Old Sarum - Emily Arrives

So here is No2, going No1! It is quite a thing to be piloted by a person you once held in your hand! Emily was the larger of the twins, but at just over 4lbs when born at Taunton hospital 15 years ago, the first weeks of the twins life was spent in an incubator, under a sun lamp being fed condensed milk by tube and syringe. Her sister Bethany is also learning the skill of flying for the Duke of Edinburgh awards they are pursuing.

Sharing my sport with my kids is such a pleasure and privilege. The stakes are high; sharing anything you invest yourself in can be difficult. It matters how people handle things you take to be precious and important, the respect they show for what you care for matters. I should know I crossed that thresh hold again this weekend, by mistake and with an inquisitive fumble I broke something that was precious and important to a someone. The item was repaired quickly, however the lyngering affected on a friendship may take a little longer to completely bond though I am sure it will in time.

So sharing my love of flying with my kids puts me potentially on the receiving end and I feel a little vulnerable. As to Emily’s first lesson, straight and level a piece of Cake ;-) Well done Em.  

Emily's First Piloting Flight to Old Sarum

Officially Excited!

I am officially exited as I load my Pod with my favorite tunes! Tonight I spent the evening on the beach with the Charlotte, Emily and Beth BBQ and Paddling the Canoe around the buoys. Spending a few special moments with my family, I do love them so. Family life is rarely lived in context. The day to day petty arguments and personality defects (mine not theirs) get in the way of one's thoughts, when your excited about an "Expedition" those arguments pale and I can concentrate on how I think and feel about them all, I miss them before I have shut the front door.


This year we are planning one of the most ambitious Flights we have ever attempted. Lands End to Shetland Isles, Western Isles of Scotland, across to Northern Island, back to Isle of Man and North Wales to the final party near The Wash. That is a lot of fatigue, a lot of water and a lot of mountain flying. Generally the gotchas are found between the Seat and the controls, but in these environments its possible to fly for an hour and not see a road, flying 6 or 8 hours a day takes it toll. The weather changes in the mountains and in the Islands so quickly there are some Gotchas one cannot anticipate.

As I sit here I resolve to circuit every field and think, think and think again, familiarity is no friend to me. I need to fly every mountain every Vally carefully and with respect for the places I fly. I resolve to fly the water as high as I might, and equip myself with the self control not to panic or hyperventilate if I hit the cold water, or have to control an unexpected decent.

Tonight, dropping over the side of then canoe into the channel, I am wearing a wet suit and in still warm water, I hyperventilate momentarily, a reminder self control, self discipline and procedure will keep me alive.

Time away is thinking time, I am excited at all the possibility's all the things I will experience all the things that keep my heart pounding keep me alive to all of the things that are so valuable and important too me. They remind me that life is such a rich and deep experience, that we should use the fear to propel us though this time we have together, take every moment, grasp every opportunity. And love.