Some redemption in Crucita.

  Crucita, Ecuador
Wednesday, August 9, 2006

Having made rough weather of my landing the previous evening and not having bothered with dinner, I awoke with a grumbling stomach. After a hearty breakfast, we chatted for a while and then headed out earlier than expected to the flying site. The winds not having picked just yet, I took off first, only to realize that some of my lines were tangled (Note to self: Always do your own line check). With Louis Tobar shouting instructions in Spanish, I guess I got lost in translation and panicked becuse after a few attempts at nothing, I headed for a top landing - only I headed straight into the hill. Fortunately, the height that I had managed to gain and the air bag on my harness saved my ass, just about. Another fuck up, another lesson learned. Well, I took off again and made a much better show of this one. However with the soaring constrained to just a small portion of the ridge, and with redeeming some pride by getting today's landing right, I headed out to land about half an hour into my flight. This time I went farther into the sea, did quite a few S-turns and made a perfect landing plonk in the middle of the beach right outside the hostel. As much as I tried taking pictures in flight, my current skill set did not allow for it. After a hearty meal, some conversations, and bidding my adieu's I headed on my way back to Quito. Besides for the paragliding the highlights were the wonderful hospitality extended by Louis and his lovely wife Jeanette, and meeting the wonderful couple - Kevin and Jennifer from Ireland.