Flying with DOYOUWANNA got you
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saturday 30 april
Today there was competition in Onil, as well as the yearly festivities Moros and Christianos. So the whole village was in costumes, having huge cola drinks (pure ??). Flying at Onil was not the best. It was southeast though, which was already surprisingly good, consulting the weather forecasts.
By the time the comp was ready to start, it was already too windy. All my guests were too eager to join the competition, so waiting for the window to open. But comp was cancelled. Too bad, because I am sure some of my guests could have beaten some of the local cracks.
Unfortunately we didn't take off earlier, early afternoon at the alternative take off it was perfect for launching. But that's the way it is. Commitments, and w all had a good time.
Luckily most of my pilots flew later at the coast, some soaring with the sun setting.
friday 29 april
There was a plan. We were gonna get 1800 meter ASL and then go southwest direction Bocairent, Caudete from Moncabrer. But only on this height we were gonna leave the hill. Unfortunately after long struggles Dudo got only to 1710 meters, not enough, that was the deal.
Plan B, boer maak u plan (Southafrican this is), Suby took over and set out some waypoints in the valley. Thanks Suby for backing me up, I couldn't fly due to being the sherpa today.
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At first their was an unanymous message on the radio's, bit rough, collapses, strange winds, in dutch, norwegia, english, swedish and spanish. But after 3 pm, all got more smooth. 5 m/s thermals were registered.
Superb day, ready for all of us to join the competition tomorrow in Onil. Weather looks look, a bit crosswind launches though.
Skygod today ? Easy Solvi made huge progress since the last time I saw here last year, she claims she hasn't flewn a lot in between visits, but it sure doesn't look that way.
thursday 28 april
Arrived at 1 pm,. flew till 6 pm. High pressure over Spain, inversion. Cloudbase not that high, 1350 m ASL. All afternoon thermalling, it was 25 degrees celsius at take off. No clouds, blue thermals, at first somewhat punchy. It reminded my norwegian guests of flying in Norway in summer.
wednesday 27 april 2005
Tandems, solo flights., toplandings, BBQ on the beach, then again tandems, solo flights toplandings, chilled beer. Coastal soaring today No stress flying, after a couple of reasonable strong days in the mountains. Another boring day at the office, or another exciting day in Alicante. You choose, still bookings possible for may and june, door is wide open.
tuesday 26 april
Thought cloudbase was high yesterday. Today even higher, 2300 meterts ASL. Two locals today, who I asked to take my guys XC. W went for the goat mountain, with its spectacular drive up. Nobody wants to drive down, they rather fly it down. So all in the air. Xc was difficult we had to do with headwind from southwest on this eastern hill. So stayed around at 2000 meters having hours of thermalling. In the end magic lift over the valley.
monday 25 april 2005
| Got at take off Palomaret 1 pm, and waited a little bit for take off. Many foreign pilots, guiding by us, and only one local to be seen Jose Luis. We both took off at the same time and soon realised we were in for a good XC day. Thermals 4 m/s max, and cloudbase at 1850 meters ASL At 4.30 all in the air, conditons smoothened out a lot, and still cloudbase at 1600 meters. Hours of flying till 8 pm. (foto 7.30 pm !) Such a good day, unfortunately again, locals got on the hill way too late. Just in time to do their daily ridge run to Maigmo, shame !
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sunday 24 april 2005
| Parawait at Toix. At first no wind at all. Later on southwest what we needed, but in minutes an orographic cloud right at take off, didn't permit us to get out and fly safe. Before taking off, you have to be sure to get some lift, otherwise you do not reach the landing field (in between only sea). That cloud formed so quickly, just in a couple of minutes it was just above take off. I was all ready to go, thought oh well, compass, no gain no pain, done this hill a hundred times, waited already two hours goddamned, I soar just under that cloud, when it starts sucking - I just big ear it, ... , but decided not to. Later on, passsing landing field heading home, I looked up at take off, hmm good decision, that orographic was kinda big. Mañana. A pity, but what a paragliding day in terms of assessing conditions to fly. Left, something to do when you can't fly. Jump in the pool for instance. That's what we did today. |
saturday 23 april
Some pilots left yesterday and today, cheers guys hope to see you back. New pilots came in, they've all been here before.
All afternoon flying over the cliffs Santa Pola. The fantastic view over the sea, the mirroring of the bright sky overflying the blue med, ooh always worth it.
Nice and warm, sunny, some clouds later on in the afternoon.
All did well, Collin had the flight of his life, managed to get to the lighthouse and stayed there. It feels good to hear those things, it keeps you going.
Competition a bit up north was held, so few local hero's at take off, just us.
friday 22 april
Palomaret 25 degrees celsius, blue sky, very sunny, max 6 m/s thermals, cloudbase above 2000 meters, local hero Suby flew some 60 km distance. Keith Clapson, British pilot, some 20 km direction Ibi. At 5 pm, all in the air, low-airtimers flew an hour in smoother conditions.
No waterlanding, was pretty difficult today, with valley looking more and more like Arizona due to the never falling rain.
Skygod today ? I think it was Solvi (Norwegian female pilot) today, no doubt.
Tomorrow looks like we are gonna be flying over the mediterranean. Today up high we could see the seabreeze clouds coming in. Promising.
thursday 21 april
While most of europe is rainy and cold, we already sweat our butts off. It was again in the upper 20's today. In the morning, strong winds from our not favourable direction west. But the strong sun brought happiness. Breezes started to kick in, so we did some thermal dynamic flying near the coast of Benidorm. All in the air this time, tomorrow more. It looks like all day flying tomorrow, thermals. And I know they are ready.
Look at the photo on today's fotos, shot by my friend Jose Luis Sogorb, surely it shouldn't be missed in XC magazine, look out.
wednesday 20 april
Windy Alicante. Left for Calpe and flew. All (almost all) in the air. The site is pretty impressive for low airtimers. Take off - landing, nothing in between but water water water. A small XC flight to Sierra Bernia, for all (almost all) of the pilots.
Unfortunately our friend Pol made a bit of a hard landing on our spanish grass, his flying trip that started yesteray ends with his foot in plaster (heel). His mistake though, maybe rusty, arrived yesterday, immediately a huge flight, overconfident and maneuver over landing. I cannot emphasize enough on safety. Another pilot landed in the water.
We do not have grassy slopes, our terrain is rough, stoney (spanish grass we call it). Conditions can be rough and gusty. Bulgarian big fat nurses with moustaches in our hospitals. So come down and fly safe !
tuesday 19 april
Left for Murcia. Locals gave a call, come on down Nick with your "giris", meaning foreigners. So we did. Left windy Alicante and arrived at the site. Couple of minutes later, one local had to throw his reserve, after a mis doing SAT, no problem.
Five minutes later one of our best pilots had a bit of a problem in front of take off and had to land in a tree.
Few minutes later, another good pilot, had one collapse after the other. Minutes later, more collapses, assymetrics and frontals.
Nobody argued about the decision not to fly...
monday 18 april 2005
When you are flying a paraglider, you are 1 out of 10.000.000 people, having the luck to experience this non powered flying, enjoying spectacular views, kicking on nature elements, making millions of dreams come true. Remember, this is winning the lottery, every day you fly !
Today no lottery. But 25 degrees celsius average, blue sky, superb views of the mountains, fancy kite surfing ? .... salud !
sunday 17 april 2005
Early start, but only took off in the afternoon. Some of us got heights, some of us (me !) got sink all the way. It was pretty rough today, sidewind, gusty, front approaching. But most of us flew on a pretty bad day, so bonus.
saturday 16 april 2005
Wind too strong, north-west. No flying, gusts up to 50 km an hour. Competition got cancelled, so lots of pilots frustrated. Tomorrow looks better in the morning, lets see for an early start.
friday 15 april 2005
Wind too strong, my hair all messed up, damned.
thursday 14 april 2005
Most beautiful. Flying over Calpe, orographic clouds forming below us. Once in a while in full cloud, compass my dear ! , then out again over the Mediterrranean Sea. The sea was like a pallet of blue, turquoise, and purple, amazing. The sunlight was so clear on the water you could see the rocky and sandy beddings.
In the air smooth as cotton, +1 or +2 nothing more. Nearer towards Sierra Bernia, it got a bit rough, all of a sudden a wake up call.
Took loads of pictures, soon on a webpage linked to mine (working on it).
We could have kept on flying, but spiralled down to have a drink after a couple of hours. It was not only me who enjoyed it, other local friends like Suby, Moncho, Rafa who fly here regularly as well, were excited about the scenery today.
Tomorrow strong winds for a couple of days. New friends coming in, patience, no stress you guys, you'll fly. Bring shorts, it is getting hot. Beer o'clock now.
wednesday 13 april 2005
Good stuff again today. All afternoon thermals on Palo. Not a hihg cloudbase like yesterday, but reasonable enouhg at 1400 m ASL to go places like Maigmo etc ... . At start a bit strong, a bit too wild for guets, but after a cafe con leche, all wentsmooth. So again, hours of thermalling. +2 +3 thermals average, talking meters.
tuesday 12 april
This is probably gonna be the best day in april. April is our best XC month. Still lots of days with cold northern winds up high, but valleys heating up by the already strong sun. Creating southern valley breezes, great thermals kicking off from the valley and up high lee thermals joining them.
Early morning ... . It was gonna be a very good and strong day.
Once in the air, up to 5 m/s thermals, cloudbase at 2000 meters. A bit hammery, so it was hard work to keep the glider open. But once hooked in a thermal, you rocketed to cloudbase. Once near the cloud it was time to look at your compass, because you knew you were gonna see nothing soon. Oh forgot, first you looked around if nobody was near.
Once in the cloud you let yourself fade away, great I love it. Then some big ears or a spiral easily getting you down again. Playing with the friendly clouds.
Some of us couldn't get enough. Most of the local pilots who we fly with daily, topland usually after a little hour,a chat and a drink, take off again, fly another half hour, a chat and a smoke. Today, coudn't get enough, there was no way we were gonna leave this conditions, they were superb.
Late in the afternoon my belgian friends Sarah and Bart took off. They are very low airtimers and leaving this night. Big time for Sarah, climbing in one thermal 500 meters above take off. A bit later Bart, who flew to the clouds for the first time in his life, asking me what to do now, scary... . Later on impressing us by his low safe, and toplanding.
One pilot said : "This was better than sex". Poor man.
monday 11 april..
Benidorm, Blackpool, Scheveningen, Blankenberge, Biarritz. All the same ; smelly hotdogs, bacon and eggs, fat german wurst, granddad and grandma writing love letters in the sand, bingo, ... .
Except if the wind is southeast, then we love these places. Especially Benidorm, together with some locals. There is always a bit of a contest of who is gonna reach the beach. Not easy. Dudo (croatia) succeeded today, for his first time.
I usually land on the right side of Benidorm, I know my little spot on the beach, right in front of a blues bar. Waiting for retrievel, enjoying some ice cold beer and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Dudo asked me which beach part was the best. Sent him left, so maybe he is still waltzing ...
saturday 9 april - sunday 10 april
Strong winds from north, cooling down temperatures. No flying today.
friday 8 april
Today was a day to stay on the ground. Alerta, tormenta de miedo, they call it down here, frightening thunderstorm alert. I still love watching the clouds develop from nice cumulus to cumulus congestus then getting darker,bigger, nastier. As a paraglider pilot you feel the energy, and you can only respect its strength.
Thunderstorm development down here is very interesting to watch. Between the blue bits, you see it develop. Our so beloved nice clouds, get big and angry, bigger and angrier, and then they roar ... lightening ... roar, lightening, roar !
... ok we will wait till you settle down, keep it cool ...
It was watching this or the pope's funeral.
thursday 7 april
Afternoon flying at Santa Pola. Eastern winds, not too strong, nice for those who didn't like to fly the strong conditions yesterday.
wednesday 6 april
Bo, hell of a guy who loves hugging trees after a good flight, Oki the rocker never says no to a beer, Hendrie my big man running around half naked scaring the natives, Charly who flies well but is a nightmare at taking off, Koen who doesn't believe in Santa Claus, all are leaving tomorrow morning. But they enjoyed their last day of flying over Jijona. And what a superb day it was. 7 m/s thermals, some brave pilots had 3 hours of flying in these conditions. Sunny weather with cold front approaching, could that have something to do with it ? Viva España !
tuesday 5 april
Amazing. All afternoon flying, very cloudy near Agost. Comp pilots, acro pilots, low airtime pilots, all in the air, working the thermals. Felt good.
monday 4 april
All aftenoon, sunny soaring at cliff of Santa Pola. Its been a long time since I 've seen pilots so high above the sea, cliffs and appartments. Warm down below, chilly up high. Already spring, not summer yet. Give it another couple of weeks and we'll go skinny dipping (rightly spelled ?) after our flying the cliffs.
sunday 3 april
All afternoon soaring along the cliffs. New pilots happy ! Tomorrow we go inland, maybe direction villena, don't know for sure yet. Know what ? Swedish did it again, yes they swam in the sea while the water is still fricking cold this time of the year (16 degrees)
saturday 2 april 2005
Early flying at Santa Pola. Low airtimers only flew later on in the afternoon. Launch technique at its best needed when it was blowing 30 k/h early afternoon. Secret ?? Never end groundhandling.
1 april 2005
no flying today, sea pretty nerveus, winds too strong, time to fool the spanish who don't have april's fools day down here.
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