Paragliding mania!

The objective of the day was for Aaron to fly from Mt Tahtali. All our fingers and toes were crossed hoping the local pilots would be accommodating as too the weather for flying. After quickly stopping by the office on Tekanova, we decided to head up to the top of Tahtali and wait it out there. The mode of transport to the peak is by cable car which holds up to 70 people and takes approximately 10 minutes to reach the highest point at 2365 m above sea level. Ahh... A sight indeed!! - Where mountainous ranges, littered with native trees and vegetation meet the coastline.

On arrival the news wasn't what we wanted to hear, since Aaron wasnt properly insured they weren't going to let him fly... But with some God intervention, I'm sure, and the right paperwork being filled in, Aaron was left with the all clear. Now the waiting game began.

Unfortunately the wind wasn't being cooperative instead it would regularly change direction rather than a steady breeze in one direction. As the hours ticked by we watched the fresh cable car load of predominantly Russian and Eastern European travellers come and go. We certainly saw our fair share of varied poses for the camera, thinking we may have accidentally stumbled into a Vogue photo shoot.

Four and a half hours later the wind finally provided the break the pilots had been looking for. In typical gentleman style, Aaron let the paid tandem flyers head off first, leaving himself to lucky last. Lucy and I watched on with cameras in hand poised and ready. Onlookers joined and watched in astonishment at such craziness, mixed with bravery. On the third attempt Aaron ran rapidly off the cliff only to be lifted weightlessly into the sky to admire natures beauty from a perspective only a rare view get to admire.
Lucy and I breathed a huge sigh of relief and knew it was our cue to head off to the pick up zone. We certainly got our $40 worth, spending a total of 5 hours at the top of Tahtali.

It was a very pleasant sight reaching the landing zone on the shore and seeing the lads all safe and sound from their flight. We were kindly offered affordable accommodation but all of us were ready to leave Little Russia and knock some kilometers off our long drive to Cappadocia.

High fives all round and pats on the back for Aaron we decided to celebrate the occasion with... What better... Hungry Jacks! Hehehe. After a juicy whopper and enough chips to overload the carbohydrate levels we headed inland to find a town to stay. By 8pm we came across a little town called Avkesi. We managed to find 1 of the 2 hotels or in Turkish 'otels' in town. The town folk could spot we weren't locals... there was always the feeling you were being watched... Haha! Thankfully it was only a pitstop, back on the road tomorrow morning!