Sutherland Paragliding 2010

The paragliding club has just announced the traditional winter flyaway to Sutherland for the last weekend in May – I’m now furiously hoping my new roster will allow me to attend.  Last year we resurrected the tradition, traveling to SA’s highest and coldest town for the weekend and flying from the spectacular but remote Ouberg Pass.  Sutherland, due to it’s altitude and distance from sources of light pollution, is the site of a well-known astronomical observatory, and the home of the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere, SALT.

We stayed on the farm “Koorlandskloof”, belonging to Lampies and Aret Lamprecht, and between evenings spent braaing around a roaring fire (indoors or out!) we managed to fit in a few short flights, even though the weather conspired to dump plenty of snow on the area.

On the Monday I was pre-call and enjoyed the adventure of a solo motorcycle ride down Ouberg Pass and across the desolate Tanqua Karoo.  Here are some photos to whet the appetite before this year’s trip!

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