Bakewell

I had an awesome fly at Bakewell yesterday. It was quite a day with the
race in the morning followed by a long soaring flight and then the climb
back up the hill to get my car.

My First Race

Getting up at dawn to go run 10k as fast as I can. I never saw that one coming last year. Life is full of surprises.

The distance was actually 10.5Km which equates to 47 min for 10Km.

Events!

I'm doing a 10km race in Perth on Monday just for fun, I regularly do
10km training runs so it will be interesting to see what effect if any
it has on my pace...

We have also booked another event in Switzerland, this one is a 1600M
height gain in 10km running event, or probably a walking event for me I
suspect!

http://www.alpinathlon.ch/cms/profil-cycling-4.phtml

Cott!

I got a couple of flights at Cott last week. Neither day was particularly special, but a sign of better days to come. On Thursday a bunch of guys turned up and there was some excellent flying at times. The photos are from Tuesday when I was testing the HD recording feature of the Pentax Optio W80, these are screen shots.



Does anyone else think that Gerolf looks a bit too serious in this photo, I mean using a drogue chute to land a single surface glider on a beach? (Come on Moyes the performance is not that good!)

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Dooogies

I had a short and exciting little fly this afternoon. It was sw and a bit thermic and switchy. Short but sweet after a safe landing.

Sent from Rolfs mobile phone.

Marathon Training

Here is my last month of running training. I am fighting a couple of irritating muscles (Hip Flexor is the latest) that are not stopping me from running, but are making me do less distance than I would like. I am trying very hard to be patient (not easy) and keep my fitness continually improving and the injury to a minimum. I did my first Rogaine on the weekend, boy was that fun. Looking forward to the next one now!

My resting heart rate is now well below 60bpm and I can run at a reasonable pace and my heart rate stays below 160bpm, both unthinkable just 3 months ago!

Year So Far

Some runs that i did without a GPS are missing, but you get the general Idea!

Run Baby Run!

Ok , on the weekend I was at a training camp in the hills that had Steve
/Moneghetti/ as the guest speaker, he is an Olympic grade marathon
runner and quite an inspirational speaker. I learnt a fair bit and
managed to run 43km over the weekend, despite injuring myself on the
first day.

So far this month I have run over 160Km at an average pace of just over
10kph. I have got my resting heart rate down to 54bpm. I am on track for
completing my first ever marathon in a reasonable time.

Running is keeping me sane whilst i wait for CASA to approve my AOC so
that I can start earning money again.

Marathon Crazyness

Well it seems to be the year for people to do crazy things and rather than get left behind I have decided to run my first ever marathon in July in Switzerland.
I've been contemplating it for a while but have avoided actually commiting to anything, but I guess the time has come to make it public knowledge and stop me changing my mind.



http://www.swissalpine.ch/cms/description-k42.phtml

Words and such

Virga dammit! After months of lamenting the lack of a spell checker on my phone I discover an auto correct feature that sneakingly changes words on me when I least expect it. I will have to edit these posts later! (Now)
Anyway even though I was earlier than yesterday, by the time I was ready to take off it was south west. As I walked to take off the wind swung due west and picked up a few knots, it also started to rain gently. Thinking I was in luck I launched but within a minute the rain stopped together with the wind and I found myself scraping over the trees to a rather quick bottom landing. I even had to carry my glider most of the way across the field, that's how unplanned it was.
Oh well a great take off and nice landing and I got my exercise walking back up the hill too.

Later Bernadette and I went for an 18km run over the hills, most of it at night with head lamps, I survived and really enjoyed most of it!

Heading back to Perth this afternoon, forecast suggests 20knot tail winds for a change.
Sent from Rolfs mobile phone.

City view Again

I tried for a flight from city view again on Saturday afternoon. I was earlier this time but the wind was lighter and there was solid overcast high level cloud with Virgo falling on the horizon.

Sent from Rolfs mobile phone.

Safe back on the ground!

When I started to setup it was WSW. By the time I was ready to fly it was SSW. I decided to have a go anyway. Just as I went to take off a thermal came through and I came within a second of visiting my mate Mick at work.
Somehow with an adrenaline fueled spurt of strength I managed to abort the takeoff and get the wing back under control. A few seconds later I took off safely and the had several exiting minutes working the unpredictable lift. I managed to get above launch for a while but decided that discretion being the better part of valour It would be smarter to land safely in the padlock at the base of the hill.
I got good exercise climbing back up the hill to get the car.

Sent from Rolfs mobile phone.

Double Gees

Particularly viscous near take off where I setup. I quickly learn not to kneel down!

Sent from Rolfs mobile phone.

City view

Today I took the Perfex up to city view just after 2pm.
It was very thermic with a light westerly blowing. I figured I was probably in for a short flight, but it was going to get me outdoors and give me some exercise.

Sent from Rolfs mobile phone.

Off to Geraldton...

I always dreamed of being able to fit my hang glider into my aeroplane. Imagine the possibilities!
Well this week my dream came true when I managed to jam the Perfex into my Cessna 172 and fly it up to Geraldton.

Sent from Rolfs mobile phone.

Bakewell

Karl and I had another great day at Bakewell. It was strong at times and quite thermic. We had dinner at the york pub afterwards.

Sent from Rolfs mobile phone.

Bakewell

I have not flown a hang glider since xmas day! I was starting to pine. Today i had a really fun flight at mt bakewell around midday. It was quite thermic and challenging at times but i loved every second.

In other news....

I've been a busy boy. I've got more physical exercise in the last month that I got in the last year.

The highlights include...

I've got a new toy. Amazing bike. Stupid name. Let's pretend it's just called an F650 shall we.


When a Canadian lets you use her gun you know it is getting serious!



Actually finding myself wanting to do stuff like this, another sign it must be serious!

Despite my initial fears, it turns out to be relatively easy and fun!

Ok, I've done plenty of this in the last year!

Angel Flight

I have been wanting to get involved with Angel Flight for a long time. They offer a fantastic service that provides free transport for people in need. I finally had my first flight a couple of weeks ago. It was a profound experience and very rewarding, I am very much looking forward to my next chance to help someone in this way.

Tel: 1300 726 567 (toll free) or (07) 3620 8300 | mail@angelflight.org.au

8285

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Mission 4856: Perth/Geraldton

Initial Trip Request

A gentleman from Geraldton has been in Perth undergoing treatment for Prostate Cancer. he has just received a terminal diagnosis and wishes to return home to Geraldton to be with his family. Due to the distance and financial hardship, Angel Flight will assist.

Angel Flight Leg 1

Pilot: Rolf Schatzmann



Earth Angel: Hugh Butler

Pilot: Rolf Schatzmann
(1st Angel flight)

Earth Angel: Hugh Butler
(4th Angel flight)

Comments from Rolf Schatzmann:
"The flight to Geraldton was pretty uneventful. It was a pleasure to meet the Earth Angel, Hugh, who did manage to get some photos before we left Jandakot. I had plenty of time to chat to Alan during the flight and I was honoured to have the chance to meet him and to be of assistance. It was an extremely positive experience and I look forward to my next mission."

For more mission stories please click here.