back along the path with white water rushing just a
short distance from us on our right.
Doug had asked if I fancied a flight in a glider. I
didn't associate gliders with the foothills of the Canadian Rockies but
when we arrived at this small airfield at Pemberton, I could feel myself
being tempted.
I opted for an hour long flight which would include a
tow up to 8000 feet over glaciers.
First a little training in an ejector
seat. (only kidding)
This was to be my tow plane.
and this was to be my carriage to the skies.
I was strapped in to a very cosy 'cockpit' at the
front.
The young captain of my flight was
giving me a little info on the instrumentation.
and here we were at 0 knots, 0 feet.
That situation changed rapidly as our tow plane
accelerated down the runway at what seemed like a very short piece of
tow cable!
After a few minutes we can see the runway looking
pretty small off to our port side.
60 knots and climbing steadily with just
the rush of air and a not too loud engine noise from the tow plane.
Climbing still and I notice the
temperature going down as we rise above the snow line.
I am in shorts!
Close to 8000 feet now after about twenty minutes
from take off.
and then, the tow plane veers off to the left and
we're on our own amidst the beautiful mountain tops.
The views go on for miles, although
there are signs of changeable weather coming in from the west.
