving at the main launch area, the wind died off a bit and it looked like the flight was in jeopardy again. Madu went for a short test flight by himself on his large tandem wing and then it was decided that we’d go for it. Isabelle and Madu were first to launch. The birthday girl was a bit nervous but also excited before taking off which of course is normal. Once Madu brought the wing up above their heads, Isabelle began to perform small baby gazelle like hops which made a few of us giggle but really isn’t a good launching technique as it unloads the glider. I gave them a good push and they were off. She had a bit of a struggle to get in her harness but once she was comfortable she really enjoyed her flight.

Isabelle's Launch:

Isabelle in flight:

Next Deano and Vincent set up. I provided anchor support and also gave them a good push. Unfortunately by the time I was set up and took off, the two tandems had already landed although I wasn’t totally sure where. I couldn’t see them on Kerem Beach below so I thought that they must have run around the point to the south to land on Kerri Beach, which saves a long walk. My flight was fairly short but I enjoyed flying over 3-4 monkeys hanging out on a rock. Even though I saw a couple of solo pilots land on Kerem, I decided to chance it and flew around to Kerri and did see Isabelle and Vincent already on the beach. I landed to find them both sporting big smiles...they loved it! We had a post flight beer with the two tandem pilots and then headed back to our huts to clean up.

Vincent's Launch:

Coming in to land:

My Landing:

Post flight smiles:

Followed by the post flight beers:

We stayed at the Olive Garden for dinner (Isabelle’s choice) and had a lovely evening which included some fireworks on the beach, great food and good laughs and it actually went a bit late even though the birthday girl was asleep on Vincent’s lap before the rest of us called it a night.

Our waiter/firework technician Ram: