As winter days get shorter and sunshine becomes scarce, holiday memories provide an antidote to the seasonal gloom.
Paraglider pilot Justin Simmonds, a member of the Petersfield-based Sky Surfing Club, recently took his wife – and paraglider – on excursion to Turkey to try the warmer up-drafts there.
Justin said: “This was my second visit to Oludeniz this year.
“The first was in April for a training course, but the latest trip was with my wife for a ten-day break.
“I did manage to squeeze my paraglider into a suitcase, and took a few flying clothes in a bag as extra hand luggage.”
The flight from Gatwick takes about 4½ hours into Dalaman airport, which is on the west coast of Turkey.
The resort of Oludeniz in the south west of the country is about an hour’s drive from the airport.
Oludeniz is one of the top places in the world for paragliding, with its bay a magnificent backdrop.
It is overlooked by the nearby Babadag Mountain. The mountain is a firm favourite with paraglider pilots from around the globe.
Takeoff from the mountain is at an altitude of almost 2,000 metres – about 6,000ft – and pilots glide down to sea level, landing close by the beach.
Justin said: “The beach-front hotel was great.
“The wife could lay on the beach in the sun and I could travel up to the top of the Babadag Mountain in the cable car – and then, at the top, I could launch and fly back down to the beach.
“Babadag is almost 2,000m above sea level, and the flight down takes about 30 minutes.”
Justin managed three flights each day, when not engaged in tourist activities.
He said: “I would recommend Oludeniz for anyone interested in paragliding – and you can also pay for a tandem flight for your partner if they are up for it!”
The mountain is the highest tandem paragliding spot in the world.
Paragliding season in Oludeniz starts in April and lasts until November, while the high season is between June and September.
n The Petersfield-based Sky Surfers Club are open to those who fly paragliders and hang-gliders.
For more information visit the website at https:// skysurfingclub.co.uk/