Back from Empuriabrava

Got back from Empuria on Monday. Learnt a lot while I was out there and met some great people. I have attached some photographs from the trip. The group picture is the people on the course with Brian Vacher who took the course in the middle on the back row. There is also a photo of Kim the lady I mentioned in the last blog. The picture was taken by Mel, Kim's husband and is just after our last jump to-gether. Mel is a big Man U fan, he should be at least very happy to-night after beating Barcelona last night. I hope Angie likes the single photo (recognise the jump suit).Whilst I was in Empuria I made some valuable contacts for the trip ahead and was given a generous donation for NACC for which I am very grateful.

I am now working like mad to get everything ready before I leave next Thursday. I think there will still be some things, accommodation wise to sort out, I will have to work them out as I go. I have been contacting the various Parachuting Federations in the counties I am going to to get licences etc. The Parachute Association of South Africa have very kindly given me free 90 day membership of their association. I have found everyone I have been dealing with extremely helpful. I have been warned about visiting certain parts of South Africa, but I must say the people I have been dealing with have bent over backwards to help me, answering numerous e-mails and never letting me feel that I was being a pest.

There still seems to be a lot of interest in the trip and I hope that will increase even more after the first Radio 5 Live interview -I think that's on the 7th May. However I did discover while I was in Empuria that I was going to miss not being able to check my e-mails and up date my blog as much. I did not intend to take a laptop with me, for one I don't have one and it is one more thing to carry or get stolen. However I am re-thinking this now. I do need to keep in touch with my e-mails and be able to update my blog, I would like to put pictures on whenever I can, I found I could not do this in Empuria even though I was able to get on a PC some of the time. I am going to try and find out if I can borrow a lap top and have put a couple of feelers out - will see what happens.

That's all for now, will update again at least once before I leave. j 30/4

Empuriabrava

The canopy course ended on Wednesday. We manged to get all 10 jumps in as the weather has been good. Have really enjoyed the course and met some nice people. There were 6 of us in total, Mick, Bob, Darren, Stephanie, Geoff and me. With the exception of Stephanie who was from Belgium the rest of us were Brits.

There is quite a contrast to scenery around Empuria. To the North is the Pyrenees (the direction we fly before we jump out) and to the East is the Mediterian. Empuriabrava is on the coast just south of the French border. If you would like to find out more and see some neat pictures log onto http://www.skydiveempuriabrava.com/ . I will get some new pictures onto the blog once I get back to the UK next week. I must mention that the parachute centre is co owned by a North East lad Pete Jones, Pete has always made me welcome whenever I come to Empuria ( so there are no language barriers !!!).

Have done some skydives to-day with Kim, who is out here on a break with her husband.

I still have lots to still sort out when I get back home. One of my main concerns at the moment is car hire. It looks like I am going to have to-hire a car more than I would like. I have made contact with a couple of the big car hire companies to see if I can get some sort of deal sorted out and await developments. If any car hire companies are listening out there please get in touch.

Thats all for now. Will update again soon. jh 25/4

Arrived in Empuriabrava two days ago, Sunday night actually. I am attending a canopy control course run by a guy called Brian Vacher who co- own´s The Safe Flight School. Its been very busy since we started. Did a lot of theory yesterday but did get 2 jumps in. To-day Tuesday we have been at full speed all day and have done 6 jumps to-day. I am learing, or re-learning a lot which should prepare me well for the coming months. There are 6 of us and all of us are enjoying the experience. Weather in Spain to-night is fine and pleasantly warm. Have met up with some old friends, Tim, Katherine, Lynn and Regan from my days at Brunton - they have all been living in Spain for some years now, its good to see them again. Thats all for now Cheers j. 22/4

Next Stop Spain

Off to Empuriabrava in Spain to-morrow to attend a Canopy Control course given by a guy called Brian Vacher. Empuriabrava is north of Barcelona and on the coast. Its one of the busiest Drop Zones (DZ) in the world. The course lasts for three day and it will help sharpen up my landing skills. Since I will be visiting so many different DZ's on my travels its particularly appropriate at the moment. I am out there for eight days in total back to the UK early on the 28th. I was hoping after the course to go over the border into France to a place called Gap. However due to my impeccable planning (not) I did not realise just how far away it is - 200 miles, so might not get there, will just have to do more jumping at Empuria.
As for everything else, since I got back from Ireland I have worked away to tray and get transport and accommodation arrangements sorted out for the rest of my trip. I am getting there but progress is slow and frustrating at times. But I am getting there, but there will still be lots to do when I get back from Spain. I have made one change to my plans and added another flight. Instead of staying in Miami I am going to fly up to Tampa and go to a DZ called Zepher Hills. Its halfway up the West Coast of Florida, I have spoken to them there, they have been very friendly and helpful, they are even going to pick me up from the Airport.
Finally for know, I have had a bit of good luck in Johannesburg. One of the Founder members of Johannesburg Skydiving Club has is going to put me up in his home while I am there and take me to the DZ. That's a real big help. As ever never underestimate the kindness of people.
Will try and get some posts in while I am away.
John 19/4

National Assocaition of Colitis and Crohn's NACC

Hi All, Should have put this in earlier. One of the main drivers for this trip is to raise some money for NACC and awareness of Colitis and Crohn's disease. If you have a minute please have a look at www.justgiving.com/johnhillam and if you have a spare shekel or two lighten your pockets.
John 16/4

Ireland Trip

Got back from Ireland yesterday. The first stop was the Irish Parachute Centre about 45 miles west of Dublin. Met some great people, Mr and Mrs H who looked after me so well in Clonbullogue. Vinney who showed me round the parachute centre and Coley the CCI. They have some very good facilities and some great jump ships (Aircraft), they have a Pilatus Porter, a Cessna 182, and they are putting the finishing touches to a 206 turbine. The centre has been running since 1956 and they are well established in the local area. Unfortunately the weather did not play ball. I was hoping to jump on Saturday morning, but is was raining and the cloud base was too low. Apparently it cleared about an hour after I left - that's skydiving. I will make a big effort to go back there, spoke to a lot of regulars and they seem a great bunch.

Now to Northern Ireland, John McCourt a friend of mine picked me up from Londonderry Airport. John had it all thought out and within an hour and a half I was at 13,500 doing a two way skydive with Stephen one of the club members. The parachute centre in Northern Ireland is called Wild Geese and is located between Belfast and Londonderry, again it too has great facilities. The main aircraft is a Cessna Caravan turbine and Cessna 206 used for students. As with the South the staff and club members could not have been more helpful, Maggie the CCI and Judith who runs manifest made sure I got onto lifts and generally sorted me out. On Sunday I had two more jumps and the pilot was Alex Brand (who works for Loganair - Loganair kindly donated the flights). Each of these jumps was from 13,000 feet and John jumped with me on the last one and took some fantastic photographs. Provided I can master some of the technology you should be able to see some of these attached. I was told in advance that I would be impressed with the set up in Ireland. If you are a Skydiver, go there you will not be disappointed.

Finally, thanks to Sharon and John for looking after me so well, they made me feel very much at home.

So 3 jumps 39,500 ft so far, just 960,500 to a 1,000,000 jh 15/4

Off on the First Leg

8.45 am 10/4 Just getting ready to set off for Glasgow Airport to catch flight to Dublin, will be there about 6.00 pm. Had a great send off from work yesterday, quite emotional for us all. Got a very smart MP3 player as yet another leaving present, I now just need to work out how to use it !.

First entry

Well the first step is nearly here. Set off for Ireland in two days time. Still loads to organise for the BIG trip but have made some good contacts who are helping with info accommodation addresses etc. Finish work to-morrow, so lots of good bye's. All the staff at work have been fantastic, they even arranged a surprise party for me a week past Friday. It was more like this is your life. So I guess not a bad note to end the entry on - lets see what life has to bring over the coming months jh 8/4/08