Flying over Rio, jungles and the ocean...

Steve, Jaque and I drove down from Valadares to Rio in torrential rain. The next day, Steve and I packed our gliders and headed to São Conrado for the flight of a lifetime. We showed the office our certification, paid our fees for take off and got a taxi to the mountain top.

The take off at Sao Conrado, Rio is absolutely incredible. There's no room for error as you've only got four steps before take off and the cliff! There's a guy up there who will set up the wing and all you have to do is connect up and wait for the go ahead to take off. About 20 feet above us was the launch ramp for the hang glider pilots. You need to shout up to them to make sure they're not taking off as you launch otherwise you'll have a tangled mess falling down the cliff!

Standing on the edge of the take off looking out over Rio

It's an incredible experience. You're literally in the jungle up there. Feeding monkeys and looking out over the rain forest, Rio and the ocean and I was about to fly over all three:

I managed to capture this little adventure on film:

This movie gives you an idea of the take off in São Conrado, Rio. Absolutely incredible view.

Taking off from São Conrado Rio. Note the hang glider who takes off directly over my head. You need to make sure there's someone communicating with them or there's going to be a tangle! There's no margin for error on this take off. It's literally 4 steps and up (or down!)

Finally, this is a cut down movie from my head cam of the flight

If you fly, you've got to visit this place. It's fantastic.

What a fantastic view. Nice one Steve. Cheers mate.

Mountain bus journeys and tandem flights.

The bus ride to the mountain top is quite amusing. It started with everyone trying to fix the engine (accessed from within the bus). 20m later the engine roared into life and we started our 1hr journey from Feira da Paz to the mountain top. Throughout the journey we're picking up more and more pilots (plus their wings) and the bus is getting slower and slower... All the wings are crammed at the back and everyone's laughing and joking all the way to the top. Within 30m people are hanging on the outside of the bus.

As the road gets steeper (and the bus gets heavier) we slow down until finally we're moving at a snail's pace. Every time the driver misses a gear (and threatens to roll back) everyone started whistling and laughing - very funny.

At the top everyone helps unload the bus and then selects a spot to lay out their wing.

This is the take off point for the hang gliding pilots. It's quite a committed run and you don't really get an idea of the drop from the pictures.

Above video is my first take off from the North side of the mountain.

Today Steve and I did a tandem around the mountain and down to the landing site. We cut it quite fine over the river but the man knew what he was doing. Great flying mate.

Hangies out ready to launch...

Shelter and maps etc for competitions...

Coming into land... Going to be a close call over the river...

Going to make it :-)

Smiles all round. Another great day.
Time for beer...

Location:R. Paraísa,Governador Valadares,Brazil

Buzzing bees

Just dumping a few photos this evening. Above picture is an interesting mix of a statue of Mary and satellite and phone masts. It's a good reference point when you're flying as it's at the very top of the mountain.

Getting ready for take off with Steve putting on his sun tan lotion.

Feeling the heat... After quite a bumpy flight I landed in a wooded area. When I took my helmet off I could hear buzzing. I turned around and saw a 2ft bee / hornet /nest thing hanging off one of the trees. Arrrrrrhhhh. Got packed up in record time and got out.




Steve and I met up later and walked to the road where we managed to hitch a ride home.

Had a nice evening. Went to Thomas' house to celebrate his wedding anniversary. It's been a good day.

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Location:valadares

Mt Ibituruna (tick)

After two days the rain finally subsided and we made our way through the busy backstreets of Valadares and up the winding mountain roads to the summit of Mt Ibituruna. What a surreal view, peering through the cloud topped misty mountaintop onto the Brazilian countryside coupled with the hustle and bustle of the city below.

The take off and flight were smooth and I enjoyed a flight around the mountainside before making my way over to the city and landing in a small field near the river. At one point I was worried I had enough height to get over the river and make my approach but it was fine. I'm flying an Ozone Roadster which has been designed for paramotoring (not free flying) so I was a bit unsure about how it would handle in freeflight. Felt weird so close to the city when I'm used to rural flying.

Hopefully tomorrow the sun will be out and I'll be able to do some thermalling.

Am eating so much meat here; think I've put on at least 5kg in just three days. They have these wonderful restaurants here that just serve you continuously. Will need to check the weight limit on my reserve parachute :-)

I've got some movies to post but am struggling getting them onto my iPad. Will suss it later.


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Location:Valadares

Rainy season means...

Rained out today so spent the day getting organised. Found out that my 2m Alinco radio has an 'anti mosquito' setting which results in a crazy and continuous high pitch screech. Think I'd rather get bitten..


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Location:Valadares

A day of travelling.

Sat next to a sweet old Brazilian woman who wanted to talk to me the entire 12hr flight to Rio. I thought she'd get the message as I donned my headphones and started watching the in-flight entertainment (karate kid - don't bother if you haven't seen it) but she didn't take the hint and kept pulling my shirt and repeatedly asking me if I knew her daughter and betrothed two rows back and could she put DVDs in my iPad?

All in all my flight to Rio has been without a hitch. Steven and Thomas met me at the airport (thanks guys) and then we drove 10hrs North back to Valadares checking out potential launch sites on the way. Spent a lot of the time kipping in the car and stopped twice for some great Brazilian carne. They just kept coming round with skewers of beef, chicken and cow's heart. Delicious. In fact, I'm about to explode.

So, goal for tomorrow is the ascent and climb to cloud base from Mount Ibituruna which I photographed earlier (below).

























One thing I really need to watch out for is the spaghetti of power-lines which seem to run all over the fields here. Steve broke his back on these 6 years ago.

Gps, radio and body batteries re-charging courtesy of the best Brazilian beef. Tomorrow let's fly.

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Location:R. Paraísa,Governador Valadares,Brazil

Let the fun begin...

Normally I travel extremely light; today's an exception. Funny thing is that this bag's only got a few t-shirts in it - the rest's my harness, flying suit, wing, reserve parachute, flying helmet, radios etc. Managed to avoid paying excess too.

So plan is Glasgow-Heathrow-Rio-Valadares. I'll be posting pics and stories of my travels as I go.

Sat next to two nutters on the flight from Glasgow - both dressed in identical full-body camouflage after a week's hunting. Their baggage was full of their kill. Nice.

Can't wait to get flying again. Really looking forward to seeing Steve and Jaque too.


Next stop Rio...



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Location:London Heathrow