Thursday, March 6, 2008
THE PET PARADE
What a change of pace from yesterday's adventures! I have to say I was happily anticipating Black Rock RV Parks' Pet Parade to be held in "Charlies Park" Charlies Park is a nice large landscaped picnic and meeting area here in the park.
I bathed and groomed Bella and Breezey to make them lovely for the parade. I decided to leave poor Anniebelle back in the RV, since she sometimes "doesn't play well with others" haha.
So the two little girls got gussied up, and dressed in their pretty matching butterfly harness dresses. They were in their new aqua stroller, so happy, contented and comfortable.
Everyone Ooohed and Ahhhed over their cuteness, especially Breezey who curled up in my arms like a baby. (She was passed around to anyone who wanted to cuddle her) :)
We had a great cheering section, with George and Rachel, Paul, and Gary's wife Jeri. (Good sports, all of them!)
Paul took lots of pix of the adorable contestants. I was surprised (and smiling) at the MEN who brought cute little teeny dogs in dresses and rhinestone collars. What great sports! Everyone was grinning and jovial. One man brought his "dog" which was two large wieners (the kind you eat) on a stick. He had taped ears to the hot dogs. Too funny.
Breezey and Bella won the prize for "Most Unique" which was appropriate considering Breezey's convincing baby act!
I bathed and groomed Bella and Breezey to make them lovely for the parade. I decided to leave poor Anniebelle back in the RV, since she sometimes "doesn't play well with others" haha.
So the two little girls got gussied up, and dressed in their pretty matching butterfly harness dresses. They were in their new aqua stroller, so happy, contented and comfortable.
Everyone Ooohed and Ahhhed over their cuteness, especially Breezey who curled up in my arms like a baby. (She was passed around to anyone who wanted to cuddle her) :)
We had a great cheering section, with George and Rachel, Paul, and Gary's wife Jeri. (Good sports, all of them!)
Paul took lots of pix of the adorable contestants. I was surprised (and smiling) at the MEN who brought cute little teeny dogs in dresses and rhinestone collars. What great sports! Everyone was grinning and jovial. One man brought his "dog" which was two large wieners (the kind you eat) on a stick. He had taped ears to the hot dogs. Too funny.
Breezey and Bella won the prize for "Most Unique" which was appropriate considering Breezey's convincing baby act!
THE ROGUE WIND
As we got nearer the runway, the mountains were causing us a bit of turbulence. I had complete faith in Denny's ability to get us down safely, but I was shaken, and had to close my eyes a few times as the parachute bounced wildly.
I did wonder if a powered parachute could actually tip upside down and collapse (it can't). More than just mountain turbulence, we now had some really impressive wind gusts of 35 mph or so. Denny was a champion, calmly keeping up a comforting narrative as he fought the wind and tried to land.
We hit the runway hard, and bounced: at that time I heard Denny mutter: "Oh Oh... " and I looked to our left to see Gary's parachute crumpled against the rocks on the hillside. It was then I really panicked, looking wildly for Paul and Gary. I grabbed my belts and got them off somehow, and was trying to fling poor Denny's helmet in hopes of getting loose to run to Paul, but the wind caught Dennys chute and started pulling us backwards. Denny grabbed the plane frame and dragged his feet. I tried to help, (I was no help at all) and the plane did finally come to rest. I then ran as fast as I could to Paul and Gary's landing site. Paul was standing, and finally I saw Gary too. Gary had done an amazing job of landing the plane, then the wind grabbed the chute and dragged it across 2 runways and into the hillside. Gary's leg was jammed underneath, and Paul quickly got out of his restraints and picked it up off Gary's leg. Everyone was OK.
I think both pilots were amazing. That "rogue" wind was the worst Denny had encountered in his 900+ hours of flying.
I did wonder if a powered parachute could actually tip upside down and collapse (it can't). More than just mountain turbulence, we now had some really impressive wind gusts of 35 mph or so. Denny was a champion, calmly keeping up a comforting narrative as he fought the wind and tried to land.
We hit the runway hard, and bounced: at that time I heard Denny mutter: "Oh Oh... " and I looked to our left to see Gary's parachute crumpled against the rocks on the hillside. It was then I really panicked, looking wildly for Paul and Gary. I grabbed my belts and got them off somehow, and was trying to fling poor Denny's helmet in hopes of getting loose to run to Paul, but the wind caught Dennys chute and started pulling us backwards. Denny grabbed the plane frame and dragged his feet. I tried to help, (I was no help at all) and the plane did finally come to rest. I then ran as fast as I could to Paul and Gary's landing site. Paul was standing, and finally I saw Gary too. Gary had done an amazing job of landing the plane, then the wind grabbed the chute and dragged it across 2 runways and into the hillside. Gary's leg was jammed underneath, and Paul quickly got out of his restraints and picked it up off Gary's leg. Everyone was OK.
I think both pilots were amazing. That "rogue" wind was the worst Denny had encountered in his 900+ hours of flying.
FLYING HIGH OVER THE DESERT..AND LOW TOO!
Denny and I, Paul and Gary flew out into the now green and pretty desert. We searched out some super large Saguaro Cacti, and got an eagle eye view of Twin Peaks. We flew maybe 2-5 feet off the desert floor, and watched the desert golphers. (That looks like a fun sport!) We flew over vehicles and waved to the drivers. We flew over severel old mines. We found a deep depression in the earth that might have been a meteor depression. It's hard to describe the feeling of flying gently over the desert, but I have to say it's an adventure that will stay with me for a lifetime.
We also flew over the park and took a pic of the truck...see it in the center? It's the only red vehicle in the park! Gary's Peterbilt rig is just to the left of ours, white with a large white trailer.
MARY GETS TO FLY
Today's flight was incredible. Denny Mills kindly offered to take me up for a powered parachute ride on his last day here in Brenda.
Thrilling and awesome, but scary at times, too. We had such a lovely morning, no wind, warm and comfortable. I was so much more relaxed this time, thoroughly enjoying the scenery and smooth ride. Paul and Gary also went up, so it was great fun following them around and taking a gazillion pictures.
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