pilotdave 0 #1 October 12, 2003 So on load 1 today, the spot was off a little bit. At 1000 feet I was over a construction area downwind of the landing area with no chance at making it back. Below me were trucks, trailers, and piles of dirt. Not too friendly looking. So I spotted a narrow field across the street that happened to be lined up well with the wind so i set up on final over it. At the opposite end of the field I could see a lot of people gathered. As I got lower, the crowd began to run toward me. Upon landing I seem to have become the hero of a large group of kids. I was most definitely the highlight of their day. But I wondered, just what are all these kids doing here? A woman offered me a ride to the DZ which i gladly accepted, and i asked her what was going on. "Tractor races." I wasn't sure what to think. As we pulled out with her car, I saw what was going on. Lawnmower racing. I wanted to laugh but held it back. Yes, a bunch of men were racing modified lawnmowers. She said one had flipped earlier in the day but the driver managed to jump off and was unhurt. I still think its more dangerous than skydiving. I still cant help laugh when i picture them lining up at the start line. Skydiving just doesn't seem so crazy afterall. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jraf 0 #2 October 12, 2003 I did see something really strange on an off landing. I saw a very large pile of cow shit up close in which my descent found it's finalejraf Me Jungleman! Me have large Babalui. Muff #3275 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #3 October 12, 2003 QuoteI did see something really strange on an off landing. I saw a very large pile of cow shit up close in which my descent found it's finale I nearly did something like that last year, lurking some CRW dogs, we landed out from Perris, every one was able to make it to this baseball field, whereas I was a bit short, landed across the street, in what I thought was a cow pen...it wasn't until I was 50 feet off the ground that I noticed these "cows" had horns. Long ones. Here I am, about to land with 160 sq ft of waving fabric... Fortunately, they were more spooked and a neighbor unlocked the fence, then proceeded to give all of us a ride back to the DZ. Kewl... So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #4 October 12, 2003 Off spot (which we chose to take, rather than ride the plane down) due to finding the ONLY hole through the white puffies that day... Several of us landed in a high school baseball field, only to find all the gates and doors locked for the weekend! Thankfully, a janitor was there who didn't seem at all curious that we were there and where we came from. Must be a happenin' spot where the wuffos are friendly! ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airann 1 #5 October 12, 2003 I know one dude who would get a 'lift' home from his pilot friend. One night he interupted a little league baseball game. He just borrowed their lights and field for a minute while he landed his canopy. He was meeting his brother in the parking lot. Who knew they had a game that night? Now that is small town Texas, friends. I rode my horse thru the Dairy Queen drive up, but that was normal. ~AirAnn~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
headoverheels 334 #6 October 13, 2003 World team '94, Bratislava, Slovakia. Landing off (we initially had some bad spots!) in the adjacent corn fields, there was ganja growing between the rows of corn. At Lake Wales 201+ ways, bad spot. I was one of the first down into a cow pasture. At first, the cows just moved away from me. As other jumpers started landing en masse, the cattle reversed direction. It was a stampede, just like in some old "b" cowboy movie. Went from amusing to pretty scary in a matter of seconds, as one cow was freaked enough to trample right across her calf, and cattle were crowding by. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dixieskydiver 0 #7 October 13, 2003 Quote World team '94, Bratislava, Slovakia. Landing off (we initially had some bad spots!) in the adjacent corn fields, there was ganja growing between the rows of corn. At Lake Wales 201+ ways, bad spot. I was one of the first down into a cow pasture. At first, the cows just moved away from me. As other jumpers started landing en masse, the cattle reversed direction. It was a stampede, just like in some old "b" cowboy movie. Went from amusing to pretty scary in a matter of seconds, as one cow was freaked enough to trample right across her calf, and cattle were crowding by. I landed in a field full of cows on an off spot and they all trotted over from one side of a field and lined up in a big line perpendicular to me and started mooing. A couple of them had horns too. Key to success: Moo back. Dixie HISPA #56 Facil Rodriguez "Scientific research has shown that 60% of the time, it works every time." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flypunk 0 #8 October 14, 2003 landed in an backyard (so its texas and backyards are big) to find an old couple having drinks in lawnchairs, who applauded me for the landing and gave me a coke for the walk back. Gotta say its one of the few times that I walked back to the dz and had a smile. ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
