What a lovely glider señor Guy. Congratulations with your new buy. You'll be a new pilot, see you tomorrow.

We flew at the coast today. A bit of everything.
Henrik who tried to break his time record at the site. Happy tandems with satisfied passengers from Valencia. Guy flying his brandnew kit. Last day for Michael, Achim and Elisabeth unfortunately. Scott with hawks at practice, succesfully. Marcel hungover in the air (no plastic bag needed).
Lots of things to do, lots of things to be taken care of at take off, all around flying, all to do with paragliding, which we love.

Fiestas en Alicante

Spanish have more holidays than every other country in the world. Every region, every village have a week of fiestas, honouring their patron.

This time it is Alicante. Street are filled with brass brands. Everywhere dressed up girls, in costumes I mean.

And men wearing funny coloured socks. Just a glimpse of the streetview nowadays in Alicante.

The pink socks of the matador will come later, that's at the end of the week.

Inland was better and cooler

With such a strong norhteasterly wind, and with so much white horses on the sea, I had to cancel my tandems flights.

I couldn't risk people coming from Valencia and dissapoint them.

Alth0ugh there was a possible window late in the afternoon, more inland. And luckily we took it. We flew at Palomaret, with a wall of cloud blocking the strong northeasterlies.

Gentle flights, not with a high cloudbase, but flying untill we were satisfied, and ready to topland. Called it a day at 7 pm.

Feeling good.

Cabo de Santa Pola, famous and used by local schools like Parapente Alicante, Kasana and from Albacete, Club Almenera de Parapente.

Elisabeth, Swiss lady friend.

The heat lay over Alicante like a shroud. The beaches were packed:

Te towns and villages empty, people staying inside with aircon on,full blast.

Winds came from behind, from inland, towards the coast, western winds, from Andalucia.

Later on in the aternoon it all turned, it was still hot ,but winds came in from the north now.

Henrik beat me, he flew at Cabo before I had a chance to. He flew a good half hour, and bummed out although winds were still strong. But at Cabo winds can feel strong at take off, but once out, shit , it is 90 degrees off.

Tonights is opening night of Alicante's fiestas. Shouldn't be missed if you are around here. Every night for a week, fiestas on the streets, untill the 24th, next friday, big night for us. Bonfires, fiesta, bullfights (for those who fancy), food and drinks, music and dancing people everywhere. More spanish it doesn't get.

Sex on the beach

Gentle winds, made it hardly possible to stay up today. The weather was not on the paragliding side today.

Imagine writing postcards to your friends :

" today weather was too good, say hi to mom and dad"

" bloody sun, 30 degrees or more, sea invitingly warm, wasn't the best day for flying, bummer, greetings from Alicante "

" look like Rudolf, forgot to smear, couldn't get my glider up, winds too gentle, wish I was home "

" the only place decent was in the pool, with an ice cold beer in a chilled glass on the side, bloody hell, bad luck with my paragliding holiday "

" had sex on the beach, bloody seagulls were screaming, see you in the bar lads "

Moaning, favourite passtime for lots of us, but not for us.

" We had a wonderfull time today. Wish you were here mom. XXX "

Morro de Toix - Calpe

You could say flying our tits off yes. All we want and daily lately. Fantastic weather, all you want, a choice of sites, a choice of fun.
Today we choose for Toix. Toix for its late flying, southwestery breeze that kicks in almost daily in summer.
No stress about the take offs, the present pilots are top.

You could soar on this famous site around the mediterranean as long as you wanted.
With its splendid views as constant eye candy.
Over Altea Hills, back again, peeping on the other side see Calpe, and flying over the turquoise Med.

Ronny, thanks being here again, I hope and am sure you liked it once again. Take care, see you around.

easy flying

Easy flying today. Nice and smooth air, southerly winds, spot on for Palomaret.

No stress at all in the air, and today only a few pilots showed up.

Late, yes, we only flew at 5 pm, when air was more stable, when temperatures were more bearable.

Our plan was to get to Fortuna, but my good old 4x4 truck broke down. Minor problem my mecanic said, hope the bill will be minor as well.

Before flying, well hate to say, but we just enjoyed the beach, the pools, the siesta. Aaaagghh.

Cabo de Santa Pola

foto Frans Dechaene, belgium pilot

Last week, we asked for volunteers to clean up a path that would help us getting to our take off in a more decent way than last years.
Still, we have to step over rubbish, filth, been looked at by neighbours as if we are tresspassing their ground. Although we are using public ground to get to our take off.
Last week we had, again, a reunion with the lady councelor of tourism, Loretto Cascales.

She was doing, in her own words, us a FAVOUR by letting us clean up a 60 meter path on waistland.

For years it has been promised, to get us a decent access to our take off.

Guess what ? Surprise ? Not at all.

Of course there was a phone call that we couldn't do it, it was forbidden to clean up a path. Why ? Well now something else came out of the hat. Now the councelor of Medio Ambiente (equivalent of environment ... ) vetoed.

Same story, same shit over and over again, and this for over 10 years now.

It is all so stupid. As councellor of tourism, she doesn't think about her duty to attract tourism for instance. To make people, visitors, foreigners, feel welcome in her area, so generating revenue so bars/restaurants/shops hence local people benefit from it. I count about 500 pilots do visit our region yearly.

And that's not only it, think about the attraction of paragliding itself. Lots of people are watching us, taking foto's, wanting to go tandem, etc... .

There are a millions reasons to promote tourism that way, and I still cannot find one motive to try to stop us from using this site in a proper, educated way. I cannot get my head around it.

I better focus on the fantastic flights we had again today, solo and tandems, me and all the rest of the buddies again, here at Cabo de Santa Pola today.

Tandem wake up call

Strong westerlies this morning, temperatures rising, as all that dry air from Andalucia was moving in. But it is June, so our sun is so bloody hot it provokes almost certain that cooling seabreeze.
And it did, just needed patience. At 5 pm, who said that again and again, yes Hemingway, a las cinco de la tarde, Spain relives.
And lots of times, then the breeze hits the hills inland. Today again.

Flew tandems, nice tandems in smooth air. And I was just thinking about how casual it gets flying all the time. You don't think about the pleasure, about the specialness of flying, because it is a thing you do for a living, a job. That's why it is good to have visiting pilots with a drive, or having passengers who pinch your arm, and let you know this is fabulous, flying paragliders.

Lots of sun, lots of flying

Making people happy and feeling happy ourselves. Whole families wanting to fly today. An excellent day at Palomaret, lots of locals around this time. Even some schools with this years' students doing their first top to bottoms.
Nice summery feeling.

Parabiciswimthlon

Paraglided till I got blisters on my hand and bum, cycled till heart was suffering, swam till out of breath. Proper parabiciswimthlon.

Excellent day at the coast. Some times you know you live at the right place, and you feel you know the right people. Thanks sharing the day you all. Hugs, kisses and flowers.

Impressive Cu-nimbs ove the sea. Hard weather up north. We had no bad weather. Winds were south. Early morning Oliver flew at Toix.
We waited till late afternoon and let the birds fly at Orito.

This morning in the garden of Carmen and Alex I heard the wind through the pine trees. That special sound of thermal air passing through, through the pine trees, with its burned smell. Not so outspoken yet, for that we have to wait till the heat is really scorching. Then the flies have gone as well, those bother now if you take a sunbath for siesta. The cigarras will soon arrive, with their loud kri-kri noises. They will warn you when it will be hot during the day, they will warn you early morning. Can't wait, till that scorching heat is arriving.

Parahawking Palomaret

Parahawking at Palomaret yesterday, late afternoon. Scott and Kath with bird Heckel on the arm.

Gecko of the house

Every year I do recognize our gecko. The one with four toes on his right forefoot, and four toes on his left backfoot. Amazing little thing, always appears late spring on our ceiling. I will call him Gecko.

Two most beautiful shots of the day

Anita with Heckle ready to be released.

And below Marcus already released.

A long day today. Early flying at Carrasqueta, the mile long ridge above Jijona. It was Marcus first flight on that ridge although he has visited Alicante since 1992, yes a young old man. He loved it. The ridge faces south, profits from the first thermals of the day, and later on profits of any seabreeze, be it easterly or southerly, due to the bottleneck shape of the valley of Jijone right in front of take off.
Later on training sessions for the parahawking. Almost ready to please all who want to join us on this magical experience, flying with the birds.

Archaeopteryx

I bought a new wing.
Yeah, and whats its name ?
A Archaeopteryx.

What ?

An Archaeopteryx.

Oh.

Yes, its named after the first animal that was called a bird. Although the feathers were not for flying maybe.

No ? Feathers not for flying ?

Well some scientists are not convinced.

Some say the feathers, were used for low water fishing. It gave shadow in the water, so for the fish it was more difficult to see movements, and easier to detect the prey for the hunter.

Yeah ?

Yes, just like the Black Egret.

Interesting Paco, never heard of it. Thanks son, you thaught me things today. Ozone Delta anyone ?

Cabo de Santa Pola

A quick translation of message from federation about cleaning up new access path to take off Santa Pola.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

After lots of years of communicating with townhall Santa Pola, at last we agreed on getting the permission to clean up a path from road to take off.

In collaboration with the gardeners of the town, we will soon have a 2 meter path.

But the cost and the work cannot be done only by the townhall. We need volunteers to help out. We need 10 to 15 volunteers from the 13th of june onwards.

As little incentive for helping out, sandwiches and a meal will be served for free.

------------------------------------------------------

Lets hope our effort once again, will destress the situation with the neigbouring urbanisation Olivo de Oro.

Mensaje de federacion, Cabo de Santa Pola

SE BUSCAN VOLUNTARIOS

Parece que las conversaciones mantenidas con el Ayto de Santa Pola con respecto al acceso al despegue, van dando sus frutos y por fin tenemos el beneplácito y la colaboración directa de la brigada de Parques y Jardines para acometer las tareas de acondicionamiento del mismo.
El Ayto va a acometer, mediante el mencionado equipo, las labores de desbrozado y posterior acondicionamiento de una pista de unos 2 mts de ancho desde la carretera hasta el mismo despegue.
El acuerdo al que se ha llegado consiste en que el Ayto de Santa Pola pone al equipo de Parques y Jardines y nosotros buscamos a unos 10-15 voluntarios para echar un cable en las tareas de acondicionamiento.
En principio se han calculado entre 1 y 2 semanas de trabajos. Inicio de trabajos Lunes 13 de Junio de 2011.
Se ha llegado a un acuerdo con un bar de la zona para que sea el punto de encuentro matinal donde se repartirán un bocata y botella de agua para el almuerzo y posteriormente, a medio día, se ofrecerá un menú diario de forma gratuita para los voluntarios colaboradores.
Ahora es el momento, PARTICIPA Y COLABORA POR EL BIEN DE TODOS.
Es importante para quien se ocupa de coordinar, que se confirme la presencia cada día ya que la cocinera necesita saber cuántos almuerzos y menús tiene que preparar.
Se van a necesitar azadas para todos, por lo que debéis intentar conseguir una cada uno.
El tlf de contacto es el de Café (608 039 800), quien se encargará de coordinar con el Bar TOSCANA (Av. De Escandinavia, 72. Gran Alacant).
Gracias y buenos vuelos.

Huge fronts all over Europa

A bit worrying thinking about getting gliders out today. Dark sky approaching the coast. Weather forecaters in Spain put on orange alert for the country. Mainly for inland, huge thunderstorms and heavy rain. At the coast we had about 4 or maybe 5 drops, typical.

But no flying, winds west, so not in favour. Took pushbikes out, huge tours in the sierra down to the coast. I don't know what was more painful. The climb up in 30 degrees on rocky terrain, or the dentist just a minute ago.

Anyway got to stay in shape, or better gotto get in shape.

Paragliding foto's

Couldn't resist publishing this foto. A good month ago these guys were visiting. It was all about paragliding, but also about having fun, and enjoying themselves. Lots of flying, good weather, pools, beaches and excellent food. Hope to see you again soon guys.

Today a wall of bad weather, cunimbs were heading towards the coast. We couldn't risk getting our wings out. A day off, feet up.

Marcus Loch

Good old Marcus, as Alicante lover he is around every time near summer. Loves the sites, knows almost all of them, great to have him near us.

Parahawk flight

First flight with hawk. Smiles on my face.

El Cid morning, Cabo afternoon

Had my maiden parahawk flight this morning. Jeckle, the hawk, landed two times on my hand during flight at El Cid early morning. Fed him some chickens and off he flew again, above, beside, in front of him. Untill I lost sight of him.
I was pretty worried I lost the bird, I thought the bird had gone on its own, flew away. But to my biggest relief in years, I saw the bird landed on Anita's hand at landing. Oh my god, that felt better.
An extraordinary experience not to be missed.

Later on in the day, did some tandems with lovely ladies Myriam and Tamara. Winds were awkward, didn't like the conditions that much. But home now, safe, after a full day of paragliding. Salud.

A brilliant day

French buddies left this afternoon, after all morning flying. Excellent.

Marcus is till here, he of course joined us this morning and was present late afternoon to top up more airtime. Meanwhile I was enjoying my tandem flights with youngsters from Valencia.

A very good day, with a wonderfull sunset coming home.

French flying chickens

Most of the french flying chickens on foto. A vast group of friends, that I've been known for years. Today they had their last flying, tomorrow they go home. Home to France where it is probably warmer than in Alicante these days.
We flew yes, and it was nice at Cabo. But the winds are so cold for the time of the year, something exceptional and not so lovely if you are here for sunbathing.
Up north in Spain, Berga, I heard it was snowing ... yes snowing. Well it ain't that bad down here, but for sipping cocktails near the swimming pools it is a bit nippy.

Fortuna

If I ever need to hide, I'd probably hide in Sierra del Corque, near Fortuna.
There are hot springs in the valley, the village still has its traditional spanish bars, nobody says "serveiza" yet, you ask for a tapa knowing its ma's kitchen, and the scenery is epic.
The mountain where I would hide has caves, and nobody ever ever gets there. Just us once in a while, depending on the group visiting, the mountains sees humans.
Bit by bit, each time we fly there, I clean up the take off. And more and more it is a safer, comfortable take off in the middle of Arizona looking
scenery.
We had lovely flying there in the morning.
The road is a 4x4 track, which is good, keeps bob's from flying this site.
Excellent day.
Oh, almost forget, more hours at the cliffs later on as a desert.
Excellent day.
Excellent day.

Greyish and rainy

Not a good day, again no blue skies, some rain. Only good to visit Scott and see him getting his birds ready for the parahawking.
On foto, Louise, proudly showing Jeckle.
Mañana supposedly nicely sunny, hot and warm, slight breezes ...