Happy Birthday!

Another big day with climbs to 3800m with sparce but perfect Cus. An airport run day, but Paul, who did the run collected Grant past Avila and Ian near the motorway tunnel for a 100km first in europe. Evening flying ok, but too west for decent climbs. Tomorrow looking like the first mediocre day in what seems like months!

We celebrated the birthday of Colin, one of Flypiedrahita’s best customers at the group meal today. Of course we wouldn’t be so indelicate as to reveal Colin’s age on the blog.

Well that was a week. Baz made his PB twice, today the second time this week with around 50km and 4 hours airitime. Ian Walker made PB twice and with 21 and a quater hours for the week. Likewise Catherine with her Avila run and Also Wim. Today also Colin with a Pb distance, possibley time (around 3 hours) and definitely sunburn. We seemed to be somewhat overbooked today with some of next weeks clients here early for next week….and not a good time for the White van to be in the garage with mid season sickness.

Yesterday, Friday, the wind was a bit strong for us (though the French pilots did just over and just under 200km). Today was perfect. Light N and smooth easy thermals. A trip to the pass and then onto Barco for 3 hours of lovely flying (4 for Baz).

Yet another classic day with very pleasant climbs to above 3000m marked by Cu along the convergence. A NW wind gave us the usual convergence at Muñogalindo and NE at Avila. Good Cu convergence all along the mountains. Wim landed at 55km in Avila, doubling his PB. Ian flew back from the 50km mark to get back to the Bend in the road. The S.Arican Ian and Grant landed onthe way back at Niharra, also myself and Paul.
Exceptional evening thermals and restitution. I made an amazing tandem flight well out across the valley. at near 3000m.

Yet another high quality day yesterday, though as a bit of a rest day we just flew down to Barco with Colin, Catherine, Paul and Baz arriving to the Pineda Bar. Good evening flying once again, lightening off earlier. I am suffering from some sort of bug which has left me without a voice and generally knackered. I might have to spend the day in the van doing retrieve today and have a rest from the flying. Ian and Grant arrived yesterday. They were due to turn up earlier in the week but had their (S.African) passports stolen in Italy.

Another superb soaring day with climbs to 300m and a NW to N wind of around 15km/hr.  Strong climbs and convergence lines in the Ambles valley and difficult to get down at Avila in the booming conditions.  Ian, Paul, Catherine  Juakin and myself at Avila.  Another day with big restitution for the evening flight.

[youtube_thumb align=right alt=”Tandem Flight to Barco”]MButffOXGz8[/youtube_thumb]

Yesterday, Sunday, I stayed to do a few tandems and Paul did the Madrid run.  Strong climbs and little wind early on, but a bit breezey for the evening flight.

Today light N with climbs to around 2800 in the flats and probably 3300m in the hills.  I flew tandem with Sergio, we spent just over 2 hours around the Piedrahita valley then went for a snack, landing in Barco.  Baz (his PB) and Ian tried to go back from Barco , getting about half back, but struggling into a headwind, and Ian struggling in a large blackberry bush where he was deposited on landing.

The whole group went easily over the pass, only Rob getting stuck on the high point and after a long battle landing up on the high ground.   I made an easy crossing with Catherine, Ian and Peter, all of us fining a very big climb on the other side.  Bob was a little ahead, and Mike, Paul and Nick crossed as easily in a gaggle behind.  Comming up behind them Rod and Gary crossed alone.

Very easy gliding, with some W tailwind to Solosancho, then the NW NE convergence that runs between there and Muñogalindo enabled most to get high before stricking towards Avila.   Those who got nearest made some N headway in the convergence before flying to Avila.  From then around 20km N wind on the ground decking most on the approache withing 10 -15km of Avila.

Still a fantastic way to finish the week in which we had good conditions every day and generally made the most of them.  Looking similar for all of next week at the moment as well. 

A classic day, though with climbs still below 2700m, but light winds and perfect for a circuit.  The ciruit for those who did it all was to the Pass, then NW to the Salamanca road, Red roofs (S.Maria de Berrocal), Barco, then home.  Somewhere around 70km.  Rob, Bob, Paul and myself made it back in around 4hours 2o minutes.  Ian 6km short and Mike just after Barco on the return leg.  Rod cut a few corner but did over 2 hours and wend down half way to Barco.

Weather should just now get better and better ever day over the next few days as classic July conditions kick in with the anticyclone. 

A great day with strong climbs to near 2800m with very light winds.  After initially going to the Villatoro pass direction we then flew homewards and with the change to N wind Catherine, Ian, Mike and Rob then carried downtowards Barco.

Once again superb evening conditions, with perhaps more visiting pilots around than I have ever known.