Next week I’m leaving on a short vacation to New Mexico; Albuquerque, to be specific. Because part of the point of vacation is to do things you don’t do all the time, what I want to do is go sailing through the air somehow (and the plane ride out doesn’t count). Hang gliding is what comes to mind, although other forms of open-air flight would be just as acceptable. I’ve never been hang-gliding, but I do know that it’s possible for people like me to take “tandem” rides with experienced fliers, where I don’t need to know anything myself, except how to not interfere with the person running the show. I’ve searched for options with a half dozen search engines, and the only thing I’ve come up with so far is one tantalizing link that said “click here for information about tandem flights” (though it was curiously vague about what kind of flying it was), but which when clicked on went nowhere. (And now I can’t even find that again.)
I’d like to find something within an hour or two of Albuquerque, since my time will be limited, and if I can’t make specific plans/reservations, I’m hoping to at least have something in mind before I go, since I don’t want to have to start at ground zero after I get there. Residents, visitors, fliers – any ideas? Your input would be appreciated.
Mods, if this belongs in GQ, go ahead and move it; I posted here since this is where I hang out on the board, and this seemed a suitably mundane question.
I can tell you that I’ve seen hang-gliders quite often in the hills north of Albuquerque, but I don’t know anything about them personally. Found this page for you, though. Lotsa addresses and numbers.
Incidentally, hot-air balloons are all the rage in NM; the weather is usually superb for ballooning. You may want to look into that as well. Riding in a hot-air balloon is a very strange sensation; you’re hanging high above the earth, moving at sometimes a very good speed, yet there’s almost no sensation of movement. Because you’re moving at the same speed as the wind, the air feels amazingly calm.
First of all, MaxTorque, that was great, thanks for the leads. That looks very promising indeed, and I’ll be pursuing it further. I thought about hot air balloons, but have been drawn to the lure of having not even a basket beneath my feet as I tempt the fates to take me after all.
Mr. Cynical, I also found something with your yellow pages link, so I’m on the right track.
As for the rest:
Helium, okay, but ass, yikes! :eek:
Nitrous, tee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee!!!
But I’ll be renting the car, and who knows how airtight it would be? Imagine all the other drivers on I25 getting the giggles as I pass them by.
Peyote, hmmm, that certainly would be consistent with the southwestern spirit. Wonder if peyote bars have caught on yet? (Just so long as they don’t have those awful coyote-profile-cutouts as part of the decor - but I suppose at least one of them would just have the be called The Peyote Coyote, wouldn’t it? - bleah.)
I knew other people would be able to find in minutes what I haven’t in days - thanks all.
Further suggestions welcome, as well as personal accounts of anyone’s own experiences or other relevant info.