February 14th

Time to fly Malaña! Another P4 advanced site with the new street launching method. Kiron and I went with Willie the local pilot who flies there all the time. I guy walked by with a couple cows and one of them stepped on Willie's leading edge! The wing was fine and he launched. The cycles were weak and chulos were few and far between.

Here's me checking my lines (pictured). You can't even see your wing. Waiting for a cycle to blow through. Richi and 3 other guys who just showed held up my leading edge. I launched in a weak cycle and flew with some chulos (pictured). I didn't find the thermal I needed to join Willie on his cross-city adventure so I went on glide for the LZ. You kind of have to make that decision early or risk landing out in booga booga land.

Kiron and Willie managed to get high enough for the city crossing and went with Willie south to Ruitoque then even further south to the mesa. They landed very close to the ranch! What an epic XC flight. See the map to get an idea.

We are off to the mesa today for some more canyon flying.

Kiron and I flew back over the mesa for a while then decided to head out over the canyon to the other side. It was challenging to find lift on this cloudless day. We still managed a good 75 minute flight before we landed out in the river. We keep an eye on the time as the winds pick up around noon. After Kiron and I landed at the 90°F river bank, Richi drove us over to the pool in the canyon.

Very nice place. I like the design and the use of gravity pumps.

Richi's mother was again ready for us with a feast back at the ranch. Colombian cuisine is awesome. I have tried many foods and they more fresh and natural compared to more artificial ingredients in the U.S. There are no trans-fats, MSG, or artificial sweeteners in anything.

February 16th

Sunny and clear again on the mesa. Usually we are socked in until the ceiling rises and the sun burns off the cloud cover. Very similar to yesterday. That's a cool thing about Colombia, we never look at the weather or look up wind talker information. It is flyable every day. Kiron and I flew for about 75 minutes then landed at the river.

Richi again picked us up with perfect timing so we didn't roast in the heat. This time Annie and Kari joined us for a trip to the pool. We had cervesas served to us at the pool and ate some lunch in the shade. You can even rent a hammock here. They have many coy fish here too. I hear they are much cheaper here than in the U.S. You can fish for them and have them cooked for you.

We then traveled north to Bucaramanga to the big mall with the dome that opens on the roof. While Kiron was visiting the travel agency, I sat under the dome in the lounge and had a cocktail called a "Free Cuba". They have cool tunnels connecting the malls. The fashions in the windows were very cool. I wish I could bring my girlfriend shopping here. Its a high society party town here in Bucaramanga.

We then went to the Club Campestre for some dinner and internet. I forgot my computer. Then back to the ranch for the evening. Saida, the maid, made us dinner. It was very good and very traditional. I am eating good here.

February 17th

Today I flew Purnia for the first time. So I am posting a lot of photos. It is Richi and Annie's very own launch near the ranch. It is rated P-4 advanced. The idea is similar to Barichara in that you must thermal up and over the back to land somewhere or fly over the mesa to the eastside for a possible XC across the canyon.

I was directly over the ranch. Why didn't I take my camera? We flew for about an hour drifting downwind with the clouds until we were over the Acuarela lake LZ near the ranch.

We landed on a nice beach with grass to fold our wings on. Another new site! Richi came and retrieved us and we went to an outdoor restaurant for some home cooking.

After a great meal and cervesas we hiked down to the waterfall near the ranch. It was a perfect hot afternoon to sit in the waterfall. We hiked back up the rock wall and over the big ass ant hill back to the ranch. A great hike. Time to hit the hammock and watch the sunset.

Here I am breathing cloud vapor.

Here I am giving a wave to Richi.