My first experience with flight was truly a gift – but on the other hand, it was also downright terrifying. It was suggested to me on a whim too, how would I like to go tandem paragliding that afternoon? Just as a simple, offhand question – would you prefer tea or coffee with your breakfast? Some orange juice? What about hurling yourself off a mountain peak this afternoon? And would you like to read the morning paper? The question was phrased simply, because the person asking viewed it as a cinch. Just paragliding, no fancy aerobatic flying, a nice easy flight and then back home for a cuppa. I agreed, and then instantly regretted it. My regret reached its peak as we reached the summit of the mountain, and then as I looked at the town below at the Austrian town of Lienz, I realised that I was scared stiff and preferred just to admire the aerial view from a distance… and the safety of terra firma! It almost didn’t become my flying gift experience. My legs locked up at the takeoff, and I didn’t think it was at all possibly for me to charge down the hill, running to launch ourselves. But I did! It worked! We were airbor ne! Paragliding is amazingly relaxing and not the charged adrenaline buzz that I had expected. We descended very slowly, to really make the most of the beautiful Tyrolean mountain surrounds, and I just felt I knew what it was like to be a cloud, just floating along, perched in my safety harness. Eventually, my companion took charge and negotiated our landing. Of course, I managed to trip us both over and we landed in a crumpled heaps of bodies and parachute on the ground. I definitely hope it’s not the last of my flying experience days, but who knows? With some extra flights and training course, I could eventually be the one in the “driver’s seat” – or so to speak! With some more driving experience days, maybe I’ll become the pilot, rather than the passenger!
|
|
