Paraglide

Lots of Flying today

2012-02-19T15:31:00.002Z

Mayobridge today. Excellent flying conditions in WNW winds, with some nice spring thermals. 5 Gliders in the air- Robert, Friend, Liam, Maurice and myself.
http://youtu.be/2mw0QwzcNKk

Reserve Chute Deploy and Repack

2012-02-18T10:35:00.000Z

Reserve Parachute deploy and repack night.

Something to Crow about

2012-02-11T14:31:00.000Z

Expected more rain today, but sky brightened and southerly winds were ideal for Gyles Quay. Got a nice 35mins soaring before winds died off completely.

Boating around

2012-02-06T19:19:00.001Z

Blackrock, Dundalk

Siberian Weather

2012-02-02T19:10:00.000Z

Bitterly cold evening flight at Gyles Quay today with Alan and Maurice, as the icy cold winds from Siberia hit Ireland.

Wishful thinking

2012-01-23T20:36:00.000Z

Was hoping to fly today but forcasts giving stronger winds. Gullion was covered in cloud most of the day. At Mayobridge winds were 25mph. Far too strong except for Donal Hamiltion on his hang glider.

Mourne Mountains 20k Walk

2012-01-22T18:58:00.000Z

A 20km walk through the beautiful Mourne Mountains today with 11 Crows.

Too early, too late

2012-01-17T18:36:00.000Z

Strong Southerly winds this morning at Gyles quay. Mistimed my arrival in the afternoon as winds died off earlier than expected, but got a short flight anyway. Photo is of Gyles Quay Harbour this evening.

Lucky, ducky

2012-01-16T15:02:00.000Z

Strong Southerly winds forecast today. Tried coastal site of Gyles Quay, too strong. Tried potential sites further up coast, too strong. On way home went again to Gyles Quay, where wind had eased temporarily, and got a nice hour in the air. Great to have found this southerly site.

Blackrock, Dundalk from the air

2012-01-15T12:24:00.000Z

Lovely views over Blackrock, Dundalk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcM6Co-lI2o&sns=em

Early Start today

2012-01-14T13:24:00.003Z

Timed it nicely to arrive at Gyles Quay this morning just as wind was picking up in a SSW direction. By noon winds, as forecast, were way too strong. Rafal, Alan and myself got some nice flying. The tree at take off claimed its first victim, but we've all been there at some time or another. Anyway no injuries.

Alan

Rafal

That Damn Tree

Up, Up and Away

2012-01-12T20:25:00.001Z

Mayobridge again today in WNW winds. Strong winds at take off (18-20mph)
but once in the air lift everywhere. Very cold. Pilots Rafal, Ian, Danny, Mark and myself.

Danny and Mark

Rafal

Ian

The Long Wait is over

2012-01-09T19:03:00.000Z

Fabulous flying conditions at Mayobridge today. Lots of pilots flying today. Great start to the 2012 flying year.

Rafal

Dave

Alan

Feck, Feck, Feck Parawaiting too long

2012-01-08T16:02:00.001Z

UHPC First Aid Course

2012-01-08T15:57:00.000Z

Excellent first aid run by UHPC over the last 2days (7th & 8th Jan 2012). Hopefully we will never have to use the skills learned over the last 2days.

Hilwalking on Slieve Foye

2011-12-31T15:13:00.000Z

Last walk of 2011. Sadly no flying. Enjoyable day on Slieve Foye nevertheless. Gale force winds on the summit. Happy New Year everyone.

Slieve Donard, Mourne Mountains

2011-12-27T22:25:00.001Z

5 hour hike today with 15 others up Slieve Donard, 853m. Gale force winds (60kpk) on top and misty conditions but great fun. Have this mountain on my to fly list for 2012 when conditions are right

Bad Decision, Good Decision

2011-12-19T14:28:00.000Z

At Gullion yesterday.
Bad Decision: A long hike (1hour)with the glider to take off because road was closed due to icy conditions. Very foggy conditions and should have known it was not going to be flyable. Long hike back to car (another hour).
Good Decision: Mist and fog cleared temporarily and was tempted to fly but then visibility went to zero. Glad I wasn't in the air.

Oh Deer

2011-11-30T16:55:00.000Z

Still too windy to fly.

Beautiful day

2011-11-22T15:04:00.000Z

Beautiful day today at Gullion in cold winter sunshine. Nice flying conditions until wind got too strong at lunchtime. Dave, Colin, Maurice and Simon? and myself got nice airtime.

Dave, Colin and Maurice

Camlough Lake

Autumn Colours

Waiting game

2011-11-20T16:25:00.001Z

Only light southerly winds at our new site-Gyles Quay this morning but winds improved in the afternoon to give reasonably soaring conditions. Robert( and friends), Rafal and myself there. Glad we found this southerly site. Exceptionally warm these days in the moist southerly winds.

And the search goes on.....

2011-11-16T20:30:00.002Z

Too windy to fly these days so the search goes on for more flying sites in the area preferably SSE-S-SSW. Found some along the coast today which have good potential, now if the weather.........

Sites within 20km of Dundalk:
Carlingford NE-E
Dunany ESE-SE
Gyles Quay SSE-S SSW
Gullion W-SW
Mayobridge NW and N

Dunany Point

2011-11-07T16:11:00.001Z

Beaufiful flying day at Dunany in ESE Winds. At first no wind , and smooth sea. About to go home but then windlines appeared out to sea moving inland. Then perfect soaring conditions.

Rafal from my glider

Rafal

and again on small wing

Rafal

Mayobridge

2011-11-05T20:16:00.000Z

Light NW wind day at Mayobridge today but flying nevertheless.

The Mourne Mts in the distance

Playing with shadows

Carlingford Lough from Mayobridge

Chilly Willy Day

2011-11-04T17:07:00.000Z

Beautiful day today at Gullion but very cold. Hours of flying once the early morning mist cleared.

The Lake on top of Gullion

A little speed bar needed

Davy (UHPC)

Gyles Quay- New Coastal Site

2011-11-01T19:48:00.002Z

At last we flew this Coastal Site which takes a S /SSW wind direction. This is the first time this site has been flown. Rafal and myself did the honours and later Martin. Take off was further up the coast to avoid the barbed wire fencing. Blue skies, sun, nice wind, just a perfect day.

Gyles Quay looking East

Gyles Quay looking West

Rafal above take off

Para-wandering

2011-10-30T19:48:00.001Z

Spent the day para-wandering searching for the right flying conditions. First Gyles Quay, no wind, then Dunany too strong. Back to Gyles Quay and again no wind. Strange as the 2 coastal sites are only 20km apart. Rafal was the winner today getting soaring in the strong conditions at Dunany. Tomorrow, ah only dreaming.

Late Bird

2011-10-28T19:26:00.000+01:00

Late flight yesterday at gullion after the strong winds abated and mist cleared.

Searching for New Sites

2011-10-27T08:47:00.002+01:00

Tried new Southerly coastal site yesterday at Gyles Quay. Winds perfect but awkward take off area. Lots of barbed wire fencing and thorny bushes. Not recommended too great a risk of damaging glider.
Anyway the search for some new sites goes on.......

Nice

Not so nice

Nasty

Just Amazing

2011-10-23T19:16:00.002+01:00

http://www.dogwork.com/owfo8/

Wet and Windy

2011-10-23T16:17:00.000+01:00

Today at Dunany. Strong winds only barely flyable on a small wing. Then the rain arrived.
Rafal flying on his Ozone Rush 2.

Early Bird

2011-10-20T13:38:00.001+01:00

Early morning flying at Gullion today before strong winds, mist and rain arrived.

Early

Later

Latest

More Airtime today

2011-10-14T17:28:00.001+01:00

Short flight today at Dunany until winds went too southerly for this site. Don't think the lone fisherman below had much luck either.

The Long Wait is over

2011-10-13T17:17:00.000+01:00

At last perfect soaring conditions at Dunany today in 9mph SSE winds, with my feathered friends

Not so nice weather

2011-10-09T16:24:00.003+01:00

Time to stay fit in this miserable, windy weather

Choppy Waters

2011-09-29T19:06:00.000+01:00

Still no flying weather, so took to the kayak in choppy seas.

Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea

2011-09-25T20:06:00.002+01:00

The beautiful Mourne Mountains today, very windy and at times very, very wet. No flying just hillwalking.

Knockshee

6 Brave Souls

Look, Murt, I can see our house from here

The Legendary Cloghmore Stone

Walking without Wings

2011-09-18T18:26:00.000+01:00

No flying in wet and windy September, so hillwalking instead on Slieve Gullion.

aaaaaargh

2011-09-11T11:18:00.002+01:00

http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/atmosphere/cold/forecaster-predicts-early-winter-snowfall-for-ireland-and-britain/36161.html

Flying and singing in the rain

2011-09-08T18:16:00.001+01:00

After 8 days of non flyable weather a small weather window opened at Gullion this afternoon. Unfortunately the rain arrived and had to make a quick exit to landing. Good decision as on inspection of the glider I was amazed to see how wet it was, even though only a few spots of rain noticed when in the air.

Carlingford

2011-08-31T18:50:00.000+01:00

High pressure, low cloud, light winds and lots of parawaiting. Top to bottom flight only, but as an old instructor once said if you take it out you gotta use it (my glider that is). Lots of hikers on Slieve Foye today.

Busy Day

2011-08-30T17:06:00.000+01:00

Chasing the wind. First to Gullion for a short flight in a light Westerly wind, before wind turned NW. Then to Mayobridge for flying this NW site. Nothing epic but enjoyable nevertheless in very overcast conditions.

Jetman at the Grand Canyon

2011-08-27T10:53:00.002+01:00

http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=http://www.youtube.com/v/WgdIE2t8QkM%3F

Oh what a beautiful evening............

2011-08-25T22:10:00.001+01:00

Strong SE winds all day but eased off tonight. Got some nice coastal soaring at Dunany in a 12mph SE wind as darkness fell.

Oh what a beautiful morning.......

2011-08-24T18:28:00.002+01:00

Robert, Rafal and myself at Gullion today. Magical day with thermals kicking off everywhere in 9mph westerly wind.

Robert

Robert in the distance with Dundalk Bay in the background

Gullion again

2011-08-17T19:00:00.001+01:00

A few short flights today at Gullion today. The winds were light NW., which is not good for flying this site.

When the West Winds blow

2011-08-15T19:04:00.002+01:00

Paragliding we will go. So nice to have Gullion on my doorstep. Many hours of flying today in SW winds and strong thermals. Robert, Liam and myself flying today

Should I go or should I stay

2011-08-09T20:34:00.001+01:00

NW winds backed Westerly this evening. On the hill the winds were WNW, not ideal, even so got great height and was tempted to leave the hill and go XC but no retrieve available and as Gullion forest park closes at 9pm didn't want to leave car there overnight.

Above Gullion

WNW wind as indicated by smoke

Short Flight

2011-08-07T23:17:00.000+01:00

Short flight at Gullion today when low cloud cleared and before winds died off.

Good old Gullion

2011-08-05T18:28:00.001+01:00

Perfect conditions today at Gullion. Rafal, Tony, Mark and myself had hours of flying. 5 days flying in the last 8 days not bad, not bad at all.

Tony Conway (UHPC) under an Irish blue sky

Tony Conway (UHPC)

Hey, Daisy, wud you look at dat

2011-08-03T18:43:00.002+01:00

Lovely coastal flying at Dunany today in 12mph SE winds, and some curious onlookers.

Daisy and the onlookers

Carlingford in the distance

Mighty Gullion by Hook and by Artic

2011-08-02T16:50:00.000+01:00

Great flying today at Gullion for Rafal, Martin and myself. Light winds at Car Park take off so long climb to higher take proved worth it. Winds WNW 9mph with nice thermals.

View of Rafal on Artic 2 from my Hook

Rafal at cloudbase

Lazy, Hazy days of summer

2011-07-30T18:41:00.001+01:00

Different conditions at Carlingford today. Lots of mist on the mountain and wind veering south easterly. But got a nice flight. Limited options for bottom landing on this site due to ferns covering the eastern site of the mountain. But narrow landing areas focuses the mind.

Foggy Slieve Foye

Landing area

Beautiful Carlingford

2011-07-29T19:28:00.004+01:00

Carlingford looked beautiful from the air today. Lovely flying conditions in nice easterly winds. Lots of activity on Slieve Foye this evening with the Junior Puc Fada taking place. Senior Event is on tomorrow at Annaverna. Thanks to Shay Larkin for the photos. www.anpocfada.net

Mayobridge again today

2011-07-24T19:02:00.000+01:00

Light winds again today and from NNW which is not best direction for this site, anyway had 2 short flights.

Mayobridge

2011-07-23T17:20:00.001+01:00

Variable conditions at Mayobridge today. Managed a few short flights until NW winds died off totally. Liam and Sean other pilots on site.

View looking towards Mayobridge

Looking south towards Carlingford Lough

Take Off

Cycling Tour of Ireland

2011-07-20T11:57:00.001+01:00

Wexford town

Mannix Point Camping, Cahirsiveen

Tom Crean, one great guy

Doolin, Co.Clare

Fishing on Lough Corrib

More details and photos on: www.buminthesaddle.blogspot.com

Doyouwanna Roadtrip- Pyrenees

2011-07-19T11:46:00.002+01:00

June 28th- 1st July-and finally Ager

Doyouwanna Roadtrip - Pyrenees

2011-07-04T09:42:00.004+01:00

June 27th-28th-Next stop Organya

Organya Village

Frank heading skywards

Over the Organya valley

Frank approaching Organya village

Doyouwanna Roadtrip- Pyrenees

2011-07-03T09:48:00.003+01:00

June 25th-27th-First stop Berga, with Nick (Douwanna.net), Frank (Ireland), Stevie (Wales), Henrick (Sweden), Esben (Norway), Toon (Belgium)

Monastery at Berga

Avia Village, near Berga

Berga Town

Raindrops keep falling on my head

2011-06-23T15:55:00.001+01:00

Got a few short flights at Gullion early today. Had to get out of the air fast when this lot arrived.Got to respect Mother Nature. Lucky to get glider covered.

Well covered

Ugly skies

Nasty

Slieve Gullion today

2011-06-19T13:57:00.001+01:00

Early flight at Slieve Gullion today. No time for photos had to hurry home -Father's Day.

Airspace Infringement but what the heck!

2011-06-14T16:04:00.004+01:00

Infringed the gulls airspace at Dunany today. Got lots of dirty looks and ruffled a few feathers as these guys seem to think they own this coastal site. Beautiful morning glorious sunshine and wind SE at 12mph, perfect for this site. Happy days.

http://www.youtube.com/user/atonyd151?feature=mhee

Had a nice day

2011-06-06T16:47:00.002+01:00

Today at Slieve Gullion. Light SW winds at first but nice soarable wind at higher take off. Wind direction changed to southerly, as forecast, shortly after lunch and brought soaring to an end. Very cold in the air and guess what left gloves in the car.

Dundalk Bay in the distance

Could somebody bring my gloves up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXgn7DuAUEk

At last

2011-06-03T20:36:00.001+01:00

After the windiest May on record today was the total opposite with no winds. Luckily there was a light sea breeze this evening at Carlingford and cleared the cobwebs from my glider with a short flight

www.thetainmarch.com

One lucky guy

2011-05-31T07:12:00.004+01:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOV-Fn4Iu6A

Short but Sweet

2011-05-19T16:23:00.000+01:00

Luckily Mark, Martin and myself had a few short flights early today at Gullion in gusty winds. Winds increased in the afternoon and tandem passengers were not so lucky. Some photos also of the fire damage on Gullion in recent weeks but thankfully take off and landing areas are ok.

Mark with tandem wing

Parawaiting

Fire Damage on Gullion

More fire damage

and more

Sightseeing Day

2011-05-18T20:54:00.001+01:00

Too windy for flying again today, so off for a spin up North. Some of the lovely scenery in Co.Down, Northern Ireland

Narrow Water Castle, Warrenpoint, Co.Down

Tollymore Forest Park, Newcastle, Co.Down

My other bike

A wet and windy May......

2011-05-18T08:42:00.001+01:00

No let up inn this windy, gusty, showry weather

Heavy Rain Showers coming our way

and more

A smile says it all

2011-05-11T17:21:00.000+01:00

Video taken by Mark (www.freefly.ie), a few weeks ago, at Lough Bray, Ireland. Fantastic camera angle. I think Clare's face sums up the joy of paragliding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX7Hb3dHpRg

No flying for last 3 weeks due to strong winds, squally showers and gusty conditions

Snowdon - The Rhyd Ddu Path and the Snowdon Ranger- 30th April 2011

2011-05-02T20:09:00.000+01:00

Distance 14km. Height 1,085m (3,410ft). Time 6hrs. Grade: Energetic
The route starts at the Rhyd Ddu car park along the Rhyd Ddu path to the narrow col of Bwich Main to Snowdon's summit and return by the Snowdon Ranger Path then across the moor to the Slate Quarries and back to car park.

Snowdon- The Horseshoe Route- Friday 29th April 2011

2011-05-02T19:47:00.001+01:00

Distance 11km. Height gain 1,110m (3,640 ft). Grade: arduous. Time 6hrs.

Walk starts at Pen y Pass car park along Pyg Track to Crib Goch, Carnedd Ugain and Snowdon's summit.

Crib Goch

Crib y Ddysgl

Carnedd Ugain

Snowdon's Summit

Gullion the old reliable

2011-04-23T18:29:00.000+01:00

Late arriving at Gullion today. Got a 30 minute flight in small thermals before everything died off.

Tony Conway (UHPC)

Where is he?

2011-04-22T14:20:00.001+01:00

I wish this guy would hurry up as I've been waiting here for the last hour!

Today

2011-04-20T20:14:00.001+01:00

Winds too light at Dunany today

Annagassan Harbour, near Dunany

Dundalk Harbour

Coastal Soaring at Dunany

2011-04-17T19:34:00.002+01:00

Light SE winds today so had to wait for the sea breeze to kick in which it did. 2hours coastal soaring for Mark, Larry and myself. Happy days.

Another day at Slieve Gullion

2011-04-16T16:01:00.000+01:00

Went to Mayobridge today but no wind. Checked Gullion on the way home and got a short flight in very light winds. No other pilots around, probably at UHPC/IHPA competition up North. Hope flying conditions were better.

Not curvature of earth, just camera shake

Magnificant day at Gullion

2011-04-15T17:12:00.001+01:00

Lots of pilots (IHPA and UHPC) out today, Martin, Mark, Rafal, Tony, Dave, Maurice, Richard and myself. Flew for two and a half hours. Lots of rock and roll in the air with the sharp spring thermals. Later in the afternoon clouded over then widespread lift.

Dunany Point

2011-04-08T18:38:00.000+01:00

Last minute decision to go to Dunany today. Short flight as winds were very light ESE. This gull had better luck.

Slieve Gullion

2011-04-07T16:45:00.001+01:00

Flying at last. The long wait was rewarded with great flying conditions at Slieve Gullion today. Winds were a little off to the NW but once in the air thermal lift everywhere. Happy as a pig in muck.

Rafal flying in the distance

Rafal on his Artic 2

Blackrock, Dundalk today

2011-04-03T22:38:00.001+01:00

Not flying weather at the moment, hopefully later in the week when winds moderate

Cycling Faro to Santander

2011-03-14T10:39:00.002Z

Santiago de Compostella

Crossing border from Portugal to Spain

Details on http://www.buminthesaddle.blogspot.com/

Oh I do like to be beside the sea

2011-01-28T16:38:00.002Z

Dunany Point today. Winds stronger than forecast and ESE and cold 4c. A nice hour flying with only the gulls for company.

Magic day at Mayobridge

2011-01-18T18:44:00.002Z

Hours of soaring today in a steady 13mph westerly wind.Blue skies and zero degrees.Got rid of the winter cobwebs today Martin and myself had hill all to ourselves.

Paragliding Accident

2011-01-14T16:28:00.000Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtyhPuS-7Vc

Mayobridge

2011-01-11T15:48:00.001Z

Road to Slieve Gullion closed today so went to Mayobridge. Only light westerly winds 6mph. Short flight. No other pilots about.

New Year first flights

2011-01-03T16:03:00.000Z

At last after of weeks of parawaiting Gullion was flyable today. It was worth the wait. Robert, Mark, Rafal and myself got the early flights before strong winds arrived.

Paragliding Memories 2010

2010-12-22T11:07:00.002Z

Artic Days

2010-12-21T19:16:00.001Z

Oh soooo coool -5c at 4pm on the shortest day

Dunany Point

2010-12-12T17:35:00.002Z

First time flying this lovely coastal site 14km South of Dundalk. Takes an Easterly to South Easterly wind direction. Take off is challenging but worth the effort. Pilots, Mark, Uli, Larry, Alan and myself.

Baaaaaaa, brrrrrrrrrr

2010-12-10T13:58:00.001Z

Mayobridge again

2010-11-24T14:40:00.003Z

Cold and strong, at times, NNW winds at Mayobridge today. This wind direction does not fully suit this site resulting in only a narrow lift band (W to NW best). Lost the lift band twice and had a long walk back to take off. Gary had better luck toplanding at will. Only Gary (UHPC) and myself out flying today.

Mayobridge today

2010-11-23T14:53:00.002Z

A few short flights today in a light NNW wind at Mayobridge.

Trying out new overhead wing camera

Hillwalking Today at Slieve Foye

2010-11-21T16:27:00.001Z

Alone all alone

2010-11-10T14:16:00.002Z

Nice early morning flight at Gullion today in light SW winds.

No pilots here today so alone all alone.

Paragliders in the mist

2010-11-06T20:26:00.005Z

Weather forecast only a small flying weather window today. Light winds on lower take off and by the time we climbed to higher take off Cloud, Wind and Rain arrived.

Dave about to launch
Thanks Dave for this photo of Maurice

A Foggy Soggy day

2010-11-04T14:54:00.003Z

.........even for a jackdaw on the Tain Trail

A nice place for food and drinks after a walk-
The Lumpers Pub, Ravensdale.
www.thelumpers.com

Lumpers to Carnawaddy

2010-10-31T16:36:00.002Z

Slieve Gullion Forest Park

2010-10-30T23:52:00.004+01:00

Searched in vain today but weather gods were against us. Winds too south for Gullion and shrouded in mist anyway. Slieve Gullion forest park , always beautiful,but even moreso at this time of year.

A picture that says it all- Mayobridge

2010-10-20T16:27:00.008+01:00

A gem of a day for flying at Mayobridge today with good friends Danny, Maurice, Andy and Colin from UHPC. Perfect NW winds from 10.30 this morning.