Anne-Marie doing hang gliding
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I think I had my eyes closed, I may even have screamed when I threw myself off the cliff to glide above the Gaspé—a postcard moment. It's June and Mont Saint-Pierre keeps watch over the many dreamers walking its hillside, absorbed in the beauty of their surroundings. Right on top, a writer with a hang glider strapped to her back is wafting through the sky, her teeth dry from smiling so much.
Between sea and sky
Hang gliders fit nicely—very nicely, in fact—under the heading "seeing the Gaspe from a different angle." Because, as I have to point out, it's not every day that you hurl yourself into space with the town's mayor, Jean-Sébastien Cloutier, who is also the owner of Vue du ciel, an epicurean, and a flying man, when the fancy takes him.
With him, there's no fooling around, we get together and we get going. When the wind blows our way, we hop into the 4X4 that takes us, and the butterflies in our stomach, to the top. The wings come out, I get into the cocoon that serves as a harness and listen to the disarmingly simple instructions: When you hear "go," jump into the sky!
Go!
Anne-Marie doing hang gliding
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I'm running, I'm…flying! 430 metres below me is the sea, spectacularly beautiful. At the bottom of the glacial valley is the splendid Mont Jacques-Cartier. I am suspended, waltzing in the sky, eyes filled and heart overflowing. I want to hold my breath as time stands still.
The flight lasts between 10 and 20 minutes, then there is the landing. All of a sudden, I realize that the ground is coming up fast, our faces are pretty close, and making funny expressions. Don't worry, everything goes smoothly. The mayor is a pro. My legs, however, are still wobbly.
Practical info
Plan your day. The activity lasts about one and a half hours, but the weather isn't always as enthusiastic as you.
Flights take place between May and October with surprises that depend on the season: from whales swimming beneath you in spring to a multi-coloured valley in autumn.
Maximum weight for a first tandem flight is 180 pounds, so go easy on the barbecue this summer.
For the curious and those who love thrills, head to Mont Saint-Pierre for the 35th edition of the Fête du Vol Libre (free flight festival), from July 25 to 29, 2012. Airshows, introductory flights, music, and fresh air are all on the program.
Happy flying!
A great big thank you to Vue du ciel, Jean-Sébastien Cloutier and his acolyte Simon for the heart palpitations and the feeling of self-confidence you gave me. Thank you.
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