Letter from New Zealand May 06
31 August 2006 22:44, | Members' Reports
Nigel Bowen writes:
Tim, can't resist catching up with you! Do you remember our youngest son,Jamie? - the one that beat you at pelmanism in Caseg Fraith many, many years ago; well he is now a pilot. He spent a year in China trying to teach Chinese airline pilots how to fly; most frustrating, smog & bureaucracy making the task almost impossible. Since returning with a lass that he met out there (Liz is Canadian) he has had a fabulous contract flying wealthy o'seas clients around the Southern Alps, landing on the beach in the Milford Sound, down to Stewart Island & up around the Marlborough Sounds: visit their website www.flyinn.co.nz We stayed with them in their ramshackle farm cottage in Tarras, which is situated in the heart of Pinot Noir vineyard territory, between Wanaka & Cromwell. Jamie used to keep the plane tied down in his back garden & one day flew us around Mt Cook. I never realised the turbulence is so extreme in the mountains - sometimes trying to descend, with the propeller feathered, the plane is still ascending at 500 ft per minute! But the air flow is much smoother close to the mountain ridges, so we were flying within 30 ft or so of the mountain face; whilst Penny was sitting in the back having kittens! A memorable flight, and, at my age, the nearest that I am likely to get to standing on top of Mt Cook!
I was out at Cape Brett a couple of weekends ago (still recovering from the arduous tramp!) and have it in mind to return by sea, as there is a fabulous rock face just offshore, perhaps 300 or more feet high, that is crying out to be climbed; probable standard, a flakey VS, protection uncertain – any takers?!.
That youngest son, Jamie, has returned from Canada & has a job in Queenstown as a "meat bomber" - the jargon for the pilot of a plane carrying parachutists! So, if you know of any members who want to try parachute jumping during your coming winter, just let me know!
Tim, can't resist catching up with you! Do you remember our youngest son,Jamie? - the one that beat you at pelmanism in Caseg Fraith many, many years ago; well he is now a pilot. He spent a year in China trying to teach Chinese airline pilots how to fly; most frustrating, smog & bureaucracy making the task almost impossible. Since returning with a lass that he met out there (Liz is Canadian) he has had a fabulous contract flying wealthy o'seas clients around the Southern Alps, landing on the beach in the Milford Sound, down to Stewart Island & up around the Marlborough Sounds: visit their website www.flyinn.co.nz We stayed with them in their ramshackle farm cottage in Tarras, which is situated in the heart of Pinot Noir vineyard territory, between Wanaka & Cromwell. Jamie used to keep the plane tied down in his back garden & one day flew us around Mt Cook. I never realised the turbulence is so extreme in the mountains - sometimes trying to descend, with the propeller feathered, the plane is still ascending at 500 ft per minute! But the air flow is much smoother close to the mountain ridges, so we were flying within 30 ft or so of the mountain face; whilst Penny was sitting in the back having kittens! A memorable flight, and, at my age, the nearest that I am likely to get to standing on top of Mt Cook!
I was out at Cape Brett a couple of weekends ago (still recovering from the arduous tramp!) and have it in mind to return by sea, as there is a fabulous rock face just offshore, perhaps 300 or more feet high, that is crying out to be climbed; probable standard, a flakey VS, protection uncertain – any takers?!.
That youngest son, Jamie, has returned from Canada & has a job in Queenstown as a "meat bomber" - the jargon for the pilot of a plane carrying parachutists! So, if you know of any members who want to try parachute jumping during your coming winter, just let me know!