Some days, it just isn't obvious where is the best place to go. Winds in Carmarthenshire seemed to be south easterly, and Stuart Kelly and I opted for familiarity by heading off for the common ground of Llanllwni mountain again. There was a breeze with thermic cycles coming through. Isn't it amazing how you can go the the middle of nowhere to
avoid an audience (definitely a good thing when you're relatively new to paramotoring and apt to be looking quite silly at times, - and scaring yourself silly at other times) - and an audience turns up! A couple of farmers in a land rovers and a truck stopped on the little road to watch 2 hopefuls trying to get airborne under large dishcloths with lawn mower engines on their backs! This is usually guaranteed to put you off, but I managed a first time forward launch and flew for 20 to 25 mins enjoying the scenery, with Fan Brycheiniog in the distance. The air really was quite lumpy at times, with sudden climbs in thermals, only to be dumped out the other side - not a day for letting go of the brakes!
Tom - have read your post for today - we weren't that far away from you! We must get together for a fly soon - some of the fields around here in Llanddarog have potential - if the elements play ball - (and the farmers are my patients!) Stu and I went to have a look at a nice large flat field in Abergwli, near Carmarthen, today and spoke to some farmers about possiblities. (A dream of mine is to fly following the river Towy, all the way to up Llandovery.
I plan to visit the British Paramotor Nationals -
http://www.ppgcomps.co.uk next week ...............to marshall and spectate - NOT to compete you'll understand
! John Nash will be there in the BHPA tent, and I think Gareth Pawan hopes to put in an appearance. Our own Jon Moore has been a regular - but may have to miss this year's extavaganza. It's a great spectacle and show piece for free flying if anyone fells like visiting.
