Organya east

All packed to go to the Pyrenees. Our yearly roadtrip to Berga, Organya and Ager. And as we read in paragliding magazines, it seems to be getting a pretty popular roadtrip ..... more clubs, schools, copying it. I try to update this blog daily, through talks with my precious wife Kath.
Big hugs, kisses and love.

Different nose job. Not dead yet.

"I was a veteran before a child." RIP M.J.

The end of our season, before our summer guests arrive. But first we're off with a group of pilots to the Pyrenees. Yearly we go up north (for us ...) and fly over Berga, Organya and Ager. Again last week of june, first week of july.

And as have looked at the forecast, we'll fly daily. But we're still down in Alicante, where in the morning western winds were taking over. Untill a strong breeze outlined a convergence line from Murcia to Calpe. With here and there towering cumulus.
We cannot break the fantastic XC that the french did last week, but someone must have done a big XC. Haven't received any info yet.

Beach and fly.

Morning, beach, kite surfing, sun tanning, beach volley, some napping, anything you pleases.

Afternoon, waiting for the breeze to break the inversion and fly till late. That kind of a day.

All relaxed. So if you come down to Alicante, change gear.

Meanwhile putting publicity on for our tandem flying.

Always a pleasure to fly tandems. I really love it. Putting a smile on people's faces, giving them a taster of how we spend our free time.

We had girls from the Erasmus institute enjoying it today, all the way from Gandia.

At first it looked so cloudy and was afraid to cancel the flying again. But it all cleared up, blue sky and thermals kicking off still at 7 pm.

Excellent time for low airtimers to get in the air that late. Smooth thermals all over, and having to look for sink if you wanted to come down. Amazing.

Tonight I am gonna party, have reasons for it. I'll tell you later, tonight is the 'fiesta de Jordi'. Bonfires on the beaches, drinks and a midnight swimm for all. Later in the night you have to jump over the ashes, and make a wish.

The world known fiestas in Alicante, the Hogueras. Huge statues, around 30 of them, presented by different parrishes. They will all be burned down in the city, this wednesday. Meanwhile crowds are attending the processions.

You'll enjoy it with drinks, food and friends.

This morning all big fun. Again flying at the cliffs, knowing this afternoon it would be cloudy inland, maybe even reaching the beaches.

So got home and read some more about Iran. I have been crying. Cried when I saw the footage of the killing of Neda.

I am sorry this is a blog for paragliders. But I can't help it, sometimes world news hits me so hard. And maybe this all has to do with paragliding, because when you fly you embrace your life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrdRwOlmIxI

As human beings we are the only living creatures who needed 10 commandments, what a mess we made of it.

Whole lot whole lot a flying. Early morning flying, blue sky, at the cliffs. Few pilots, it was lovely. Untill it got a bit lumpy at central hours, time for a siesta, because that makes you smart !

After the siesta on the hill again, for more hours of flying. Lots of pilots this time. And 'live' the RR )Raul Rodriguez( acro glider. Fun to watch, fun to fly today.

It got more windy, so bullet proof take offs needed.

Pearse Irish pilot, flying home tonight. I think he might enjoyed the daily flying this week. And I hope I meet him again with the other Irish regulars Toni and Frank.

Foto Toni, Simon, Rodney and Pearse.

And Jose 'bomber' fireman, always present at Cabo.

Summer is hitting us. Swimming in the sea or swimming pool is the only way to cool down. And when you are down here now, you understand that 'siesta'-time is a pillar in summers' life.

When it is 35 degrees outside, when the sun is hitting hard, you need to lay down, have a rest, snoozing under the humming noise of ceiling fans, paralysed between gentle wake-ups. It'll all make you smarter to start the other half of your day.

So we did. And got up the hill, when conditions were starting to be less reckless. We had a good time. Although it wasn't what we expected. It was very hot all over, no temperature gradient, little thermal activity. But complaining ? No way, we flew again, and we lost track how many consecutive days we flew.
It was all about getting into the right thermal, no funky stuff. Just smooth, trying to stay in it, trying to find them. I love this sometimes more than the strong stuff, which only makes you deal with it.

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You know what a friend is? Someone who knows all about you and likes you anyway.

Cloudy this morning. Warm front, cirrus clouds screening the sun. So off early to find thermals.

But after half hour sun burned through and we got the rough stuff already. Winds were indecisive, so were the thermals. More rock'n roll was expected.

When it all settled, we took off again, to have same 'washing machine' conditions as before. Now when cloudbase is high, at least there is the value of the height. But no height, so we waited again till it got more laminar. And it did in the end. No breeze as usual, but lesser sharp thermals who gave us the airtime we expected .

Long day, very hot, 30degrees or more, no river, no lake ... .

It was great though to see Tony and Pearse fighting for every thermal they met. And as low airtimers they turned their wings, weightshifting just right to stay up high. Superb.

First half of the day we just soared along the cliffs. Very relaxing, just getting airtime in, enjoying the cool breeze. As it was hot, very hot. Too hot to sit around.

Flying over the beaches, beaches with a view. Because at last they arrived !

The new assortment sunglasses.

Just Tony had his feet off the ground. And this was just before the strong eastern winds were hitting us today. At Cabo we can fly with lots of wind, but be careful with a forecast like todays'. Before you know you get caught. Being pinned first, then flying backwards over the houses. The Med is a good indicator for winds, as most of the time it is a calm sea with hardly any waves. As soon as white horses show up we start counting them. 1,2,3,.......,99,....,199,... then we land.

Foto's from the event last weekend.

Above some foto's of the weekend. Still waiting for better foto's shot by Arno. Still recovering from the heat we had last weekend. 10 hours in the burning sun, paying the price now, red rendeer nose and burned necks.

But we did it, and all were very happy. Unforgetable experiences for most of the passengers.

Today we left in the afternoon. Tony who is here for the first time, got his thermals in. He, as many other visiting pilots, had to adapt to the bit rougher take offs we have. No nice and grassy slope, but pebbles, slippery here and there. But after a couple of lesser take offs, he was spot on.

Happy Marcel, Pearse from Ireland and Tony from England Midlands.

Yesterday we had our flight with disabled. Today winds were too strong for that. So we had a lottery.

Foto's of the event, I will publish soon.

It has been extremely hot the last two days. We have been organising this with lots lots of help of friends in the burning sun. We are all knackered.

Everything went smooth, flights yesterday were great. Emotional at times. You cannot believe, or better, you are each time so amazed by the 'joie de vivre' that most disabled show. You almost feel uncomfortable.

Pearce and Tony, we 'll fly tomorrow.

Some shots of our event this weekend. Was so busy organising things, flying with disabled myself that better fotos will be published taken by others later.

It was again very succesfull as it was years ago.

Today more passengers arriving,

thanks for all your help,

Nick

Vola en Cabo, algunos tandems, algunos vuelos solo, pero poco.
We didn't fly a lot today, pretty lazy ? Was that it ? I think most of us are preparing themselves for tomorrow.
Maggi already arrived, he is our friend from up north, flying with a selfmade wagon. I show some pictures tomorrow.

Weather is hot, above 30 degrees celsius. You have to jump in the water once in a while to cool off. Ceiling fans are on, reggae tunes ... .

try to sit still watching this ...

Flying the Cobra Airwave once again. Different conditions, smoother thermals, trying to turn it flat, scratching at times.

Almost every glider I try, I think is good. I would never be a good test pilot, finding out all those details after a couple of flights. I would need several flights, several different conditions to make up whats good whats less about it.

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I owe you a beer guys

That's Chris, after. Or before, I don't remember.

Backyard, Alicante 9.30 pm