Those Kowalsky's

We all do crazy things once in a while. It happens, caught up in the moment, influenced by those around us, we can do things that later have us shaking our heads, wondering how that happened. I’m not talking “riot and plunder downtown Vancouver” kind of lunacy. I’m talking about the impulse purchase or maybe the peanut buster parfait when you were planning to watch what you ate that day.

A few of my craziest moments include the word “Kowalsky”. I have some wonderful, adventure seeking, outdoor loving, adrenaline rush cousins that inspire me, challenge me and either make me want to do things I’ve never done before or give me the encouragement and support to do the thing I’ve always wanted to do but never quite had the guts to make happen. The first time I climbed a mountain (a scramble, not a “ropes and carabiner” climb) was with Glenn and Laura K. When I jumped out of an airplane, it was with the blessing and encouragement of Mark K. This weekend was another of those moments. 

The first impulsive part of the weekend was deciding to join Mark & Glenn in Golden. Mark flew out from Ontario to compete in the National Hang Gliding Championships. Glenn was driving his camper to Golden and planning to get in some Para Gliding while there. Since Bear had plans to be gone at a bike rally, I thought I’d hop in the car and head west. Friday evening found me sitting by the campfire with Mark, catching up and enjoying his company, surrounded by the glorious mountains, smelling the pine trees and hearing a loon call in the distance … I kid you not, it was that idyllic. Oh and swatting mosquitoes – that made it more real.  

Saturday I watched Mark fly. I watched Glenn fly. I watched dozens of others fly. I drove the van down from the top of the mountain (and met another car at the narrowest point of the road and Thought. I. Was. Going. To. Die). At the landing zone, I heard a guy say he does tandem hang gliding flights. Hmmm. Interesting. So I chatted with said guy, got prices, talked times (Sunday morning would work) and didn’t commit to anything.  

Sunday I watched people fly. I did the drive from the top of the mountain again. I wasn’t convinced I wanted to do the hang gliding thing but I also didn’t want to go home without SOME excitement! Just then 3 tandem Para Gliders landed in the field. Para Gliding looked so peaceful, yet so exciting, maybe this is the one to do. Quick discussion with the guy – found out they had one spot available in an hour. Borrowed money from Glenn (no time to go to the bank) and arranged that Glenn would be the top of the mountain photographer and Mark would be the landing zone photographer.  

Hop in the truck, back up to the top of the mountain … and this driver was nuts. Drove close to the edge and FAST all the way. Had me gripping the handle and leaning over a guy I’d never met before. I don’t like heights. (Yes, I realize I’m about to go Para Gliding – but I don’t like heights and this all makes sense to me). 

Top of the mountain … spread out the wing, start donning the harness (kind of looks like a snail shell, makes your butt look big). Hugo begins telling me how it will all work … “see this steep slope, we’ll run down it. Start slow and then run really hard. Just run off the mountain.” Seriously? You want me to run off the mountain? We’re ready to go … Hugo says “in 3 we’ll start running.” I said, “Wait ... wait. Just wait.” Deep breath, look over at Glenn, I can do this, right? Glenn takes a picture, smiles and then … “Okay, I’m ready.” "One, two, three.” And we started running. Three steps in the wing inflates and feels like an anchor but once it’s up then we can really start running. The wing gave me confidence, I could feel its support, I can do this!  

And then we were sailing, floating, FLYING! Yes, I admit I screamed as we left terra firma but honestly it was a scream of excitement and joy. We floated over the valley, looking at the river, the highway, the trees … oh look, an eagle in the top of that tree … campgrounds, farms. So peaceful, so exciting, so fun. All too quickly we were preparing for landing. Touchdown was easy and light. No twisted ankles (like the skydiving day). What a rush!

The best of it all was sharing it with Mark and Glenn! Thanks guys! Only one question left … when can I do it again??