Today I have to take to the air! Fredi has looked around on the Internet and on Google Earth for me, what the nearer surroundings have to offer flight-technically. The closest entry seems to be wrong: Winch tow directly in Durbanville. Can't be. The second tip speaks of an 80 meter hill called "Rondebassie": Both dynamically and thermally well flyable (at 80 meters altitude???). Alright, let's see. Corinne, Fredi and I leave around 11 and start looking for the given coordinates.

We cruise through the beautiful landscape again, but where the hill should be, there is only flat pasture land. We ask for directions at the next farm. Meanwhile, the heat in the car rises steadily. We are totally wrong. Rondebassie is at the other end, near Durbanville. So back again over dusty roads.

Finally, after several zigzag off-road turns, we find a sign for Rondebassie. Dead end on a farm. Fredi asks for the launch site. It has been closed. Great. Thanks www.paragliding365.com! One hour in the brooding midday sun for nothing. On the way back to civilization I see on the right hand a beautiful hill ridge with many bright spots. Looks like a leopard skin. I want to go up there! On foot if necessary. We start another attempt on the adjacent wine farm. A nice lady tells us to go to the office: Yes, there is flying here, but the access is from the other side of the hill. We should ask at the other wine farm. And on we go. Hope dies last.

We arrive at the picturesque wine farm 'Meerendal', now on the right side of the hill. I ask for directions and a bottle of water. I receive both. Still with three people we start without a 4x4 on the dirt road towards the hill. It goes steeper and steeper up. I am afraid that Fredi's car will get stuck on a knoll or a pothole and decide to continue the second half on foot. Corinne is worried as always and I have to promise not to make any "Seich". I promise, say goodbye and go under the midday sun and in the sweltering heat.

The climb the second 100 meters is mastered in half an hour. At the top I realize that I have drunk too little and am glad to have the water bottle. I gasp and need ne quarter of an hour to recover. The hill offers a beautiful panoramic view. I'm already thinking about the flight path, if I can make altitude. But first I have to be able to take off! The wind is very strong and the hill is 99% overgrown with belly-high brush. But I still find the cleared launch site: 10 by 10 meter meadow in the midst of thorn bushes, fenced with thorn rats.

I test the wind with the anemometer: 10-20km/h. The gusts sometimes up to 25km/h. Well, that will be a rough undertaking with the wind to start. I spread out my freshly tested (and found okay) glider and check all lines. Despite the sweltering heat, I slip into my black flight overall and put on my helmet. Gloves not forgotten. Fasten the harness and gather all my courage for the start. But the vario is already firing and spurs me on.

I pull the chute backwards, gently up until the wind takes hold, but let it go right away. Heart palpitations. The wind whistles through my helmet. I give myself a jerk and pull the glider up into the wind. The glider pulls so hard that I have to give in and run with the glider towards the barbed wire. At the last moment I pull the brake. The glider comes up and I stop in front of the rusty hag. Crap. 1:0 for the wind. I take off my flying gear and start to free my glider from its awkward position. It takes half an hour. But I take it easy. It's not the first and probably not the last launch abort.

At 14 o'clock I dare the second start. This time with more determination and after longer observation of the wind and thermal cycles. And indeed: I catch a calm phase, can put the glider into the wind, turn out and fight my way forward through the dense undergrowth down the slope. 1:1 for me vs. wind. Fortunately I don't get stuck anywhere. And finally I am South Africa airborn!!!

I actually catch the thermal tube which I have already spied from the launch site by some circling birds. Biip-Biip-Biip. YAY!!! Barely 5 minutes in the air, I'm already circling at 500 meters above the launch site. 5 minutes later again on 100 meters over takeoff place. Then again high on 500. Like a yoyo. The wind keeps tearing up the thermals and the flight is more like a wild ride. But the view over the landscape to the more is wonderful. The Visier Hök seems close enough now and when I am once again at 500 meters, I set off in its direction after 30 minutes. I hardly lose altitude over the dry fields and am in good spirits. A wonderful feeling. But I have to fight against the wind and hardly make any progress. Now I sink nevertheless slowly.

I aim at a rather large, free, spot for landing. A hill as it turns out during the approach. But no problem I aim at the top, but hardly come forward, because the wind blows very strongly against me. I watch the shadow of my glider on the ground. Still 10 meters below me. The shadow is barely moving forward and I have not yet reached the top and thus the safe windward side of the hill. Bummer. Another 5 meters below me and the shadow is now clearly moving backwards. Shit! Now everything goes very fast. I reach the bottom which is moving quickly backwards. I try to run backwards, but am immediately pulled backwards and to the ground by the paraglider, which is now fully caught by the ground wind, and dragged across the landscape. After about 10 meters I come to rest.

I pull myself up cursing and see the 10 meter long furrow which my landing has drawn into the hill. The hill was much steeper than suspected from above. Shit. Landed exactly in the lee. Bad idea. In the high grass were some stones and I began to count my abrasions and bruises. Were nevertheless some. Especially the hips on the right absorbed the first contact with the ground. Ouch. That gives bruises. 2:1 for the wind.

Fortunately, after a phone call Fredi and Corinne are already after a quarter of an hour on the spot. I make a somewhat damaged impression and am well cared for at home. I promise to take a break from flying until next week.

Corinne and I end the day reading by the pool. Don't move - ouch!