Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
But a scare here and there during a flight, isn't too bad. Now and then a wake up call, a sudden collapse, a hammer thermal passing by, sudden sink, slack lines, all good. As long as they are not predominant.
It is good to have a scare once in a while. Keeps you focused, keeps you alert, keeps you awake.
When I have a good flight, I am awake. I keep my eyes open, study terrain, look at other pilots. I am focused. Check clouds, check groundspeed and so on. And when there is a little scare, a pumping thermal, an unexpected windgust, a collapse, it doesn't matter.
Then I drive home, put on full blast - 'Sweet Jane', live by Lou Reed. Get home, glad to see my family.
How was your day ? FANTASTIC, honey.
In between it should be, not scared all the time, not too laidback, but a scare once in a while, keeps you going in this sport.
Another flying day, 500 m climb above take off for Kike, Rafa, Dudo and others today. I am sure after all these years it is not about routine for them either. Happy.
Me, Paco, mom and dad.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
We knew it, and were waiting for the orographic cloud forming over Maigmo. It formed itself as a silk blanket over the peak. An amazing performance.
Here we are, salt of the earth, working class heroes.
Marcel, Pepe, Federice, and me (I took the picture but after that I had the shovel allright), concreting posts for windsocks at landing fields. Because I believe windsocks at take off and landing fields is one thing that can make pilots more comfortable with a flying site.
And especially for foreign pilots who have to cope with the already rough terrain, unknown thermals, most of them being rusty. We believe it is important. So all is getting ready to welcome you all again, and have some safe flying.
Eagle ! Yes, we don't see them a lot, they are easier to be spotted more inland, where it is not that dry. Still fantastic to see them soaring and thermalling, skygods.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Best time in the afternoon when sun was at its strongest. Valley breezes kicking in, giving us room for playing with the thermals.
Dudo flew today, and mentioned once at cloudbase which was at 1200 m ASL, the winds were slightly more from northwest, drifting him towards Los Ventos.
Promising for tomorrow, because we plan to check out another site for you guys. A site where most of the locals have flown before. Sierra del Buey, near Jumilla.
It is again a take off near a windfarm, watch foto's tomorrow.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Some days one really wonders about himself (or herself in this case).
Just turned 41 last month and decided to take up snowboarding. For once in my life I was happy for those extra few pounds on the right places to make landings softer.
And today, I decided to go for the Maigmo run, Nick was going to stay with me and guide me- a real luxury, only possible when there are no clients around requesting his attention.
So there I went: perfect take off, in the beginning a bit of hoovering to find the thermals but off we went, my beautiful red hook and me. And up we were with all the local daily flyers, so hey I am ready. But none of them took of direction Maigmo and Nick was just asked to test the gradient Avax RSE, an offer he couldn't resist.
So there I was high up . Should I? No no no, better wait for Nick maybe the winds are not favourable enough, it's a bit off, might be tough getting back, maybe ... Stress is supposed to be work related only, no?
So there I stayed just flying around, parked once in a while waiting in the sky. Moving here and there a bit, but always making sure I'd get back ok. And then Nick's voice over the radio, 'getting out the artik now, be there in a sec and then we'll go'. So I waited and tried keeping my height when he finally signaled let's go ! I had lost some height but figured, ok if anyone knows ... and as a good woman I followed my man --- but hoho he's not going up he's going down, maybe I should turn and get some more height ?¿ And I did what I shouldn't have, I turned to look for another thermal while Nick already caught one, but hey I gained a few meters and there's Rafa well below me and he's with a Ozone Vibe. So I must be able to make it as well with my newer Niviuk Hook no ?¿ So I went chasing after Rafa, but we're sinking again ! He's still lower and going, and there's Nick right in front of us, higher though, so we only have to catch the right lift, that's all, I thought.
But we didn't. We both found some lift on the hill but not enough to proceed so turned around and really head back this time, now ! But a little too late, I hit sink and kept on scratching just hoping, praying looking at the hill the trees and .....
......where am i going mamaaaa...
......ssst stop whining, relax and concentrate, where's the best spot ? the track ? There between the trees there's like a small clear no ? ok let's S it off, I don't want to be near the other hill, I'd be under the wind, no stress, easy on the commands....Is this the spot where... ssst stop thinking - just fly, trust the Hook, she'll be ok
I zig-zag around trees, overshoot the clear spot, head towards the road avoiding trees again, finally landed in a tight spot, luckily on both feet. Waved to Rafa and Nick to signal that I was ok.
Then I started packing my baby, she landed me safe again !
When I walked back along the track I am laughing at myself "woman what's gotten in to you, you're 41 not 21". On a sunday afternoon you should be preparing paella and have some wine -but hey I read something last week that struck my mind.
'El mayor riesgo en la vida es no hacer nada' = 'the biggest risk in life is doing nothing'
and I'm alive and kicking!
Kathe,
me and my baby
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Thermalling together with Kike. He had a wonderfull flight back and forth to Maigmo.
Pretty busy. Lots of pilots enjoying the fantastic summery day, thermalling weather you only get at the Costa Blanca, this time of the year, on mainland Europe. January it is.
If this one makes you dizzy, well you should have been up there with us.
Chris had to try out his new Niviuk HOOK and he choose the right day. Bubbly thermals here and there, +3 max +4, bity, teasing the pilots, making it at times hard to stay up.
It was as if summer had never left. We forgot the windy days of last week, and got up as if today was just another summer day. Full of sun, sky couldn't have been more blue, thermals couldn't have been more inviting.
Lots of good friends, no hassles !
Friday, January 18, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Martin Cray who visited us a couple of times, has been a falconer since he was a teenager and is now flying with Cossack, a steppe eagle, formerly owned by Louise Crandal. Martin has been shooting movies for the BBC and many film-reports of paragliding.
He wrote an article in the latest Skywings which is really worth reading. Title : trust your inner eagle !
I don't know if you mind, asking me if one of you guys in Britain can scan the article. Send it to me, so we on the continent who can't get skywings article to read. (I don't have a scanner ...)
I hope all is allright up there Martin, Steve, Paul and all your girlfriends whose names I've fogotten. Down here it was possible to fly at Calpe today, but chilling as no guests around. Still looks as if Stevie Wonder is my gardener though. Un abraso.
Monday, January 14, 2008
And for those who read this, this is just another example of how spending the day on a non flyable day down here. It is even a great day out for a family. Cartagena, an hour away.
Cartagena got its name from a general of Carthago, a city totally dissapeared in the norht of Lybia, after being overpowered and ruined by the Romans. That general had a mission, he had to bring over young and strong elefants to the continent of Europe from Africa. Good old Hannibal crossed the Alps with this elefants, went ahead and conquered Rome. Ok, enough of that.
Only an hour drive from Alicante you can visit the port, the old inner town, the redone bull fight arena.
We drove further south, just before reaching Mazarron Tell you what, it is a conquest finding a spanish owned bar, all is english in Mazarron, and all serve peas.... and warm beer.... .
Anyway before reaching it, you better turn left towards the sea, and enjoy the hills, the cliffs overlooking the mediterranean.
Up there you can find an old coastal defence system to protect the vital harbour of Cartagena. Forts, guns, canons, searchlights all there. It is a huge playground for boys. You can crawl into tunnels, explore old machinery hidden in dark basements, yes you need a flashlight !
It is surrouned by astonishing natural surroundings. The sea, the rocks, isles, and cliffs. Seagulls soaring.
People ask me, can I bring the family. I think Alicante is by all means the best destination for a flying trip, taking the family along. Me happy, you happy, all happy no ?
Later in the day I heard, some very keen pilots had driven from Alicante to Calpe, back to Villena, down to the coast, but no good flying in. Desperate to fly on a sunday day-off, but weather didn't permit. We have some front approaching which makes it difficult for a couple of days.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
It is a dog, known for its excellent hunting instincts. But a dog with a sad end of its life. The dog lots of times is hung up on a tree, strangled do deaht by its own boss, the hunter, after hunting season. This mainly happens up north, in provinces like Castilla-Leon.
Down here hunters are not so cruel. After hunting season they just leave the dog behind.
The abandoned dog has to hunt, hunt for rabbits, rats and everything it can get, to survive. Poor dog has done the job, so they get rid of it.
No affection, of course not, hunters are sick.