Thin air and over there - Mexico Day Two

Never experienced Jet lag like this before, slept like a log until 03.30 wide awake listening to fire works (well thats what they said they were) until 05,00 then awake again at 07.00. Hope can sort it out soon.

Feeling not much better but decided to go up the hill with the option of flying if possible.  Normal pilot mayhem as we got our kit sorted in the digs and a total mess up as we inserted new sim cards into phones all getting the wrong ones, still caused a laugh and at least we could ring someone.

Jaimes (Hi-me) our driver arrived on time and gliders and kit were soon loaded and with a full team, Gordon Rigg, Wayne Thompson, Grant Crossingham, Steve Blackler, Carl Wallbank and myself along with Kaz headed off to launch.  The drive takes about and hour or so and takes you past the local Police checkpoint where it looks like you could start a small war if you wanted to, all very re assuring I am sure.

Nice and shady rigging at El Penon

The facesof British Hang Gliding .......

At launch it was nice to see toilets, shade and a lovely take off into wind along with a good number of gliders already rigged and some flying, mainly Tandems and intermediates.  Temperature was just nice not too hot with a breeze sleeping the edge off it but then we are at over 7000 feet already.  I decided tho rig to check the glider after assembly and make a decision on flying after that.  Glider looked all good, conditions looked all good, briefing by Gordon and Steve seemed all good I felt not so good but not too bad, lets do it.

Set to go with Jaimes our ever ready driver 

Stood at take off you feel you could just float off but when you watch the launches you soon realise that is not the way to do it, despite a fair breeze the gliders take a bit of running to get flying and run you must.  The guys were all off when I launched and it was good to get in the air to join them.  The glider felt fine and the lift was good, bit like a rough day on Carn Brea but with plenty of ground clearance.  Settling I felt ok so decided to climb out and gone on the task we had set to learn the area  a little.

Winding it up with El Penon below left

Some bits look a bit like England ...... but looks can be deceiving

An hour and a half later after some nice scenery, high plateaus and low saves I arrived in a field at 8500' hmmm what looks big from the air turns out not to be so big and you can use a lot of it up very quickly.  The  local kids arrived to help de rig and in our pigeon language we got the glider in the bag and they carried it over to the road where we joined a couple of Japanese pilots and a Frenchman.

The carry out crew, always around when you want them :)

It was not long before Hime arrived along with Kaz and Steve B who had landed a little earlier and after sorting the kids out we were on our way to collect the others.  Road closed, if detour, Kaz and I jumped ship In Valle de Bravo and saved another four hour retrieve. Ate out in the square, met some locals, watched the local life and finally caught up with the others before hitting the sack.

Quote of the day "oh no I'm going down on Gordo's knob again!"