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From: shan lung <shanlung9@y...>
Date: Sun Oct 26, 2003
Subject: Tinkerbell at Taroko Gorge
Guys, I am back again as I have been threatening in
the last few posts.
What a wonderful day this Sunday which is begging me
to take Tink out for a bike ride.
My wife just left early this morning at 5am to USA.
It was a deliciously wicked feeling inside to wake up
before Tink and switching on all the lights to wake
Tink up this time.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanlung/sets/690899/
Tinkerbell at Taroko Gorge
Last friday, we took the train to TaiTung on the East
Coast of Taiwan to rent a car to continue on to Taroko
Gorge. Above is the url to that album.
The East Coast from Taitung to Hualien is fabulous and
that part of the journey became part of the
destination too.
You have seen Tink on the motorbike perch the last
round. For the car, I use her regular basket with a
line at the bottom of the handle. A paper clip is
used to run along the line and which hold the upper
leash. The first couple of photo shows that clearly I
hope. I made some modifications to the leash. Two
smaller loops of that 120 kg fishing line were added
to make it easier for me to thread that body strap
double figure of eight knot through. Also added
insurance in case the upper leash cut through the
green neck loop.
This allow Tink to enjoy the view and prevent her from
making too much of a nuisance when I drive. She look
out so intently alternating from one side to the other
side and straight ahead. What I will give to know
what is in her mind.
All traffic was stopped for some reason and we got to
wait 30 minutes. The paper clip was undone to allow
Tink to get out to oggle the boys while I oggle the
girls. My wife kept her eyes on the both of us.
Look at my wonderful new T shirt that I liked so much.
That stop was next to the beach. Winds were at force
4 with gust to force 7. I used to sail and windsurf
heck of a lot and I do know my winds. Tink was taken
out as she never flown in strong winds before. She
was put through her paces with winds from the back,
from the front and cross winds than I can take photos
of.
The sequence of shots after the evening shot with
flash were all taken in Taroko Gorge. The gorge is
much much more beautiful than is evident in my photos.
Go to my webshot other albums to check out the photos
taken at earlier trips, especially the series Taroko
Music Festival.
Note I got a towel on my shoulder now. Tink thought
my T shirt was so fascinating and the scales of the
snake so real that she took a few of them off
including the T shirt it was on. ARGHHHH!!!
Two shots were taken at the opening of the gorge.
We then were at this enchanting place with the temple
of Eternal Spring hugging the side of the mountains
with a stream running though that temple.
We went down to the river bed to do more recalls. The
temple of Eternal Spring was to the memories of the
hundreds who died building this incredible road
through the gorge that connect to the West side of
Taiwan.
Roads and passage ways are like worm holes gnawed
through granite and marble rocks. We then went to the
temple to take more shots.
You see me leaving a lighted ciggarette on the altar.
I was not showing disrespect, I was honoring the
memories of those that died. It is traditional that
lighted cigges be left on that altar. It seems in
those days, everyone smokes and they want to enjoy
ciggies even in their afterlife.
We then came to another point where I love to stop.
This time with Tink as well. Two photos were taken of
a long flight. The beginning when you can see Tink in
a horizontal flight at speed and ended with her aerial
braking very clearly.
The wind was strong and gusty which I felt to be very
good for Tink.
Other Taiwanese guys watching were in love with her
and she consented to join them for photo before Tink
decided enough and was shot flying back to me.
You then see two shots made near the river. The
second shot captured the point when Tink was turning
around on the fly just before landing on my shoulder
to face the direction she came from.
There is one major event not captured in this series.
We went to the hanging valley featured in my Taroko
Gorge Music Festival - the Music. There was this big
field that hold the thousands of us that time.
Tink went through her paces. Then shen went off in
what we at FreeFlight term as flyabout. This is very
different from a spook flight.
She took off coming towards me from 20 meters away and
veered off with an 'ack ack ack' call of happiness. I
could not unreel my line fast enough. She reached the
end of line and she then increased her speed in a
cirle around me. My wife switch her camera into video
mode and captured 33 secondanother 7 seconds after
she stopped the video. Thats about 40 secs at full
speed. :-) So if you think your flying grey cannot
do more than 10 meters out of your garden, do think
again.
I was turning round and round keeping Tink in sight.
She seems to know as she deliberately avoided branches
flying in the open space below them and soaring
upwards when on the open field. She then flew lower
and lower. When she stopped on the ground, and when my
head stopped spinning, I walked towards her seeing her
panting. I gave her recall cue from 5 meters away and
she immediately flew up to my shoulder and gave my ear
a gentle nibble. Folks, that is gratitude that makes
me forgive her for all the ciggies she tore up and
lighters she broke apart, my handfon that you saw
dismantled and that 5000nt I got to pay to service my
Rolex after she sneakily unwound the winder just
before I went to a swimming pool that you read about
in earlier email on how to make Tink's harness.
We then went down to the Wenshan hot spring with Tink.
Hope you guys do not freak out. With all those stuff
about flying parrots and open pots of hot water, here
are three pools of extremely hot water next to a swift
flowing river of cold water.
But I know my Tink.
Guys, I got to go. It is still a beautiful day
outside and I need to spend it somewhere with Tink on
the bike.
Hope again that you enjoy my rambling letter and the
shots.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanlung/sets/690899/
Tinkerbell at Taroko Gorge
=====
With warmest regards
Shanlung
Joy - wife, Tinkerbell - CAG & surrogate daughter
earlier emails and photo links on Tink -
http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9