Aras de Olmos, Valencia

Some foto's of our neighbours in Valencia. Thanks letting me use them guys. Flying over Aras de Olmos, Valencia, yesterday, sunday. Cold it was.

Still flying after all these years

Still flying after all these years. Sounds a bit like Paul Simon doesn't it.

Cliffs were on today, and gloves were needed. Temperatures are dropping brutally. No freezing temperatures, but humid air, and only 10 degrees, so hats on.

Another ridge

Another ridge that I had in mind. But after exploring it nearer, I found out it is a walk up.

And I know each time I suggest flying on a hill with a walk up, pilots look at me as if I am the worst TV lawyer.

So don't know if today's hike with the family, is gonna pay off. Although it was a superb climb, with awesome views.

Our 12 year old champ, Paco.

Old men in the park

Sad faces in the park, no flying as it was too windy.

the eagle has landed

Houston, tranquility base here, the eagle has landed.

So it did, just like yesterday bits of flying at Cabo. Nothing big, but still happy to get in the air, spread our wings.

Bulls eye !

The traffic cone was the thing to hit when landing. For that there was a bottle of red wine as reward. Pierre and Julien made me two bottles lighter.

Rene didn't do so well ... but must have the most charming moustache in Wallonie, Belgium.

Benidorm paragliding

This was our first site. Cala de Finestrat. Unfortunately I do not have foto's of pilots in the air. They took off, winds too cross and went to land, so by the time we were all set to go ourselves, we decided to leave it. But I wanted you to see that photo, this is Benidorm. And Benidorm can be beautiful as you can see. The water can be so mediterranean blue, the sun so bright, and flying over Benidorm, well just something else.

But we flew further away from home, at Baby Col de Rates. A superb afternoon flying we all had. Nicely weak northern wind with smooth cloudsuck. We left this morning with a plan, more a tourist tour plan, but we achieved to find a site. A little bit far away but all worth it.

Nathalie under het Vega, near Parcent.

Sean, top of the stack all the time, with Montgo in the distance.

Flying till late as you can see.

Parcent the village in the valley of Jalon, lovely.

Santa Pola parapente

Some faces. All flying at Cabo de Santa Pola today. Not a lot to tell really. Eastern winds, some cloudsuck, no danger, all fun.
What else ? Life is great, just reach out and grab it.

Brutal drop of temperatures during the nights

There was a brutal drop of temperatures yesterday night. Tomorrow we'll get more decent temperatures again, but followed with rainy days. Not so good for our belgian school Fou D'l visiting us this week.

Haven't flewn a lot since arrival, but tomorrow we'll do Cabo. Winds will weaken and in between that bloody occluded front and todays weather we have to play.

Lots of winds today and pretty cold, northern winds. Prefer southern winds with the scent of couscous and tajine. Later.


Was a bit sad to have missed our class reunion once again. But foto's were sent of this annual feast of 1979 high school buddies.

Julia, Suzanne, Rosie, Annie and Dave. Missed you all.

A pleasand day out

Lots of kilometers to find the right place. Monte Cabrer to Peña Rubia.
Lots of winds forecasted, northeast but in the end we flew a westerly site. Not the best today, just merely a good day out with the boys and girls. Peña Rubia we flew.

Starry night

No flying today, winds were too strong. And air was very cold, it cut through the bones.

When I looked in the fridge, I remembered we had friends coming over tonight. I can always tell. That's when Kath puts empty bottles in the fridge. When I ask her why, she says for those who don't drink.

Cloudsuck

If it would have been spring we wouldn't have flewn this sky. But it is winter, so all more controlable. We flew with some heavy clouds, that looked pretty dark at moments. But knowing that eastern wind was bringing in more moist than anything else we were safe all the way.

Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.

Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward.

Where did I read that, I think it was a quote by Victor Kiam.

Winds up in the thirties km per hour. Gusty and broken waves in the sea. But sometimes you are so eager to fly, you take a little risk.

And even risking it under my big Cayenne3, had to do it. Waiting for that gust just to die off, just need 5 seconds, nothing else.

As long as I can get that glider symmetricaly above my head, it would be fine.

If rocketed up, I know my harnass pretty well, and belly-belt is at its widest not to get a spin. Once turned around, it would be a matter of leaning forward, no brake at all, maybe a touch of speedbar.

Now ! Up turn lean fly ! Done.

As soon as I was in the air, it was all over. Got my kick out of it, ready to land soon and go home. One of these days. Borderline. Stupid ? Ah. It was a good flight and if felt great, it doesn't always have to be a walk in the park.

The beautiful foto published is one shot by Carmen, Cabo at night.

Old pilots and BOMPIE

I think one of my guests was the oldest pilot in England once, 76 years. But now and then, I hear from german pilots that they have an active club member even older, 78. Then french show off, telling us, there is only one over 80 year old paragliding pilot and he flies their hills.

But the man on the foto beats it all.
Now it would be too easy and cheap to mock at him.
But to me, he gets his natural high the way he likes it, and nobody tells him what to do. That's what the foto tells me. Respect.

My fellow Belgian pilots, Frans and friends, meet him in the skies in northern France and call him BOMPIE.
And you may tell him, if he ever thinks about flying our region, he'll be very welcome to join us. Respect.

Paragliders in the mist

Very misty this morning. But had some flying in this afternoon. Huge inversion all over Spain, which gives us chilly air in the morning, but nice temperatures in the afternoon.
We have to wait till central hours to fly, then some breeze allows you to take off, almost kamikaze-wise. Very committed forward launches sometimes.

Steaming paella

Big inversion, misty at the coast. No wind. Weather is too good for us, paragliders. By noon sun burns off the mist, and tourists are happy though. We just are just stuck with a steaming hell of a paella.

Well if you have to choose in between a top to bottom or an excellent homemade paella by chef Julian. Having it on a terrace overlooking Sierra Bernia, no complaint.

Col de Rates, Parcent

Haven't flewn this site in donkey's years.

Col de Rates. And it is gonna be even longer now, as clouds didn't permit us to fly. Well did permit one pilot only to fly it. Then clouds got thicker and thicker, never reaching take off. A warm day on top of that hill, splendid views with that sea of clouds underneath us.

Whole gang of Valencia, Gandia. Cheers buddies.

Alicante winter - blue sky

"Nick, remember me ? I was there in 2005, years ago so. We flew Palomaret and it was all blue sky."
No I am sorry, we do fly a lot and blue sky is the most predominant sky we have. As it was today.
Maybe the outfits of Earth Wind and Fire were brighter than todays' sky.
But that's about it.

It is funny and it feels a bit awkward seeing that the whole of Europe, and actually huge parts of the world have devastating weather. Sad for those who had losses.
We on the other hand could only enjoy 4 m/s thermals on this again, very sunny afternoon.

Calpe paralgiding

It felt like the good old days. Exploring a new site. See what others think, see if it was flyable. Talking about the Aguas de Busot valley, where a long ridge is waiting for you guys. Give us some time to explore, and fly it in all different conditions and we'll open it for you.

Every possibility I am gonna use to check it out. Today it was too tricky to try it for the first time, winds too cross to be safe.

So left for Toix, who can't remember Toix ever been here before.

As most of the time, the window to take off was small. A half hour maybe and then too strong. Ariel didn't mind, he had one of his first major flights over Toix.

Elche parapente

Little, all little today. Little hill, little flight. Nothing big today. But 'uitando el mono', lost in translation.
A flight at Buenos Aires, near highway Elche. And what's new is that take off is reachable by car.
In winter seabreezes do not get always far enough in land to use our proper sites. As alternative we can use this lower hills and have some fun.
I remember one belgian pilot pee-ing downwind, and all of a sudden he peed his pants. Wind is on ! Wind changed ! And it actually did, seabreeze kicked in just like that. Honestly happened.

After flying a little beer in my little village, in little bar 'ciosco Susy'. And after that, I was treated, again, by a splendid sunset.

Paragliding video

Thanks Rodney reminding me where to find Riis video. Very amusing, one of the best paragliding video's to be found.

Riss I am sure you don't mind putting it back on my blog. I just love it,and lots of your fellow pilots all over do as well, believe me.

Western warm air

A western wind is always giving us nice temperatures, 18 degrees and more in winter. Usually with a bright blue sky, and splendid views, cristal clear air.

For flying we have to move, as Peña Rubia is mostly too windy. Better Almudaina, or Sierra del Buey for our Murcian pilots.

Aïgeus - Busot

This could be your new site if flying this winter in Alicante. It is 6 km from seaside. So profits from seabreeze every day when blue sky like today. A 600 m long rigde, with big landing fields.
Foto below is take off. Needs a little clean up and we're off.

This time of the year when it is quiet I like to explore new sites, see if things are possible.
I see ourselves flying this one, having lunch, maybe BBQ in the dry river bed, sheltered from the sun and wind.