Airs Above The Ground

Normally "Airs Above the Ground" would be a horse reference, whether on purpose (like the Lipizzaner Stallions) or not on purpose (usually involving broken bones ;-). Last night it meant getting the opportunity to fly in/on/with a powered parachute.



These folks frequently fly over our farm and every time they do I think I would LOVE to do that sometime. One of our favorite boat docks is over by the Cynthiana Airport and the other evening we were coming in the same time a parachute was landing. I jumped out of the boat and ran over.



As luck would have it, they were very friendly and willing to talk powered parachuting much the same way sheep/bee/fiber/carriage drivers... will talk their particular passion. I love that about us. They took my name and phone number and said they knew someone who had a two seater that would probably be willing to take me up.



He called and we set up a date to meet at Talon Winery, on the south side of Lexington. Several parachuters (?) were going to fly and he'd let me tag along. This pair went up first, made a small loop, came back by and buzzed us (probably much higher than I thought) and scared the bejesus out of me. Parachuting humor? Seriously?!? It was a small price to pay ;-).



Here we are getting ready. Or I should say Mike Murphy is getting us ready. I think I am just fixing my hair even though it looks like I'm doing an "Oh my goodness, what the heck am I thinking..."



Strapped in, getting some last minute instructions and up we go!





At the last minute I decided not to take a camera. Yep, I didn't take a camera. That's how scared I was. And honestly, for the first half of the flight I didn't miss it one bit (Sorry Mike - hope the back of that vest is okay and I didn't rip any finger holes in it :-o). The longer we were up the better I felt though and I can't even begin to tell you how beautiful it was up there.

The day had been cloudy and dreary, but right as everyone was getting ready, the sun began to peak out. And after a dry, brown summer, the fall rains have greened everything up, the trees are starting to turn and we flew low enough to see some deer and then high enough to get the most amazing view of the sun starting to set.

There were three parachutes in the air and a bi-plane. They wave to each other like we do in our cars. And take pictures. The parachutes are steered with foot controls, so while I was hanging on for dear life, Mike had his hands free to take pictures of the bi-plane, the Calipari Corn Maze, amazing scenery...

And the world at 750 feet is amazing. Holy! Cow!



Tim took this right after we all landed. It's beautiful and surreal and it captures exactly how it felt. And yes, I would do it again.