Today started with the phone ringing a little before 8am. Maybe it was 7? I don’t know, but it was early considering we had only been asleep for a couple hours.
It was Bettes. “We got in. We have to leave in 15 minutes and you must wear flip flops.”
I hung up the phone.
“Dave, we have 15 minutes to get ready and put on flip flops.”
“What are we doing?”
“I don’t know.”
Months before, Dave and I had decided we were going to go parasailing while on this trip. Well once we all had gotten in on Wednesday night, they boys talked about hang gliding instead.
Bettes looked into us going on Saturday, but there were no open spots.
Apparently, he called at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning and enough spots opened up for Bettes, TG, Jonny, Dave and I to go.
Meanwhile, back in our room, there was a flurry of activity. One of us tends to be cranky in the morning, especially when he hasn’t had enough sleep. (I am not naming any names or anything)
Since I was still unsure of what it was we were doing, I didn’t know if I was going to be sitting on a beach watching everyone else play or if I was going to get involved. I tend to be a watcher when it comes to activities that can possibly lead to broken arms, hands or wrists. I am overly cautious when it comes to injuring my livelihood.
So I was packing waters, magazines, books, sunscreen, towels…. Then I realized I had 5 hung over & sleep deprived kids on my hands, so I threw in some Special K bars and snacks.
Meanwhile, Matty laid in bed saying, “What is going on?”
We all met in the hallway and raced to this hang gliding training place.
Once I saw what it was, I was in. I was a little scared, but since you don’t get that far off the ground, it was unlikely I would break anything.
We had to sit thru a training class and then sign our lives away.
Then we headed out on a trek across the dunes with our gear.
Flip flops?
Why do they say you have to wear flip flops? You can’t walk the dunes in them as they come off in the soft sand. You need to wear sneakers!
So we had to walk barefoot, which is not something I do. Dave either.
It was rather bizarro.
It was a bitch of a walk! Hot beyond belief! A bit dehydrated from the night before. The gear wasn’t heavy – but the bag of crap I brought was!
So we ran thru the drills of how to operate the gear…
And then, one at a time, ran off the side of the dune until we took flight.
Jonny was the first major crash
Needless to say, there were LOTS of laughs! We all crashed. It was much harder that it appears!
There was not one millimeter of our bodies that were not caked with sand. We looked like sugar coated donuts! It was actually quite nasty!
Our lesson went long and now it was past noon. Holy crap does that sand get HOT!
On the final climb back up the dune, it felt as though our feet were blistering. It was like walking on fire. Quite possibly one of the most painful experiences ever!
TG and I finished first, so we headed back to fill out the final paperwork, get our certificates and get the car ready. Bettes & TG were late checking out of the hotel, so we had to git!
That walk back to the training center was complete hell! It was so incredibly hot and our feet were on fire!!
By the time we had everything settled, the boys jumped in the Tahoe and we raced back to the hotel. Bettes & TG grabbed their stuff and showered in Jonny’s room.
After we all were freshened up, we met up with Amanda and Matty and headed to lunch.
Amanda/Jonny/Matty/Dave
TG/Bettes
It was a seafood place. (I’m allergic)
After Bettes & TG headed to the airport, I believe there were some naps taken.
That evening, we ordered pizzas and had a little party in the courtyard. Perfect end to a wonderful vacation!
