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[JCZ]

With Babe on the east coast for a few weeks...I had to stick around to keep an eye on the critters.  But Miguel and I did get out for a few hours yesterday.

We started out with a ride up to Ramona for breakfast at the Ramona Cafe.  Then we rode on up to Julian.  Julian is a little mountain town that's famous for their apple pie.   Besides being a big tourist hot spot, it's also a motorcycle rider's destination.

[JCZ]

Somebody even rolled in, in a McLaren .  If you don't know what a McLaren is, take a look here.....   http://cars.mclaren.com/   McLarens can quickly  run in to the millions of $$$$




We rolled from Julian.  Heading south, we turned on to Sunrise Hwy. and headed towards Mt. Laguna.  Mt. Laguna is the highest elevation closest to San Diego, just north of I-8.  We stopped at one of those "View Point" for this shot.  I think it was about here when I said to Miguel "I have to start carrying my Nikon again".

[JCZ]

We rolled on down Sunrise Hwy. and passed a little road that seemed to be a dead-end.  As we passed the hill and I looked over to see where the road went I saw a couple cars and trucks and three hangliders.  Uh-ohhhhh we've got to turn around for this.  I've always wanted to see this from their ground zero, as they launch.  We did....first hand and up close!





Nice guys, all three of them.  And they all three answered our obligatory 101 dumb questions (you know, for their sport.....like the 101 dumb questions we get asked at gas stations, etc.).  The older guy, John, was the instructor and the last to launch.  For Miguel and I both, our lead question is how do you learn to do that.  I mean it's not like you get a "do over".  You get an "oh chit" moment on one of those things it'll probably be your last one.  And they say we're crazy for riding motorcycles..........

John, the instructor on the left here.....instructing one of his students....

[JCZ]

Miguel is also educating me on selfies and "checking in" on FB.  Yep, I crossed over to the dark side a couple of weeks ago.  Only took Andy ten years to talk me in to this......



John demonstrating....

[JCZ]

GET ON YOUR MARK....




GET SET....




GO!!!!!










A huge updraft once they're off the mountain.  All three guys just kept climbing and climbing.  One of them to the point where he was so high it was actually hard to see him any longer.  But in this pic, top, dead center you'll see one of them just starting to climb.....



This pic he's in the clouds just above and to the right of the peak.

[JCZ]

Here's Miguel and our other new friends that hung out with us to watch these hang gliders launch.  Now to get my azz back down on the ground!




Even though it was only a few hours, we had a great ride and a great time and learned a few things about hangliding.  But I don't think I'm quite ready to try it myself.  By the way, for those thrill seekers.....they do have hangliding rides where they go tandem like parachuting.  Just google it for your area.

[GregKhougaz]

JC,  At least there's no traffic up there trying to hit you.

[fredfoot]

Wow . what an awesome ride.

[kiro]

Really nice image group JC - well done!