Although Gavin, Kevin and myself unpacked our gliders at Lastra, we were not quite brave or foolhardy enough to acutally take off. The Griffon and Black Vultures seemed to get on with it ok but could not quite tempt us off.
Over on the Peña Negra launch the Swiss gave it a go, surviving the launch but getting flushed within 6kms.
Cold front going through tonight, so hopefully back on P.Negra tomorrow (Friday)
Nice day but with climbs rarely higher than 2800m (though 3000m once). Sparce Cu development and some weak climbs in the Piedrahita Valley. Gavin, Brian, Kevin (demoing the Mentor2), Tony and myself over the Pass, with Kevin dropping at Blacha, Tony about 3km short of Avila and myself and Gaving bombing after Villacastin with 91km at around 7pm. Brian came in a bit later and higher and had to fight his way down through the lift to land with us. 
We were able to get away at PN, though with obvious lee side conditions which later prevented further take offs. Most downed before the Pass in the relatively light climbs. Brian and I landed near Villanueva de Campillo on the plataeu N of the Pass. Our evening flight was from the W face of Lastra.
Urs Dubach made 211km to near Ayllon on his M4 and some of his Swiss buddies not far behind.
After a few days, especially Sat and Sunday, of stormy weather, today gave us pleasant soaring conditions with a light W wind and deep Cu with a base of around 2200m. Climbs were good enough for Brian and I to fly from the Quarry uptowards the Salamanca road, almost closing a triangle back at Piedrahita. Probably an easy Avila day, but the Cus on the other side of the pass looked like it would have made for a stressfull flight.
Nice evening soaring for all.
Rest of the week looking very nice. Sad to have seen the Gloster and Bham boys go without some classic days and sad to have lost my elocution teacher (Dennis). Anyway, for Malverns II looking pretty good.
A South forecast with potential climbs to over 400m but quite stable till around 3pm. We had an early launch at Lastra. In fact we nearly did not go as it seemed very breezy. However, some cirrus calmed it down and allowed all to have a safe launch. Once over the back some surprisingly turbulend air,though once N or the Piedrahita valleythings settled with gentle climbs and a SSW wind of around 20-25km/hr. Only Tony made it beyong the Piedrahita Valley. As I did not make the early climb out I was behind and did not catch up till Tony landed after Peñaranda. This was just as I finally found a big climb to near 3000m and the clouds started forming along a clearly defined convergence. As we were getting over 70km/hr ground speed and for me it was now extremely difficult to get down to land near Tony at around 3.30pm, I suppose that this would have turned into a 200km+ day. Anyway, a nice evening flight at Lastra for all as compensation. 
A cold front to the N of Spain has improved the air quality and instability but has made the wind too strong to fly today.
Not brilliant. A sketchy launch to check conditions at Lastra put everybody off flying in the 20km/hr wind along the hill. We then went to Peña Negra where conditions had come on. A bit crossed but Ok for soaring on the West faces but around 20km/hr + wind in valley and quite stable. Most landed around the Long Bar so as not to hae to deal with strong wind at the pass.
A frustrating day at Peña Negra with the wind never comming on for long. A hang glider and a paraglider got off, both climbing easily. We eventually went to Latra where most flew, with only Tony getting away and flying back to the Piedrahita Valley and landing near Mesegar.
A good forecast with light W and thermals to 3000m. Apart from the Sunday evening flight the first go for the Gloster/Black country boys. Unfortunately mostly downed at the Cemetery before the pass in the quite tricky weak conditions. They day had fully developed for the evening flying with good climbs to 2500m.
The appearance of some Congestus in the Ambles valley made us stay in the Piedrahita Valley, though pushing back from the pass made us go down around Bonilla. Superb evening flying with good thermal climbs in valley till late.
Thats it for this week. Good flying every day of the week with some truly classic conditions. Of to the airport tomorrow for the Gloster and Malvern boys.