Joy Ride

It was a dusky and rainy day on Saturday…..the weather was cool and romantic……but we did not want it that ways this time ;) ……why ??? As we were planning to glide on Sunday…and were hoping that skies be clear and the weather be pleasant for an excellent glide!! And to our luck…….Sunday morning was a perfect one…..and we were too happy and excited about gliding J
Sachin’s friend, Prashant was also travelling from Mumbai, to join us in this adventure filled “ Joy Ride” along with us.

I was so much unaware about this Gliding Centre in Pune, until Atul told me, that he had actually started to learn this fascinating task. This is an undertaking of Civil Aviation Department, which have two seated glider planes and there are several people who come along and enjoy the pleasure of gliding. GCP is open to general public on Sundays and offers a “ Joy Ride” to those who wish to experience glider flying.

After having a nice and heavy breakfast , with Sachin’s Pohe and Trupti’ Tea, we headed towards Hadapsar, on the way we took Priti, my younger sister along with us J
The place is almost 30 mins from Swargate, we could easily locate the place, with help of Atul and the huge ground that was located adjoining to the main road . There were about 10 numbers waiting before us. We booked four slots and then headed toward the yards, where the Gliders were kept….and were getting “ chamko” for our rides ;) The rides usually start by 11, so meanwhile we preferred to start posing for the photos and discovering the place. After a one hour wait, finally the first glider was taken out….it was then carried to the middle of ground with the help of a jeep. We followed it on our bikes.

After reaching the place by 12 pm, the first ride finally started…..we went nearby and had a close look, inside the small plane J . After the belts were tied and the pilot gave a ready go on his mic, the glider moved so swiftly…that it was into the skies in few seconds. We all followed the trajectory along which this plane moved……and were eagerly waiting for our turn. After a five minute ride…it landed back on the grass ground….which was a special run way for these pilots J

We waited until the 10 people before us were finished, killing our time by having loads of snaps…having chikoos and cherries ( which eventually fall short when, Prashant was really hungry) and riding a bycyle of a local boy there ( Sachin and Priti were worried that those tyres could burst, as I was riding it…so mean of them !!!)We waited …waited and waited..untill our turn came almost at 1.30. Prashant was the first amongst four of us, to go for this “Joy Ride” . We took excellent snaps…and the full video shoot of the entire adventure filled task.

The only word we could have in our minds, was Amazing…..Amazingly…Amazing !!! It was a very wonderful experience for all of us. The ride was only a five minute…but for those few seconds you feel as though you are in heaven….with the wonderful view of the city below and you being the only one flying……truly mind blowing…..wish it could be for some more time!! This event is a very nice initiative by the Aviation department, for the common people to enjoy the joy of this beautiful ride !!

On the way back, we had a nice Chinese cuisine , with nice hot soups, deserts, noodles and lots of chicken…..a short and sweet outing..in the city and out of city too….enjoyed my one day weekend thoroughly!!