Waiting for the Peaches to Ripen

I'm sitting here in Booni waiting for the peaches and pears to ripen. The apples are ready and hanging over the garden wall next to my room or I can wander outside and try different varieties. But it's the Peaches I really want, there almost there, I had one just now, it's a bit firm but sweet. Maybe by the time my dad arrives, he's on his way to Islamabad now.

It's flyable today, not great but flyable, and I'm here why? Well an interesting thing occured yesterday. I wasn't really into the flight. Looking around at the familar glaciers and mountains of the Hindukush I thought, "hmm.. glaciers and mountains, that's nice.." in a bored distracted way. Much unlike the usual mode my mind reacts, "OH MY GOD THAT'S INCREDIBLE!!!, WOW LOOK AT ALL THESE AMAZING GLACIERS AND MOUNTAINS!!!" NopeI was flying because I had a goal and I had to move to get there, my computer was in Hunza 250km away and I needed to push hard to make it in a day, limited on time because I want to be back when my Dad arrives to Chitral. Conditions immediately weren't good, half in half out of turbulent thermals, too many clouds and too low in the direction I was heading. I was cold and a bit nauseaus from the broken thermals, something that only has been happening lately, the weakenss is obviously due to my lack of passion to be in the air. So when it was obvious it wasn't possible to fly to Hunza I lost all interest. I just wanted to be back in my garden reading a book. Absoulutely amazing to think about as I write this, what a change from a few weeks ago.

But I guess it means I've had enough this season. I has been a busy 5 months since I quit flying tandems in March and started this amazing flying tour of India and Pakistan. This sport works best of your hungry and right now I'm an overfed hog wollowing in my recent achievements. That's a good thing. It's a lot to process and look back on. 5 months packed with intense experience and adventure...

In between rediscovering the joy of reading books the last week I've also found some interesting projects online. May be of interest to you may not.

Travel insurance. Just signed up for another 3 months with a company called IHI Bhupa. Cost $390 for medivac and health insurance which covers me anywhere but my home country. They have a good reputation and pay 100% (supposedly, haven't had to use it) only limitation is they only pay for treatment 6 months from time of accident, so if there were a case with ongoing treatments costs... I'm still looking for a better option, one limitation is I can only take out this coverage for 15 months unless I return to the US. I have 3 months left and I don't see myself returning in that time. I'd be curious what other people use. I have no health care plan from the US currently.

Second is an interesting project called Kiva a way to make small loans online. Its a very cool website and very interesting idea. Instead of giving money you are loaning it and 98% of loans are repaid. You pick who you want to loan to and loans amounts are $25. The link came from my friend Tyler Quintano from Durango, I originally got the idea to use money that had been paid to me into a Paypal account. I don't really like paypal and especially hate the idea I have money sitting in there they are earning interest on.

Hours of internet time later I've done something. Cool.

Oh and when I had my computer with me and fast internet in Hunza a couple weeks ago I made and posted this video of a recent flight here. http://www.vimeo.com/6241661

Watch it, say "wow" and post a comment!