When I was snorkeling with Paco this morning, near the beach-landing of the cliffs, I saw some early pilots, already soaring.

Weatherforecast was strong east at the coast, and it was. From midday onwards, red flags even on the beaches, wild sea, no flying at all at the coast any more for today.

But inland, I am sure the pilots from Monte cabrer area had good flying on their hills. From the boats we could see the convergence clouds east/west inland. Surely I get some news from them, later on.

Yes on the boats we were, we skipped flying today, because being invited on one of the visiting big tall sailboats in Alicante.

As a good Belgian commander, the man served us chilled Belgian beer the way it should. You da man !

On the huge sailboat, four master of Ecuador we were treated by this "south american band". It all felt like we were on vacation. Soon the deck was not interested to see the cooking, the cabins. No, soon everybody was dancing on the deck.

Allan, Niviuk Artik. Don't miss his helmet.

Smooth thermals max 3 m/s, excellent to practice.

Better than 'popcorning' during the central hours of the day. Booming conditions, but no cigar.

Allan, Niviuk Artik, don't miss the helmet, don't want air collision with this dude !

Smooth thermals up to 3 m/s, nice to practice. (after 14 years of flying, still loving to practice ....)

As we all agreed, better to practice smoot thermals and finding, than flying like popcorn during midday hours, not getting higher anyway. Conditions are booming in the central hours of the day, nothing strange.

Flying in the cool breeze of the sea. Above the mediterranean. Today tandems with Madrileños, having a first go in the sky. Nice, landing at the beach near the chiringuito, beach bar.

A foto taken from the urbanisation of Olivo de Oro, some of them hate us some of the love us.

Another foto taken from the house of someone who really wants us to stop flying. Today he asked me silly question if I had a license, and if I had insurance. Of course I don't !

Meanwhile waiting for the verdict if they will have to open up the road so we have access again to the most known soaring site in Spain.

Conditions were great. Winds were off to the south, so scratching at first, but then getting reasonable heights with the coastal thermals, for spirals an wingovers. Letting the passengers scream, but always bearing in mind, you are flying for them. They have to have the time of their life.

Inland as well flying, but preferred to stay at the coast and avoid the thermalling, rough conditions of the day most probably inland.

Temperatures will rise up in the upper 30's from tomorrow onwards. That could mean, stability, inversion, only flying couple of 100 meters above our tops. Where it is a bit cooler than anywhere else. Shorts and T-shirts.

Back home as you know. Back in the heat, somewhat 35 degrees today.
Called Rafa where to go, and heard there was a reunion of our fellow paragliding pilots of Murcia in Fortuna.
I didn't go, stayed with the family, haven't seen them for a week. And when you feel your 8-year old has missed you so much, you want to spend every second with him. So I did, played football, waterpolo and some computergame instead today. Now we are off to the medieval market in Alicante, a yearly happening with knights, swords etc... . Yes it's a boy !

My guests were flying with Rafa inland today. Sylvia, his girlfriend enjoying her first flights on her new Skywalk Tequila.

He said conditions were good but not epic. Lower cloudbase than expected, allowing to fly for hours, but no XC. No need to, it is too hot for retrieval anyway. Tomorrow more.

Pilots participating and some pilots we met, who made the trip even more complete.

Allan Denmark, Niviuk Artik

Winnie Denmark, Independence Avalon

Henrik Sweden, Airwave Sport

Scott English, Firebird

Stevie G, Welshman, Advance S6

Arvid, Norwegian, Niviuk HOOK

guests :

Axelle and Theo, french couple, Theo upcoming Acro pilot, Axelle girlie under Gradient Aspen2

Zsazsa, Hungarian Acro pilot, flies an acro glidr Apco Twister, huge maneuvers, she is girlfriend of high ranked Hungarian Acro pilot, but forgot his name.

Next time you'll be in the picture !

Some foto's from our roadtrip to

Berga - Organya - Ager

Soon more of them, I will publish them on flickr, for those interested in joining us on our roadtrips, check em out. It'll give you a good idea.
I asked all participants to send me their best photo's, so we can all enjoy them.
Soon. I'll let you know through this blog.


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

Friday, morning flying till too strong, till overdevelopment crawling in from over the back,. (from the Pyrenees so).
Went swimming in the lake to cool down. Siesta, and last minute flying over the valley of
Ager, landing at the camping near the village.
Excellent week, flying EVERY day. It doesnt' get much better !

Last day of roadtrip before airport transfers. We are in Barcelona, visiting the famous city. Before heading back home.
Foto's will be on the blog soon, check it out.

We had fantastic weather. Every site had its own tricky bits, we were informed by local pilots who I contacted before. They were all very helpfull and welcoming.
We stayed in budget hotels, guest houses, ha breakfast together and planned they day. Every afternoon there as need for a little siesta, because the flying, the sun, the heat tired us out. After the siesta there was loads of time to get back on the hill, join the locals and fly again. Many days for hours !
There was no plan for XC, there was a plan for lots of flying in safe way on different sites. And we succeeded, to fly two days at the three sites we planned. Berga, Organya and last Ager.

This was the first time I organised this roadtrip, and it was a succes all over. Next year same time, you are invited to join us as well. Let me know your email address etc... if interested, ok ?


Well off to the Ramblas again in Barcelona, street animation etc... . Funny enough you hear more foreign languages than Spanish on the street nowadays.
But off the tourist track you still find the good old man's bar, where chilled vino tinto is served and a good tapa at reasonable price as well.

Soon foto's from all of us, a top ten of foto's which will give you an idea how much fun we had.

We started off with a last flight in Organya- bye bye magic mountain- we will all be back!
Then we had a very nice drive westwards to Ager where the 1500m high ridge welcomed us with a fantastic 2h flight.
At 9.30pm Arvid still had 3m/s lift on his Hook with his big ears on. Yes, time to spiral down, straight to the landing field next to the camping. Check in with the office, calling in the days report and off to the bar, beero'clock!
Big thank you to Ramon from Entrenuvols for providing us with the local weather report.

It's just a fabulous week!

Yesterday's report
1500m climb above take off with an average of 3 to 5m/s.
The magic mountain didn't steels his name.
High up we could see big thunderclouds over Berga in the distance.
Today we leave Organya for Ager, the forecast looks like 'pure' thermals.

On the road again...

It looks like all is going to like we've planned it. Two days Berga, two days Organya, two days Ager, and one day of choice.
Today will be our second day of Organya.
This mountain is usually packed with Acro pilots, but they all are in Vos Norway for their competition festival.
So we have the whole mountain for our own ! Just a french couple Axelle and Teo, and top Acro team hungairian pilot's girlfriend.
It's lovely.
Morning flying till it gets too strong, we're off.
Temperatures are 25, winds over the back slightly from the north so. We will get valley breezes as usual down here. So this mix of ice cold north wind from over the tops of the Pyrenees and the southern breeze in the valleys, channeling through the valleys, along the lake and the rivers, we'll be very very fine.

Organya

What's wrong with this picture?
11pm I'm sitting here in the office- feels like a sauna, trying to figure out Nicks text messages, writing his blog,
He's having a beer n some olives n 'jamon' while waiting for his main course, joking around with the boys.
I wonder if I need a talk with one of those mental trainers or what's the name- need to get more bossy?!

Just kidding- here's the news form up north, 'eat your heart out guys':
"At cloudbase all day. Nice thermals 4m/s. Everybody is a skygod today. We flew in the morning till it was too strong, Spanish life spanish ways, time for siesta, then back up again on the magic mountain, flying til 10pm, leaving knackered. There's a french pilot still in the air when we're driving off. Everybody's over the moon, but for now: a shower, food and drinks. Mañana más, I wonder what's desert?
(Heya Paraventure Paul, down in Wales- the boys wonder how your day went?)"

That's all folks...

We arrived at Organya- the magic mountain. Today Hendrie was the Skygod, he outflew the local buzzard. Tomorrow more, we're all happy but hungry...
Bring on the crema catalana.

Here we are, on our roadtrip in northern Spain. We arrived late last night in Berga, Stevie had his first flight in this early morning. From the take off at 14oo m.
But winds were not spot on, so we drove down to meet Oriol from Espais Pireneos, to check other sits.
We used his private site, called Marie1, he owns the take off and the landing. So thank you very much !!!
Just arrived back at the hotel, all knackered, also 30 degrees up here, and almost two hours of flying for most of the group.
Gottogohaveabeer......

Last day for Ziggy and Graham. Can't complain I guess, flew every day during their more than a week stay, hours of thermalling mostly inland Alicante, and some days gentle soaring at the coast.
Today again bingo ! Although most pilots preferred to stay at the coast, we couldn't resist to play the real game and get into the thermals.
It doesn't get much better.

Meanwhile I see and hear that our norwegian friends are doing well at the comps in Piedrahita. Hopefully the training down here helped them get the rust off, and helped their confidence, keep it going and keep me informed about the resulst Ovind and friends.

See you later guys, I am packing for my roadtrip to the Pyrenees.
See you at Barcelona airport tomorrow, Henrik, Winnie, Allen, Stevie, Scott and Arvid.

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=8485938506798317970

Raul and friends at Bassano, hope you enjoy it.

Best day of the month for sure.
We flew at 6 pm, best time to work the thermals. Last one down at 8.30.
Thermals up to 4 m/s, some pilots this amazing day at Palomaret.

Before Rafa, Jose Luis, and Ismael were fighting the heavy stuff. Not my cup of tea, sorry. With gusts up to 35 km per hour, conditions were not nice up there. They were all complaining about the windgusts, about the hard work to get into the thermals. And, important, they didn't get higher than later at 6 pm. Especially after Ismael's take off we could see how rock'n roll it was.

We had salsa, bits of rock'n roll still, but nice .....

A very very very very good day.

We were flying in Alhama de Murcia today.

I am sure lots of you remember this fantastic site, south of Murcia.

three happy bums, no four !

Above Rafa, down below Me !




Some rough air at first. Thermals died off soon unfortunately. So for the pilots with less airtime, a bit frustrating. They got in the air when things died off (too quickly).
But it is good to know that not one day is like the other. Keeps us going in this sport.

Thanks for the foto's Toni, I hope you get some flying in up there.
Cheers.