Well, my first time on Lanzarote. I sat on the plane, in a jumper and all the rest of it, staring out of the window, fascinated. First above the clouds, then above the sea. At some point the Canaries lay beneath me. We flew past Lanzarote once before landing in Arrecife, and I saw this island, rugged at first sight, from above.
Off the plane, and this wonderful – but in that moment quite intense – warmth hit me. I had come from a much cooler Germany, after all. The first thing I had to do: get out of the long clothes. My first learning. These days I dress more cleverly and arrive on the island already wearing shorts.
Really pleasant: the airport in Arrecife is small, and so far my sports luggage has come through with the normal baggage every single time without any problems.
On the first drive across the island I could hardly speak, I think. I just looked out of the window. Then we arrived at Casa La Costa and were welcomed with open arms. I found my favourite spot straight away: at the back of the courtyard by the pool, under the pepper tree. I love that pepper tree. And the window in the wall through which you look down towards Tenesar and the sea. A dream.
First flight at the Pechos
If I remember rightly, the Pechos were my first site on the island. That's where I inflated my wing on Lanzarote for the first time. And where I got to know the small, snaggy little roots that stick out of the ground. If it hasn't rained, you can hardly see them, because they are almost the same colour as the rock. But the lines get tangled in them quickly.
That reminded me of Hvide Sande: keep a little tension on the lines, set the wing down nicely on the B-lines, and nothing will happen to you or the wing. I connected that in a completely different way there.
Going up was a groundhandling job, similar to the dune. I could put that into practice. Kai talked me through it a bit over the radio and supported me so I could keep my nerves under control. And then I flew on the island for the first time. Along the two Pechos, back and forth. First with radio support, then on my own. Then closer in, hovering above the launch site for a moment and back out again.
Patrick and Rüdiger were in the air with me. Rüdi filmed videos, and so I got my first beautiful pictures: with my first wing, from my first proper flight on the island. A very special moment with these three lads. I think it will stay with me forever.
Watching at El Cuchillo
At El Cuchillo, half a volcanic crater, I didn't launch. That day I didn't yet have the belief in myself. So I watched the lads launching. What works well, what doesn't yet, and how Kai supports them with it. I admired, analysed, accompanied. And took photos for the others, as a memory. Add the sunset and that light. Beautiful.
Today I look forward to El Cuchillo being flyable soon so I can launch with them. I really fancy it. Back then I couldn't imagine it. Now I'm hoping for it.
My first unfamiliar landing field
One evening we launched at Las Nieves in light wind. We flew into a beautiful sunset, with a view across the island's desert. To this day I can't find the words for it.
And then my first landing at a landing field in among people. Nobody standing below to talk me down on the radio. No big briefing. I had to decide on my own. I was the first to fly away from the slope to go and land. From Las Nieves down to the beach is quite a way, and I wanted to have enough energy and headspace left. Staying up for too long was not something I trusted myself to do.
Down at the bottom I landed really nicely. Very gently. I handled the wing, kept an eye on the people and watched out for power lines. A really safe, good landing. Then I laid the wing down, packed my things and sat on the beach, beaming. Looked at the water, watched the others who arrived one after another. And simply felt unbelievably happy. A perfect evening flight, with a view of the Risco glowing in the red evening light.
There weren't many more spots that first time. The rest of the time I was at the Casa and with the others. And celebrated it, loved it and lived it.
