Louise went off to PaknSave to do some shopping, or so I thought!

She came back and asked if I could be ready to leave the house n the next 45 mins……mmmm……

She had arranged “something”. She drove me into Paraparam, and then turned off onto a dirt track next to the airfield where she spilt the beans. As an early birthday surprise, I was going on a glider experience trip!

Bob the Builder turned into Bob the Pilot for the day, an American who prefers the sunny Kapiti Coast to a very wet, windy and cold Pennsylvania at this time of the year. Cheryl, the visitor who had been attracted to Bob’s online presence in America, Jason the tow pilot and Alex the “Gofer” – friendly bunch!

Lovely trip! I was in the air for 30-40 mins, and Bob let me do the flying for about 15-20 mins. We got up to approx 5000ft @ 160-180 knots. We flew over the Paraparam/Raumati area, over Transmission Gully and Battle Hill Rd to the South, back over Valley Rd, up to the Akatarawa road in Waikanae and then halfway out to Kapiti Island before coming back in for a few circuits around Paraparam.

We got back to the house to get ready for a bike ride, but before we left Fujitsu called to get a bit more info on me and my situation – Cool, crossed fingers there then!

We thought we’d pop up to Otaki for a coffee to give Louise a bit longer out on the bike. We did that and more as we then doubled back and rode down to Plimmerton on the SH1, then around the lake at Paremata to Pauatahanui.

While we’d pulled over at Pauatahnui for a break, another biker pulled over to check we were ok. He turned out to be from Paraparam – another Bob. He told us about the Kapiti Coast rideouts on thursday evenings and invited us along.

Back home for a takeout!

Mileage 122km (approx 76 miles)