I was born in a crossfire hurricane ... loud Stones music on the radio heading home after a fantastic day

, adrenaline still pumping.

Look at the group, it doesn't get much better. Danish, belgian, brits, swiss, swedish pilots, all flew today. Some earlier at Benidorm. Most of them later at Toix, our 'tricky' site. All in the air landed at Calpe beach, which is an achievement. Fantastic, it was supposed to be an off day, but we did it again, we filled our boots. (I think that's how they say it...)
Winnie and Allan, unfortunately you are not around with your danish friends, but we will see you again in June.

I cannot sent any messages through email these days, I have to check whats wrong. I do recieve messages though. And I know some of you guys asked to buy a glider, I just cannot get to you. If you wish you can call us on 0034 606 781 180. I hope things are fixed soon, I'm sorry.

Tomorrow 1st of may. everybody home, so I hope all will fly.

Danish pilots in the air, just arriving from their warm Scandinavian weather. At Cortina.

We were off inland at first, but luckily Ismael called us, stop, turn around, relax, too strong. So we turned around, relaxed and went for the coastline. Even there clouds were getting big, black, huge.

But the breeze withheld the bigger ones, so we could fly !

Other local pilots tried out a new ridge near Pinoso, with succes, this evening I had the message that they found a new ridge near Pinoso. They will get me the details so we can see if suitable for all of us in the near future. Teamwork.

Saw the news on TV, up north almost panic because of the drought. In Belgium for instance it hasn't been raining for 30 days, fantastic. But they start to have problems, not having enough water now. No problem down here we have been living for decades with the lack of rain. It is called a disaster area, this Alicante and more south the Almeria region. Told you, they have the solucion, down here. Just keep on building more immense golf courses, that consume water like a village of 10000 inhabitants. Or believe the oracle Johann Cruyff, who is now telling us that Spain is the most advanced country in Europe recycling waste water. It is all done for his sponsored golf-courses ! So no worries.

It'll be an iffy week to fly, lots of instability. Hopefully just enough to fly high cloudbase and do tasks.

Strange. In the back cumulus congestus forming. In front still blue sky. Some gusts of wind, but that was mainly sea-breeze. Greyer looking clouds coming in, could be more humidity than anything else. But in the air though, definetely cloudsuck. And more and more of the clouds gathering above take off. What was this, was the white stuff above it growing ? Would it be ok to fly later ? Felt strange, too easy to get up. And gusty in the air. So we decided to have a drink in the old mans bar, always safe.

Photo from Robin Vandenabeele, Belgian art photographer who visited us lately. If you want more info on him, let us know.

Top to bottoms possible today, but after so many days of consecutive flying, and XC, and spring thermals, we were happy to relax, feet up.

This morning it was raining cats and dogs, with here and there a thunderclap. This afternoon the april sun, burned through, it got to 26 degrees and very sunny. Lots of instability, but unfortunately too much for us to get in the air on our inland hills today.
Next week, swiss, british, swedish, german and belgian pilots all together.

Meanwhile our top pilot and friend who is always with us, Rafa, left for Portugal. To fly his acro stunts in an exhibition weekend out there, organised by the Portugese federacion.

Tropical warmth at Cabo. Early morning clouds,

burned off by the hot april sun.

Soaring, filling up your boots.

In between toplandings we could notice a fair amount of bad take offs again, and bum landings of course. And funny to see pilots who after all these years still don't know how to take off, are helped by somebody who can't take off either. While lots of professionals present on the hill, too stubborn to ask for help. Oh well, as long as it is embarrassing and not harmfull.

Conditions were fabulous, a nice laminar 15 km per hour wind though.

What a glorious site Cabo is, while all weather forecast was against us, we had a window of 6 hours or more. Thanks again to all who contributed to the site the past years by sending in a penny or more on the account. The account that stills pays the bill, saving cabo de santa pola, as one of Europeans' most precious soaring sites at the Med, thanks thanks thanks !!!

Local pilots and us will never forget, aint' that right boys ?

Talk to you tomorrow, yo !

Again an excellent day. Bombero was probably skygod again today, flew from Caudete into Castilla la Mancha. Don't know how many km yet.
We had some lousy flights at Villena. Very weak thermals and overcast, front coming in. Second attempt was aborted, as in minutes winds picket up violently.
So off towards the coast, cloudbase lower there, but at least some good flying.
Palomaret, Grahm, Sean and Joachim scratching at first, but then no problem with the breeze kicking in, to get way above take off, topland, sing and shout.
Perfect day.

Monte Cabrer, XC for Suby, Dudo and Xavi. Don't know how far, no idea. But all guests had 1000 meter (not feet ....) gain above take off, flying with eagles and vultures.
It looks like up north some countries got a spanish taste of warm spring weather. Sure hope you guys fly a lot, high and far. Down here again 28 degrees, till late .... .

Windy despite no pressure grdient so Barbie by Marcel supervised by Nick in the warm sunshine, Many calls later then off to Monte Cabrer. A beautiful mountain ridge 2200 ft top to bottom. Greeted by a light breeze on take off and 3 gliders already high in the sky (Alex, Carmen and Xavi) above the ridge.

Plenty of room to alyout the gliders and a clear runway for take off to join the eagles as well in flight.

Smooth lift, thermals everywhere with tthetown laid out below leading to a classic days flying in the afternoon sunshine. Marcel ,belgian, Joahcim, german, Sean and Graham, brits all had a very enjoyable thermic soaring flight leaving poor Nick, doing the drive down.

Perfect take offs, perfect landings with a barbie - what a day to remember.

written by Sean

Nice photo' from Roibn Vandenabeele, art photographer. More info on him ? Ask us.

Northern wind. Competition at Reconco this weekend was cancelled. European windsurf competition in Santa Pola was held today. We didn't have a window to join them playing today.

Red sky at night, shephers delight ? Is that it ?

Well that's the news for our buddies in Wales, because this picture was sent in by SteveG, and Scott. Thanks guys.

I read you had excellent flying days in your wonderful part of the world. Fantastic.

Down here we flew a bit at Cabo, but uuuuuugly. It was north, bastante movido, uuuuugly.

Anyway, good times, no stress. Toni and Jez left us, ready for their season in England I suppose. Thanks flying with us.

On the left proud Alex, who had a splendid XC flight yesterday, Palo-Villena. On the right Rodriguez, not family of Raul of Felix but of Borja Rodriguez another comp pilot in Spain flying a HOOK.
Today was superb, first palomaret, untill the eastern winds were too strong. At first a bit bumpy with the inversion we had, bits later all overcast and flying in the clouds. Then too rough and strong when 'bombero' was in the air. So we soon decided to go to the coast and do some gentle soaring.
For hours again, at the cliffs of Santa Pola.

Champions at work today. Especially the newer younger pilots did very well. Alex for instance, Jose from Elche, Xavi from Javea. And then the old guys, Toni, Subi, Bartual all went XC. Some of them Villena, others Castalla, but the highest score was for Bartual at Caudete. And this from Palomaret.
Cloudbase for the best was 2200 m ASL, in airspace actually ... .
Climb up to 5 m/s.

Earl as low airtimer did very well today, he managed to get several low-saves in. Jez was getting less and less nerveus in the air. Toni, british Toni was knackered. Robert wasn't unpleased with his flight under his worn Ozone Elektron. Henrik was not unpleased to end the day with smoother air, sea breeze coming in.
Sean, just arrived, found it splendid, getting the british rust off, immediately sky-godding above hiss favourite hills around Alicante. It is his tenth time visiting us and flying in our region, each time saying 'I'll be back !'.

Home now, without helmet. I borrowed it to Toni who went XC with it. I tell you I flew a bit without helmet and it was bloody cold. Yes even in Spain up high it is cold.

Feet up
chilling
eastern winds too strong at the coast
inland heavy angry clouds

A full day. Early flying in thermals at Palomaret until it got too tricky with stronger and stronger eastern northeastern winds.

We left then for Hondon. Yes the pathless walk up.

After food in the village, we visited the caves near the landing first. Amazing. To find this caves were not a very long time ago, people lived in. All 'equipped' with kitchen, bedroom, storage'space, chimney.

We flew badly late in the day. Winds too cross to be good. But an adventure for all of us.

Morning flying at San Antonio untill it got too strong and too east to be good.

Cloudcover as well was worrying, as forecast was rain and thunder later in the day.

So off to do our tandems and flying at Cabo de Santa Pola.

Foto landing with Christiana, girlfriend of Simon, Bernard's brother who are around every year.

Down below, she's back !! Vanessa, back home, after pampering her boyfriend in Norway. Yes from Norway for gods' sake, so there is still hope my friends...

We had a good group of pilots in the air, lots of fun, as if summer was here. Earl, Jez, Toni, Robert, Henrik, Federico, Ismael, Rafa were joining us from early morning, others were joining us this afternoon at our famous soaring site near the cliffs of Santa Pola.

Afternoon flying at Cabo de Santa Pola. Again Cabo surprised us with an all of a sudden easterly wind, after gusty northern winds. With exactly the right strength to play around for over an hour.

Inland it was nasty looking, dark clouds and probably rainfall on our hills. Hardly any other pilots but us on the hill, it was very hard to believe it was gonna be flyable today.

It was cloudy this morning, but this afternoon, the sun burned through at the coast and welcomed us with spring temperatures.
My guests that arrived this morning had a good first day in already. Hooray !

Back from Italy.

Picture one is taken when we arrived at Bassano, Monte Grappa. Some competition was held, goal 75 k, Bruce Goldsmith got second I believe, first one in goal was Basso from Italy.

A shot from the landing field, where we can only dream of in Spain. The whole set up at take off and landing, shuttles are very well organised. The big take off is carpeted. The landing field is huge and very well kept. Dustbins, containers for rubbish. Not a sweet wrap, coca cola can be found.

Voluntarily you can buy a fly-pass, to help out with the site. And the local clubs, local pilots deserve it, everybody should pay the few euros for flying at their site. Shuttle to take off costs 4 euros, which is a gift.

Bassano is very suitable for low airtimers. It profits of the sea breeze every afternoon, so smooth thermal flights can be done daily when instability from over the back (the dolomites) doesn't screw the weather.

We were there with the family, did some hiking, rafting, swam (with neo-prene suits on of course) in wild waters, and flew 6 out of 7 days.

On the day of the competition cloudbase was high, from monday onwards till yesterday there was a huge inversion. Still permitting to fly for hours. Our main thing was not the flying only, so we only flew afternoons. and most of the flying was done by Kath under her Niviuk HOOK.

This part of Italy is rich, you can tell, everything is very clean, very well taken care off, very well organised.

Other foto's, one of my son at the railway station of Milan, guarding our gliders. And one with one of his heroes who was boarding at the same time in Valencia. If you like football you'll recognize him, if you don't like soccer forget it, nothing important. Although he looks a bit like Robin, owner of paragliding school Airtopia in Bristol, in his youngr days though .... kiss.

We had a fabulous time, ready to guide all of you in the region of Alicante. Cheers.

Leaving with Kath and Paco for Italy right now. Visiting Milan and region, hoping to fly the lakes and Bassano.

Back next weekend the 14th of april, have a good Easter you all.

I am angry. That's an emotion isn't it. You have to surpress it don't you. Well it's getting better already. Angry because something happened on our site that shouldn't happen.

Marko, Denis and Tom will remember us flying at Benidorm the other day. They will remember as well that a spanish pilot showed up, with his wife and baby. He flew a ICARO glider. And you remember me "preaching" NOT to land anywhere else than in the designated landing field. The triangular sandy field near the lampposts, near the square roof. If we land anywhere else, we risk the site to be closed immediately. Because take-off and landing is owned by Warner Brothers, americans who are afraid we are gonna sue them if we hurt ourselves, which is ridiculous, but that's how the world goes nowadays.

I do not need to refresh your memory, the guy landed, of course !, and NOT on the designated and only landing field, but downwind (!) on the slope of Terra Mitica, exactly the slope owned by Warner Brothers. Luckily, and believe me this is most important, he didn't hurt himself. But the damage is done, surely the guards have watched him, and it is reported. Damn !!!

Now today at Cabo, it was nice to fly in a smooth easterly wind. Some of the pilots even bummed out, so it was not strong at all.

Now his wife took off, and to be honest nicely. But what she did next is unbelievable, unbelievable, there are no words. She made a 180 degree turn and flew straight towards the cliffs, screaming. We all heard her screaming and were watching the impact. She had about 10 seconds to turn, she was just flying towards the cliffs on the right coming from take off. She had loads of time to give it a slight turn to the left to evade a colision. But no turn at all. Once she hit the rocks, she screamed as hell. Some of us rushed towards her, and I called an ambulance because it was obvious she was hurt very badly.

Afte a lot of chit-chat, an ambulance was gonna be sent, and a helicopter, so we asked not to fly any more, huh. Do you want me to go on ?

Of course there was a french pilot taking off and still in the air, when the heli was approaching. This is no thriller, don't worry. He ignored our calls, he ignored our signs to go landdown on the beach. So helicopter was so nice to hoover away from the scene, thanks !

Anyway, this shouldn't have happened. (God, what a relief just sharing my anger with you.)

This couple don't have the faintest idea what paraglider is all about. They are not schooled enough and have no skills yet. Have no idea about wind, aerology. I wish I wasn't the only one who told them to be careful.

In Benidorm the other day I got angry, because all I said was like blowing in the wind. It felt as if they didn't care, didn't respect my opinion, my (yes) knowledge (I prefer to be humble).

One more thing, helicopter, ambulance, it is easter, it is now packed with tourists, and this on our fragile site of Cabo de Santa Pola that everybody loves.

You know what else, I got sad, because I saw an instructor just filming it all, the whole rescue operation.

I hope she is allright and gets better soon.

Unstable weather, not flying today.

This weekend there is a competicion in Granada. Some of our Valencian and Alicante pilots are on their way down there already to train.

While we were having up to 50 km on our northwest sites near Alicante, they had a window to take off near Carrascoy in Murcia.

And they did well. Most of them landed near Torrevieja, further wasn't possible 'cause that's a beach resort ! Congratulations. Bring back some trophee from Granada.

Photo of the site

Sites with a view, La Cortina overlooking the bay of Benidorm. Or Calpe, overflying Morro de Toix, with Penon d'Ifach in the back. We flew at Cortina, all of us. And Alf had his first flight on his red Niviuk Hook, congratulations. Now get rid of the old rag.

When,after lunch we arrived at Calpe, it was too strong to launch. Mani was in the air, but looked quite nerveus, legs wide apart, making big ears, ... . Behind huge development inland. Don't worry he'll be allright, he's a hell of a Toix' pilot.

Nice one today.

Left early to fly El cid, a site nobody ever goes to. Although it has its altitude of 1100 m and a height difference of 650 meter, but the road up is nasty, maybe that puts pilots off the have some morning flying up there.

Later around 11 am, we arrived at Palomaret where the dutch pilots with their Swing gliders, flew a couple of hours. Untill it got nasty, gust of over 40 km per hour at take off, and charged sky. But after all a very flyable day.