Colours. No, no fotoshop. Real colours, bright light blue sea under a bright light blue sky.

Light blue Gin ZOOM, Pat underneath. Ronny flying a Niviuk HOOK.

As if nobody wanted to fly. We had the whole Cabo for ourselves. Conditions were fab. Just the right winds at take off and climb whereever you wanted.

Just in time for our siesta-lunch-break-chill-relax the winds veered to the south.

So no hurry, we were gonna meet the thermals later on in the day.

And we did, flew, filled our boots, happy as a 'three ball Tom cat'.

Comp today, cancelled at Reconco, but held at Palomaret. Bullet free take offs needed as winds were gusty, thermals were strong.
Task was a ridge run to Maigmo then over the back downwind to Ibi. Have no idea who succeeded, hope the west or even eastwind wasn't blocking pilots to get cross the valley of Castalla.

Down below just about the whole team of competitors in the Valencian region. Lots of people on the hill today.

Another hot day, with airtime as much as you wanted.

Pete, Roger and Paul, take it easy, see you again later.

12 am, in the air. But soon to find out that 200 m above take off there was windsheer, which made it all much more rock'n roll. Southwest on height, no good on our southeastern site.

Meaning as well, that the competition held two valleys behind, probably was gonna be lousy. As Reconco is even more southeast and flies best when it is east.

We could easily climb to cloudbase, which wasn't that high, and choose to stay in the rock'n roll part or spiral down and have more leisure flying lower.

Cafe con leche, what else, and a siesta nap under the pinetrees,waiting for conditions to get better. Snoozing, listening to the strong thermals that made that typical sound in our pinetrees, snoozing till it all died off.

3.30 pm, enough. Some friends were arriving. Omar asking me if I wanted to test fly the brandnew Gin Sprint, of course Omar, pleasure. So I unwrapped the brandnew toy, and had a play. Not very revolutionary, but ok for someone just out of school and wanting a glider that offers security and forgiveness.

Tandem passengers arrived. Now that' when the fun starts. Making passengers happy, letting them have a peep over the crest, overlooking the nature reserve of Le Cati. And this all till 7.30 pm, till last customer was satisfied.

Last customer was a 10 year old kid, who loved the adventure.

It all got so much better, and nicer the later it got.

French chickens, I do not call them that way, they call them themselves that way ! Left this afternoon, and kissed the Swiss pilot goodbye, having a date next autumn. Pete, Paul and Roger still here, looking more and more relaxed and not so stressed as when arrived. They probably know now that mañana, chill, siesta, is not such a bad idea after all, knowing it all kicks in better later in the day.

Feels good.

Carrascoy Murcia, together with Ismael, Pepe, Pani, Chechu, Jesus, and lots of foreign pilots. Vario's screaming, cloudbase 1200 m abvoe take off, 2400 above sea level.

Pete, and some locals went XC, but hit the seabreeze, hit that wall of wind and didn't get too far.

Later on we flew at Alhama de Murcia, a lovely soaring site. Just relaxed eve flying seeing the sun setting. Marvellous, cracking, all full as a gun.

One of those days that decisions had to be made early. Do you guys want to go to Murcia, with a 50 procent chance of flying superb, and another 50 procent of no flying and having a day out ? Lets go then. And it all went according to plan, before noon in the air, with hours of spring thermals. Cafe con leche. And again in the air till dark, in a smooth sea breeze air. Cracking.

We thought we weren't gonna fly. Well the french chickens, they call them themselves that way not me, proved different. They were already feet of the ground by first eastern breeze at the cliffs.
Followed by Roger, Pete and Paul of course.
Above foto of the french chikens' logo on their helmet. Momentarily the group exists of 5 frogs, Remi, Jean Philippe, Herve, Bruno and Pascal, and one immigrant, a roastbeaf called John sutton living in St Hilaire, France of all places ....

Paragliding can also be approached very relaxed, chilled, check this youtube out from Jeremy, frequent visitor and friend of ours :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7O4P7LabYc

I was born in may and I am 49 years old,

I am 1 meter 75 tall and weigh 90 kgs,

my hair is grey and receding,

my eyes are green and my nose is big,
but I do have sensual lips,

and all I know I have learned from others,

here we go

We left this morning, inland to find that promised but difficult to find fly-window. Stretching our wings we did near Villena, La Solana. Got that one out of the hat.

In between storms and rain, there was a safe window to be found this morning till early afternoon. In front of us rain, in the back over development as soon as the sun was burning through. We were just in between on La Solana enjoying.

The end of the day, a fantastic scenery in the back. Huge cloud development, what a show.

Lets talk about 13/14 june upcoming. That's when we organise the event for all disabled happy to fly with us for free. Well I tell you, Carmen has been working so hard to let it all happen, we have alreade more than 40 passengers for that weekend. So we better get in shape and be ready to fly a lot. Luckily we will have and already have lots of help of local pilots.

Pascal with his brandnew Skywalk Tequila2, thanks buying in Spain my friend.

Jean-philippe, and Herve, two reckless boys.

Low tide at the cabo.

This is Roger, brave forty-er, AC-DC fan, no fear.

Yesterday we said mañana, and we had a hell of a day.

First Cabo, gettin confident under our wings for hours.

Before getting into the thermals inland. Nice thermals with here and there a punchy bit.

Later on at 7 pm, boating around, whistling songs, as if flying is the most natural thing to do.

Mañaña ? Looks not too good ....

Aujourd'hui c'est visite touristique, le (s) vols semblent compromis...nous jouons a cache cache avec la météo !!! cfr Jean Philippe Texeira, Paris France

Left early morning, left for Cortina above Benidrom, where a couple of pilots flew. And where only Peter managed to topland. It became too west fo this southeastern site.

So off to Calpe, our southwestern site Toix.

Once there, winds were east goddamned.

Ok, wait a little, and leave for more inland Palomaret.

Ismael, too tricky, I hate it I go home

Bruno and Toni, just toplanded, well on their ass actually. Shit man, this is the most nasty air I have flewn in lately. Both locals and very experienced pilots.

You do not need a windmeter, your nose tells. Not because it is so big, or sunburned. But your nose tells you already early in the morning that something that morning wasn't right. Winds veered too much too soon. Those funny feather clouds, the few drops out of a blue sky when driving. The sudden gusts. Lets go beer o'clock, lets enjoy the hot weather. Lets wait for tomorrow. This ain't a day lost, this is just not safely flyable, nothing more, nothing less.

Mañana !

Thanks for the foto, Hans Henrik. Hans Henrik was flying in the Alps. I looove your helmet.

Down here guys, bingo at the cliffs. All you wanted in smooth air. It always feels so sunday-like. No stress, a chat, a flight, a chat, a flight.
Although the isobarmaps showed us a huge front right above us, and other forecasts gave us a thunderstorm warning, we had the most safe flying in ages.

Our dutch friends are going home tonight, they stayed 8 days and had one non flying day.

That one day was enough to visit Benidorm, loving or hating it.

The other 7 flyable days were enough to have their own skill levels assessed.

Their mind was open for improvement. Exchanging tips, learning tricks, trying other techniques. And that all resulted in better, so safer take off techniques which will hopefully rub off to their other fellow pilots back home. Hope to see you again !!

foto of Hellen

foto Alex

Lucien Simon send me a foto of his painting, you can visit more of his art on his website.

Today was a lazy day. Overcast and drizzle. Feet up, a good book, disconnected. Tomorrow afternoon we're all out again.

Relaxed flying. Front coming in tomorrow, cirrus screening the sun. No thermal activity worth going for, inland low cloudbase, so why not cruise along the coastline. Outlooking the bay of Alicante, or the salt lakes of Santa Pola on your right. Or right in front of you the island of Tabarca. A must visit for a non flyable day.

Some adrenaline, some wing over, some spiral, but mostly chilling, getting a buzz off the easiness of flying. Together with a group of dutch pilots, spending time together at the cliffs.

Nice and cool in the air, shorts on. Because the air is hot.

And not only the air is hot. Its may, and getting hot, so youngsters walk around pretty proud and sexy. Boys and girls, springtime, thinner blood, more testosterone. Oh damn, this is a bit off the track ain't it. Sorry fellows, but me myself and I are made of flesh and blood as well. And if you live in Spain, this all is inevitable, Spain to me is the most sexy country in Europe. When temperatures rise, when summer is near, when beaches get crowded, when all is moving, all is more exciting, all is ... more Spain !

I come from 'a' previous generation,

we had the choice between,

'Love me do' or 'Come on baby, light my fire'

'Obladi - oblada' or 'This is the End'

'Betty Davis' or 'Sharon Stone'

and lets see for the youngsters

'Joni Mitchell's big yellow taxi' or 'Beyonce's RnB' ?

Well I would know, I'd put on my dancing shoes, its friday night, and we all had a great flying day. I would rock the night away, and ask the sexiest to have a dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i38JRTyMik&feature=channel

there are a lot of paragliding movies on you tube .........

Cracking day.

Flying early today, at 11.30, thermals till it got too strong. BBQ and chill till everything was more mellow again.

No XC day, but thermals as much as you wanted.

Flew the Artik2 again today, and had a couple of tucks, very unexpected, strange. I fly the medium 5 kg over its weight range, maybe ....

although I flew it happened late in the afternoon. No worries came out very quick, but on my original Artik, hardly had ever any tuck last few years.

Cracking day.

http://sendables.jibjab.com:80/view/FfFJFZ23PQ7Y7YTx

Look for us at terminal A, Alicante Airport.

Thanks being here again Sean, hope you'll have some flying over summer in England. Hasta Luego.

Petra ready for launch at Reconco today.

6 happy Vikings have left us, and as always it was nice to have you back again guys ! They have a fabulous week, Monte Cabrer including XC, Palomaret, Cabo Santa Pola, and good old Toix near Calpe. It doesn't get much better. Un abrazo.

Lots of wind at take off, but strangely enough no lift. Not the best day, but we had our feet off the ground.

Here we go, Remi at take off Reconco. Et les copains ?

Relaxed, summer feeling, shorts, put sweaters away till next november, open helmet, no instruments, dead easy, lemon granizado, chicas, sol y playa, thermal breezes rushing through the pine trees - oh that summer breeze ....

30 degrees and a not more possible blue sky, and a not more longer possible window to fly today. A step from paradise, that's how it felt.

Easy flying, throwing wings around, trying out the Artik2, yes the Niviuk newest.
What a glider. Holy shit.
I have the chance to fly lots of gliders, as I do sell all brands. So I got sent lots of demos that I can try out. This morning on my door the newest Niviuk Artik2. I've read about it on forums, so already had a guess of how it was gonna be.
But, but but, I read a lot of bullshit on forums as well, and be honest, everybody knows some guys who are always on the forum. Lots of them can talk a flight... can't they.... untill you meet ....

The only thing that disturbed me about the wing was its name. This glider to my humble opinion has nothing to do with the original Artik. It is totally different. Leading edge, thin risers, and such an absolutely different behaviour. It could even have been a glider from another brand.
Deadeasy launch, fantastic turn behaviour, exit spirals babybum smooth, accelerator behaviour felt bombproof. Tomorrow I take it in some strong stuff, midday spring thermals in southern Spain.
I'll see if it is as good as the already outstanding performance of the Artik original.

Happy bums all over. Flew till dark near Hondon, a classic in spring. In the end you soar till the sun sets. Good alternative if cloudbase is not the highest and winds are weak at the coast. Always lovely restitution till the end.

And you know we love a site with a view !

Joanna, little Cuba and Marec, polish friends.

Quick message to the boyfriend, Petra Holland.

Last saturday we thought we flew todays' best. But Manuel and Xavi who arrived later, did even better. Manual fron Javea flew all the way to Fuente la Higeura which is more than 40 k, and Xavi more than 20 k towards Banyeres. Skygods !

Another good day at Sean's favourite, Palomaret. A parawait, having huge ice creams, a nap, and then all in the air for as long as you wanted.

Thermals bity at times, but that's how hammer thermals most of the time are in May.

And again a great bunch of guys. Danish who have been here before, such a pleasure having them around, they are funny, relaxed and no stress pilots.

New group of dutch pilots joining, same thing, their enthusiasm rubs off.

And we still have Sean, looking like a black guy, after having his daily sunbaths for almost two weeks now. And Marec, polish pilot, flying his Niviuk Artik like no one else.

What else do you want. An excellent flying day, with excellent views over the back, clear skies, sharp contrails forecasting promising days. And no stressy situations on the hill, all good guys, not too many, because lots are still in Pedro Bernardo trying to break their own personal records during the comp up there.

We had all the thermals for ourselves and the whole sky for ourselves, no busy sunday afternoon late hours, all relaxed.

Nothing reaches the bliss of a natural high.

If you want to read and see how an Alicante looks like, then read Dougy and Julie's blog, here below, and tell then I said hi, and looking forward meeting them again soon, this september, abrazo.

http://www.dougieandjulie.blogspot.com/

How about 40 km XC first day you arrive ?
Not bad I'd say. Happened to Marec, Polish pilot. Together with Hans Henrik he flew from Monte Cabrer and flew westwards to Villena.

The day was promising from first hour. West not too strong, eastern winds later on around midday. Maybe even too strong at the coast like yesterday.
Time to head for Monte Cabrer, "goat mountain" near Alcoy. There was not a lot of briefing to be done to our Danish visiting pilots, neither to Joachim, Hendrie and Sean who flew here before. Danish pilots I saw flying days before and was feeling very relaxed about them being in april air in Alicante.
Just Marec the polish dude. He asked me, how do you say : where am I, in Spanish ?
I told him : Donde estoy ?
And how do you say 'help' ?
Socorro : I answered.
It felt strange, did he wanted to know how to ask for help to a farmer when he was hanging in a tree ? Did he wanted to know where he was after he bounced on his head a few times ?
Or was he reading the sky just like the locals and knew this was a XC day, and had to be prepared when going XC.
Well luckily he had to be prepared and knew it.
Soon he was together with Hans Henrik, top of the stack, 2400 ASL, spiralling at times to get down, as cloudsuck was strong.

It was excellent flying. Also for the other pilots who stayed near the hill. Excellent. And what felt nice, was that I told my guests to follow our local cracks, they knew the way for XC from this hill. But they did it their way, and got so much further than the 10 km XC local pilots achieved.
Revenge will not be sweet, I tell you, Bartual, Pepe, Ismael already doing sit-ups, lifting weights, drinking Red Bull, studying maps.
Fuck no, we're all in it for fun, we're all buddies ! Cheers !

From no wind, to very strong wind in no time. Good to have looked at the charts. So a chill today. No Cabo for us today, although last minute some were flying it standing in their speedbar, full on.

But time to pack reserves etc... always something to do.