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Check out Dawn’s blog of the 121 kilometer XC day we had from Chipana back to Iquique!

http://hikerdawn.blogspot.com/2013/11/iquique-chile-paragliding-tour.html

 

Tavis has collected all of the group photos and made them available for sharing!

http://wildc.net/tmp/iqq/

 

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This was the year of the limericks.  Here’s a couple to share:

Wes Kilham (to be read in an Australian accent)

ELONGATION

Come on buddy, don’t be late
Pull the brake and Elongate,
Map that thermal in your mind
Is it in front or now behind?

Every event in all creation,
Is just a form of information.
So when the glider starts to sink,
This is just to make you think!

Seems to me it can’t be fate,
I simply forgot to Elongate!
Come on buddy don’t get sore,
Just Elongate to find that core!

Squeeze the brake then let it go,
Not too fast but not too slow.
There’s no need to growl and mutter,
What the heck was that wingtip flutter?

Elongate….yes, Elongate,
Come on buddy, Hey! That was great!
Keep a little banking, don’t let it flatten out,
Skid a little longer if you have some doubt.

Some think of forms elliptical,
I like the word “ovoid”,
No matter what your language,
there’s a fact you can’t avoid.

If there’s anything conclusive,
when the thermal is elusive;
Man you have to have a plan,
To Elongate, just Elongate!

No need for more elucidation,
No quibbles on enunciation.

Coming soon to your TV,
Available on DVD
Ken’s quite thrilling demonstration,
Of the special art of Elongation!

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Larry McElheny

A wild Australian named Wes
Was known for his flying finesse
Til his wing filled with sand
And forced him to land
His a's, b's and c,s were a mess

A conservative pilot named Larry
Found that flying in crowds was too scary
So he flew off alone
To the number 3 zone
Where he was retrieved, quite promptly, by Harry