12-27-07
Happy Holidays from Pokhara Nepal
Here's what I've been up to since Pakistan. Overland to India with 4 gliders (2 being carried for other people) to arrive in India and see if I still could enjoy flying at conditions somewhat less spectacular than Pakistan! The result, flying does it for me, still turns me on even in areas that I'm familar with, have flown before and the thermals are slower and cloudbase lower. As always the other pilots can be a big part of the flying experience and I shared some great flights with others, doing a birthday Bivy flight with some new friends on the way to Dharmasala (Brad birthday boy from Australia was living in Canada along with Jim from Canada, Morgan from US, running into a friend from 2 years ago in Dharmsala (Dave Weber from WEMT course in CA) then to return a couple days later and share a tandem with him, meeting John Silvester and sharing our mutual love and respect for the people and flying in Pakistan, catching up with friends and hearing about their summers while proclaiming myself the ambassador for flying in Pakistan and getting a lot of people interested (I hope!) These are just a few highlights from the top of my head as I write this.

The fall season was pretty good for flying this year in Bir and although October sounded like it was better I managed to snag one good day in November and pop over the back to Manali. A day similar to others I've had in during autumn conditions with very few clouds a weak inversion and high base. Realized how much the time in Pakistan has taught me as I stayed warm and very relaxed getting to 5500 meters and taking the high road to Manali. Actually didn't go all the way to Manali as I had an errand to run in Naggar, at the home of Ajay and Vinay. Remember the Honda I bought for Michael when we did our motorcyle trip around Ladakh in August? Well turns out my plan of keeping that and selling my Enfield wasn't going to work due to it's shorter wheelbase and lack of luggage rack for carrying a ton of gear so I asked Ajay to help me sell it. If anyones been pissed off traveling through India and getting cheated by the local well I hope you've also had the pleasure to experience some of the really great Indians that are all over as well. I picked up my money enjoyed the hospitality on Ajays family and a very refreshing visit with a sober Vinay then made a run to Manali to look for a used Enfield for Brad (from the birthday bivy flight from here on to be known as Dingo), with the money I now had I found a suitable bike for Dingo and returned to Bir. you see Dingo has just taken a year holiday from the restaurant business and upon finding out I was traveling with glider on motorcycle was immediately hooked by the idea. So now the story is 2 Brad's on Enfields both traveling with tandem and solo gliders on their way to Pokhara, oh and get this we just happen to have matching gloves. 5 days later we've arrived, haha if only it were that simple, getting separated a couple times, Dingos bike having the top end off 3 times, Dingo getting charged by wild elephant, I was actually pretty suprised we did make it. For anyone who hasn't done it traveling by bike is amazing frusterating, fucking scary and absolutely memorable, do it and you won't forget it.

So that's it for now, look for my next post to hear about my experience teaching and getting involved in Parahawking, I've been having some amazing flights with birds recently..