6 a.m. The alarm on the clock is starting to go off. My girlfriend Lauriane had only just started to wake up. In the intensive care unit, she is now working a 12-hour shift as a nurse. Although I am only partially awake at the moment, I can still hear her ordering our dog Ouka to remain inside the vehicle for the time being since it is not yet appropriate for them to go outdoors.
8:00 a.m. I’ve been dozing off and on for the last two hours, but now that the sun is up, it’s time for me to get out of bed for good. When Ouka senses that I am becoming more active, he immediately rises up and shows me that he is eager to go outdoors. When I open the door, he immediately looks for a place to lie down in the shade. Even though it’s June and we’re in the Alps, the temperature is bearable.
8:30 a.m. We are now partaking in a communal breakfast. Okay, so that’s the plan, but in practice, Ouka cleans his plate very fast and then looks at me as if he expects me to give him a bite of what I’m eating.
The forecast is something that I check on when I’m eating breakfast. It seems like we will have a lovely bright day, and the wind shouldn’t be too strong. In the early afternoon, there will be a gentle wind blowing in from the south. That is perfectly ideal for a little bit of hiking followed by some flying!
9:00 a.m. A cereal bar, some water for me, a bendable water container for Ouka to drink out of, some water for Ouka to drink out of, some water for Ouka to drink out of, some water for Ouka to drink out of, my 360-degree camera, and a light glider with my harness already attached to it are all in my bag. Because I am carrying just a few pounds on my back, I am able to take off from almost any location.
When Ouka sees me putting on my shoes, he immediately understands that we are going on an adventure together.
After securing him with the canicross harness, we set out on a leisurely stroll. Because of this, our muscles will have the opportunity to warm up, and also, well, you know. It’s time for Ouka to take care of business!
10:30 a.m. When we reach to the launch site, we take a break to grab a drink and regain our strength. I make advantage of this time to check on the wind conditions, and thus far, everything seems to be in order.
Even if there isn’t much of a wind right now, everything is going to be OK. While Ouka engages in his favorite activity, which consists of obtaining hugs and kisses from as many people as possible, I get started on prepping the glider. At the take-off location, Ouka bids hello to the other pilots, and it should come as no surprise that he always manages to locate a kind person who is willing to give him a nice scratch!
11:30 a.m. It is ready to glide. The conditions are favorable. Let’s go.
I outfitted Ouka with the specialized flying harness. We had it hand-made to order in France. As always, Ouka is the epitome of coolness! After this amount of time, it is now considered routine for him. He does not suffer from acrophobia in any way. Even when he is perched on the brink of a cliff, his favorite thing to do is look down at what’s going below.
When I initially began to interact with him while playing with my glider, I rewarded him with snacks whenever he came near to us. We spent a couple of weeks in a tent. After that, I instructed him in a new instruction, which was “Take off.” This indicates that he is obligated to come between my legs and continue to sprint alongside me. also is of assistance to me during takeoff, and also provides Ouka with the opportunity to escape if he decides he does not want to fly. You are aware of the situation where Ouka does not want to do anything (like take a bath!).11:35 a.m. “Take off, Ouka!” Ouka dashes to his spot in the middle of my legs. It is now possible for me to attach him to my carabiner. We wait until there is a favorable wind direction, and then I say, “All right, let’s go!” After ensuring that everything is in working order, I proceed to inflate the glider. “Run! Run! Run, Ouka!”
The distance between each of our steps is increasing, and in just a few more steps, the glider will begin to rise – we will be flying! The atmosphere around Ouka is really laid back. In order for us to maintain our connection, I positioned my feet such that they were below his paws. We don’t really engage in a lot of conversation; rather, I simply stroke his head now and again.
Wild creatures, other gliders, and people walking on the ground can all be made out below us. Ouka enjoys the sensation of the wind blowing across his fur. In the midst of the mountains is where we find the greatest joy in life.
11:50 a.m. Our landing is about to come into view after a pleasant fifteen-minute journey. I sit back down in the harness 20 seconds before we touch down, and then I get up and get ready to land. I make the necessary adjustments to my trajectory, the earth comes into view, and… we did it! A flawless landing!
The influence is contingent on the wind. If there was just the proper amount of wind, we may be able to fall on a carton of eggs without any of them cracking. While I am clapping and shouting for Ouka as she enjoys this lovely flight, I am operating the glider on the ground. After that, it is time for a marathon session of cuddling! I pull Ouka’s harness off and remove the carabiner that he was attached to before. After that, it’s time for another round of snuggling, and the happiness is palpable. owning a good time with your closest companion is, in my opinion, what owning a dog should be all about.
After saying goodbye to the other pilots and packing up my glider and bag, it’s time to go back to my house and do some grocery shopping.
7:00 p.m. The vehicle is now parked in a different location once the shopping has been completed. While I get started on supper preparations, Ouka is going outdoors to take in the night air. After working a very long shift at the hospital, Lauriane is finally back home. When Ouka hears the sound of her automobile pulling up, he always becomes quite thrilled.
Before I had Ouka, I was not in a good position; in fact, I was probably going through the worst time of my life. I was suffering from depression due to a combination of factors, including having no work, no money, and a broken love. A year ago, when I took in Ouka as a foster pet, it was a method for me to motivate myself to get out of bed in the morning. When Ouka wants to go outside, it doesn’t matter whether I’m feeling joyful or unhappy when the morning starts — you have to take him outside!
When I encountered Ouka, he had already been dumped twice before being brought to a shelter for a third time. Because he needed me as much as I needed him, we were able to form such a strong relationship in such a short amount of time. I had no idea that getting a dog might affect my life in such a significant way. And I never in a million years would have guessed that I’d end up meeting such an amazing woman because of him… Lauriane was taking care of his dog!
When I am in the mountains with my tiny family and we are watching the sunset together, it brings home to me how far I have come and how close I have always been to finding happiness. I have no idea what the future holds, but I can guarantee that as long as these two are in it, it will be the most exciting journey.
You can keep up with Ouka and his dad’s exploits on Instagram if you want to find out more about their travels.