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Canuck Land Blog

Well this insn't necessarily all about sloping, but I hope it's somewhat entertaining.

I left CO on Friday after dropping off a truck load of packages to USPS. The plane ride from Denver to Montreal all was about the best flight I've ever been on. It was a brand new Air Canada jet that was super quiet and had the new seat back entertainment systems installed in it. You could choose your own movie or music or TV shows to entertain yourself with. Very cool!

Then in Montreal I had a sandwich and fries while waiting for the next plane. A cool $17 American later I was back in the waiting area. This would be a direct flight to the good old PEI. As soon as people started to settle in a small buzz turned to a large roar as the strangers started to introduce themselves and ask where on the Island they each were from. It's and Island thing. It carried over to the plane ride with everyone talking to the strangers around them. Of course there was someone on the plane I knew, a local TV personality from the local news hour. I could tell I was heading back to the small town life I grew up in.

I arrived in Charlottetown close to midnight local time to a pounding rain storm and 25mph wind. It was warm as in 15C even at midnight. CO has been much colder and of course much drier.

A short hour long ride to my parents with my brother and first cousin hardly seeing a car on the road or even a light on in the houses along the way, I arrived at the parents. Little had changed in the 5 years, well except they were now renting my room out to the older brother of a guy I went to school with.

After a good nights sleep I woke up to a quite house. My brother inlaw David showed up to liven things up. I worked on the new LJ for a while and realized I have a bad crystal or RX. No flying today for me. I spent most of the day getting caught up and setting in front of the TV (a favorite passtime of many maritimers).

Sunday consisted of church, Canadian chinese food, nap, church, and more food. Typical Sunday when I grew up here. Lots of talk about Colorado, the mountains, and flying airplanes. No one really gets slope soaring. Hobby store is closed on Sundays of course so no parts today.

I did find out that there have been some paragliders jumping off a sea side cliff in Point Prim somewhere. I will have to check it out after getting parts and the hobby store for my plane. I may get to fly it yet.

Andrew

By thecanuck at 2006-11-19 20:33 | login to post comments | 418 reads

My LED Travel LJ Flew

IT FLEW!!

Crystal was bad.

I went and did some scoping on the SE side of the island today. Wind was just about straight West with a hint of South. First launch was at West River Causway in 25mph winds on a 10 foot mound of dirt. It flew, well hovered in the wind on the first toss.

Next was some exploring around Point Prim. I found a decent slope near 60 feet vertical with a perfect landing zone. It happens to be owned by a guy at my parents church. It's the highest cliff I remember on the Island. Wind was along the slope.

Then over to the Belfast golf course that was closed for the season for about a 30 min. flight. I was having fun but freezing my fingers off. No place to get out of the now 40 mph winds.

Did some more exploring all the way around to Cape Bear through Wood Islands. Lots of cliffs in the 20 - 50 foot range almost vertical. In south wind there are many places to choose, lots with drive up access and perfect long grass landing zones. Many have no recovery possible on the front unless you can swim.

I spent a while at the hobby store this morning and no one there could even think of any local customers that have tried slope soaring. I'm sure somebody must have, but I still feel like I'm breaking new ground. They all thought the LED system was very cool.

Sorry no pics. I did find a great place to shoot a night video if the wind will cooperate and blow south for an evening. It's at the Marconi Station and Light House on Cape Bear. This station was the first to pick up the distress calls from the Titanic. Its a small Musieum now. It would make for a very cool video with the light house in the background.

Vacation going well. The Island really hasn't changed much in the last 4 years. N. Colorado has changed alot more in the same time frame.

Andrew

By thecanuck at Mon, 2006-11-20 20:44 | login to post comments