Saint-André-les-Alpes

Lost in the Garden

'Just a short flight, I won’t need water.’, I thought. My backyard site, Grouse Mountain, produced unexpectedly magical evening air which offered an exploration of the deeper valleys, far from roads and landing fields. I had a rare close up view of Crown Mountain and even the base of The Lions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lions_(peaks) The return to civilization was tense, for a time, when I faced a headwind lower in a valley. With only steep rock faces and a sea of evergreen below me, I breathed deeply, and focused on finding lift. 'You're not there, you're here. Fly this.', I reminded myself. In challenging situations, I sometimes begin to fantasize about being in a less challenging situation than to give all my attention to what is happening now. How did this happen? Why am I here? Why am I low? I don’t want to be here. All useless thoughts. I descended into a narrow gully. Still, my anxiety was fading, I was noticing the beauty around me and taking in the sensations. I was no longer running for the exit, resisting the situation, wishing for something to be different. I was relaxed and therefore more able to manage the risks I had created. Patiently, I focused on improving my position, gradually. After some time, I realized I had a good chance to reach the main valley. I was enjoying the flying so much that I hadn't noticed the transition from trapped to free. I was always free. Such euphoria to fly over this beautiful and rugged terrain, smile at how absurd it is that humans can do this just for fun, return from this remote paradise, land in a familiar field with children playing, covered in lush grass, close to home, and replay the magic in my mind as I leave across a dew covered field, as the Sun sets.

Castle in the Clouds

O'ahu