We started early with high hopes of flying on the second day of our holiday,
We dodged most of the Cape Town traffic this morning and arrived at the bottom of Sir Lowry’s Pass just after 8am this morning. The wind at landing was negligible and the low clouds that were predicted were hanging around, obscuring the launch site from view. Nevertheless, I gave Clint a site briefing on the landing zone and we took a short walk to the alternative landing spot around the corner. Afterwards we drove up to the lookout point (and launch site) but there were nothing to see, so we went to Gordon’s Bay in search of coffee and to wait an hour in the hope that conditions will improve. After a hot “cuppa” (hot chocolate for me) we went back up for a look and although conditions have improved, the wind was blowing over the back. Grrrrrr – Gears grinding to a halt.
Well, in a little leap of faith and the recommendation of one of the locals… we decided to push on to Hermanus for the day. The road was not to busy and we made it to the Hermanus launch site in time to meet some of the locals as they where about to take off. I joined them and launched ahead of Clint (with a pressure knot in one of my lines) to check out conditions and see if we will maintain. Clint followed shortly and we both actually had nice flights, with Clint top landing and having to come down and fetch me at the rugby fields down below. It was epic… flying Hermanus for the first time since 2019… and for the first time without my “old” friend and partner. Clint had BIG shoes to fill, flying as my “flying buddy” in South Africa and he certainly lived up to it. I recorded the first 5-ish minutes of my first flight and posted it on YouTube here: Paragliding – Hermanus – 27 September 2024.
We waited a little for conditions to improve before launching again and I recorded some more videos here: Paragliding – Hermanus – 27 September 2024 (2) and here: Paragliding – Hermanus – 27 September 2024 (3).
After flying, we went into town to take a look at the “local (whale) visitors” from the southern oceans. It was great to watch them in the water up close while later having a bite to eat outside. Such a nice way to spend a day, flying, whale watching and living in the present moment. We drove back to Cape Town this evening (after most of the traffic subsided) admiring the red sky, Cape Town, sunset from the comfort of our rental car, “Monty”. (<-Clint named him).
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43.5323 – 172.5567
27 September 2024
FP-260
2 responses to “Hermanus on a Friday.”
Video 1 – het pretty scary gelyk – Sjoe!
Video 3 – a lot more smoother ‘-)
Also enjoyed watching the start of you launching
Really spectacular views – WOW!
Dit is nie regtig so scary nie. Dit lyk alles baie vinnig, maar uit my oogpunt het dit alles baie stadig en onder beheer gebeur. It was great flying Hermanus and the mountain looks very nice and green.