Sunday 9 November 2008

Hang Gliding

Day 46 - Hang Gliding

Our plan for our last full day was to go hang gliding off one of the near by peaks (the one in the centre of this picture.
Good idea in theory. Unfortunately it didn't quite go to plan. We were dropped off by taxi to the beach below the peak. We were told to wait for our pilot there. We were left without any idea of who to talk to for over an hour. There must have been at least 10 companies doing the same thing. I asked enough of the other pilots the right questions to find the right guy.
Finally we were on our way to the top of the peak. When we arrived, we saw a line up of 20 gliders lined up waiting & about the same rolled up waiting. They weren't going anywhere because the peak was totally shrouded in cloud. They aren't allowed to launch unless they can see the landing point. I would think it would be quite dangerous in the air as well.
Around 2.10pm it was called off & we reluctantly headed back to the beach & the hotel.
It was very disappointing but we didn't loose any money on it (and it was about $270 AUD!). We just lost the best part of a day.
Late in the afternoon we went to Rio de Sol which is a big shopping centre. Kerri wanted to see it. No big deal. Could have been a shopping centre anywhere. That's about as interesting as the day got unfortunately.