From the category archives:
Here are some more pictures that Mr. M took at the dropzone. The first one is me walking out to the plane, next to Big John (in red). Big John is an awesome instructor. Way back when I was first starting out and had completely blown one of the many student jumps I completely blew, [...]
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When you have a license, you can dive with other people. It’s really, really fun.
You all plan how you’re going to get out of the plane, and you practice several times on the ground. Then you fly up to 13K feet and jump out and do it.
In my case, theoretically.
On Saturday, I jumped with several [...]
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Capital T. Capital R.
The Rig.
On Saturday, I picked up my new (used) rig at the dropzone. Many people think of a rig as a truck. But a rig is a container, parachute, reserve parachute, and affiliated hardware.
The rigger at our dropzone, Instructor Ted, found the parts for me. He packed the parts into the container. [...]
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I’ve sussed out the most important things you need to know about skydiving. And I’m dedicated to sharing them with you.
Here’s Lesson Number One.
Never be too eager.
Got it?
Good.
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I did it. I got my A license. I am no longer a baby skydiver. I’m an official skydiver.
I’ve done things that were physically challenging before.
I’ve done things that were emotionally challenging.
Mentally challenging.
Even spiritually challenging.
But this accomplishment rocks them all. Getting my A license was physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually challenging. My sense of accomplishment [...]
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Guess what?
I’ve done all the learning dives I need to get my A license.
Last weekend, I jumped seven times. The last two were called hop and pops, because they’re from “low” altitude: 5500 feet and 3500 feet. “Low” being a relative term, of course.
The purpose of these jumps is to practice evacuating a plane in [...]
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Mr. M returned from his trip to New Mexico and Colorado on Saturday night. He was gone for two weeks.
I was very happy to have him home again. You know how when someone who’s really dear to you has been gone and then they come back, you keep looking at their face and thinking how [...]
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Thank God Almighty, I’m free at last. Here’s the letter I received this afternoon from:
The Circuit Court of the State of Oregon
For the Twelfth Judicial District
I like how Alice is on a first name basis with me. I think she wants to be friends.
How do you suppose she feels about Renegade Naked Kayaking?
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I’ve never played this hard in my entire life. It’s SO much fun. On Friday, I passed three coaching levels in two jumps. Yesterday, I passed another three levels in three jumps.
The clouds didn’t burn off until about 2, and I was on my way home by 5. For me, that’s a lot of jumps [...]
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We dried off in the sun, got dressed, and moseyed on down the lazy river.
Just before we got to the pea pod town, the Polk County Sheriff patrol boat headed in our direction. Two polite, firm sheriffs intercepted us.
When a cop pulls you over while you’re driving, you run through all the possible reasons in [...]
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