Hand Gliding in Byron Bay

  Byron Bay, Australia
Wednesday, April 18, 2007

For Wednesday the 18th of April we (Wouter and I) had booked a hand-gliding ride, in which we were going to be picked by the instructor up at 11:30am. The normal price was $130 for a half an hour but we got it for $120 :-). And we were off, we had to collect more people from the Arts factory hostel, a very alternative hostel, we were going to stay there but we heard mixed reports about it so we changed our mind. We picked up English ex-nurses and a French girl. Nice people. We got to where we were going to do the hand gliding and surprise it was Lennox head, which we were only here about on Saturday. Cool. The lightest person much go first, so Wouter and the French girl went first. I remember Wouter could not get his let in for a long time; this was very funny to us on the ground. Then it was my turn and some other man who was not in our group, on separate hand gliders of course. While taken off you must do this runny run like in the Flintstones. Once in the air there are a few hand movements you must do and of course get you lets in to a pouch type thing. It was an amazing feeling, just floating there in the air and watching the waves and things on the ground get smaller and smaller.  It was much more relaxing than I expected and very calming. Almost therapeutic. I saw a stingray and some dolphins in the sea. But was did it for me was when we flew over a sea eagle, and watching a bird fly while I flew over him, it was great,, I wanted that stay up there. But the instructor said it was cost a bit. :-) He also instructed me on how to use the glider by myself and to make it go faster and slower. We eventually landed and it was truly a great experience. At the end we all took a group photo, as you can see. It was actually a cold day in Byron bay, it was only 24 degrees. That night I did nothing, red my book and went to bed.