Moravian Falls, North Carolina,
April 29th:
During the day, we arrived at Southern
Skies Paragliding School, to meet with
Tammy and Chris Bowles, the owners, who also teach paramotor.Since it was rainy, their students
were in the classroom, doing theory.
They are very professionals and they
have a nice set up and a new building for a shop.
Their paragliding launch site is over
1000 feet above the surrounding countryside and has a breathtaking
view.
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With Tammy & Chris Bowles, at their
launch site. |
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Tammy Bowles under the hellium balllon. |
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In the afternoon, we went to a fair
in another town in the area, to jump with a big balloon filled
with helium.
Attached with a harness, you jump 50
to 100 feet in the air.
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Both Tammy & Chris and their students, our
daughters, Elisabeth and I, tried this.
Because the owner was a beginner in this
activity, Chris and I helped her for her clients's "rides".
What a great time we had with this new toy!
We ended this great day with a tasty dinner
in a Mexican restaurant in good company with the Bowles.
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Chris Bowles, on the right and me on
the left, helping the owner to make Eleonaure jumping. |
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Baltimore area, Maryland, April
30th:
Late in the afternoon, we went to visit
the Dukes of Wind Soar (the paramotor pilots club there) at
their flight field. Danny
Kriseler, the local paramotor instructor,
Ed, Frank and Stanley were there.
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At landing after a ride in Monster,
with Danny Kriseler (240 lbs), as my passenger. |
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At 1100 feet ASL, I did a tandem flight
with the Monster and the Elle 42 wing, with Danny (who weights
240 lbs.), as my passenger. I am 175 lbs.
One of the rare times I fly without
a helmet, to try the Lynks. An excellent set of intercoms, great for teaching.
As expected, our climbout was very
acceptable and takeoff was easy. It was a nice breeze for reverse
launch. Of course, Dan noticed the high power of the Monster.
Once again, the Fresh Breeze Monster
did it and everyone was amazed at how much power it has.
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During the evening, we all watched
some paramotor video shots in my ParaMotorHome, with good pizza
and a good cold beer. |
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At the Dukes of Wind Soar's
field. |
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Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, May 1st:
Missing time, we are making a brief
overnight stop to visit with Bastien, my brother: Chantal his
wife: and, Samuel their young son. They know that spaghetti is one of
my favorite meals, guess what we had for dinner tonight… A very nice visit filled with lively chat and good jokes, during
which, we learned that they are expecting their second child.
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Gathering at Ted Dentay's : Sheila and
Hans Hopp, me, Ted, Karl Sunter Bundy, Grant Fitz and Phil Clark. |
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May 2nd:
This afternoon, we were warmly welcomed
at Ted Dentay's (a local paramotor pilot) farm, to meet some
paramotorists in Toronto area.
Ted has a mile long property with a
river, an Indian campground, horses, some degus, dogs and a
cat. A paradise for our daughters.
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Sunter, Grant Fitz and Phil Clark joined
us for an excursion to Baldwin airport, a small ultralight and
skydiving airport, where Sunter and I flew our Monsters before
sunset.
 Click
here to see more pictures on Grant Fitz's Web site
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Another ride in Monster with Hans Hopp
(220 lbs), as my passenger. Phil Clark helps us. |
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With us was Hans Hopp, a 68 year old
220 pound man, who wanted to know more about paramotors. Despite his age, Hans could run and
carry the paramotor's weight.
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Sunter, just before taking off with
his Monster. |
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I took him for a tandem instructional
ride to see if he would like the experience. Not only did he
enjoy it, but also he wants to come to Quebec for training to
fly on his own.
We had a little "happy hour"
before saying good buy to our friends. We know we will see them
again, at our fly-in, in July. A delicious chilly cooked by Ted, was waiting
for us for dinner.
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May 3rd:
An early wake up on another beautiful day. Faith, Ted's wife, who is an excellent horse ride teacher from England, invited
our daughters for a quick lesson. She supervised them as the girls enjoyed
learning more about brushing and riding horses.
Before noon, we were back on the road
again, on our way to Montreal.
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Emie and Eleonaure, enjoying their horse
riding course with Faith Dentay. |
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Carignan, Quebec, Canada, May 3rd:
At the end of the day, we arrived at
Rejeanne and Benoit's, our dear friends. As usual, their warm
hospitality and one of those great and delicious dinners, for
which they are well known, was waiting for us. There is no need
to elaborate on the happiness of our reunion.
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St-Jean-Chrysostome, Quebec, Canada, May 4th:
After a good breakfast with Rejeanne and Benoit, we took
the road to St-Jean-Chrysostome, where the weather is nice and action is
waiting for me.
In the afternoon, our daughters screamed with joy when
we arrived in the town from which we departed last September.
This is now the end of our Para Tour 1999 - 2000. From the desert
to the very green, the United States is a wonderful country, with so
many different breathtaking scenes, where we met great people. We
enjoyed every day of our trip and all four of us are full of nice
memories.
We are back in Canada and must now prepare for
another summer season here. In fall, we will return to visit our
special friends in New Mexico and all the others. Meanwhile, many
of them will come to visit with us, this summer, at our next
Annual Paratour Meet
(July 7, 8, 9 2000).
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