A light wind launch at around mid day, with early Cu development and easy climbs and local flying around the mountain and Piedrahita for most. By the time we got back for the second flight there were a number of congestus clouds both to the E, and and N so we decided to drive down. Within 1 hr the Cbs were fully formed so no more flying today.

The wind was on and good at Peña Negra when we arrived this morning, though waiting for it to improve was a big mistake as it slackened and went SE. Very frustrating as at this time the sky was looking very good to the West. A drive to Chia and some reasonable soaring had by all but with the thermal climbs too weak and low to commit to going over the back. A long Cb chain in the convergence some 20km to the N towards sunset.

We decided to go straight to La Lastra, and all those who took off were quickly near base and on transit to some perfect streets over the back. Unfortunately Brian and Nick dropped out after around 15 -20km but after getting a little low nearby, Simon and I had a grand time cloud hopping to arrive high at Salamanca (c70km). We landed as we needed to get back for an evening flight for the rest (also I had a few things to collect in Salamanca, so that worked nicely).
My second day on the Mantra 4 which is really an exceptional paraglider in every way.

The day took quite some time to get going with very gentle and occational backwinds at launch untill around 2pm. Not much to be had on the first flight at 2 pm for most due to a passing section of Cirrus. On the 2nd flight things had really got going with the ground temp going higher and the forecast blue day to 2600m becomming a classic 3000m day with abundant Cu. Simon and I make an easy rout to N. or the pass onto the plataeu. A convergence cloud street ran to the horizon but to the NNE over a problematic area for retrieve. As the wind was light we decide to return, myself running to near the quarry on the Salamanca road and Simon a little more direct (after getting a little disorientated in cloud). We met up again just N. of Piedrahita and extended the flight for a while more to the West along the Cerro de Cruz ridge, though soon returning to land back home.

Wednesday and Thursday gave us excellent thermal conditions with climbs of up to 7m/s and excellent Cu filled skies with less depth than the beginning of the week. Thursday evening we changed sites for the first flying at Lastra this year.
However, Untill Sunday things are a bit grim, though next week is looking really excellent now.

Yesterday was nice, though today a real spring day with perfect Cus for much of the morning with abundant strong climbs.
Yesterday we finished with a little adventure. Grita managed to land on top near the Corals on the evening flight, just 30mins before sunset. Luckily she had a torch and managed to get to the zig zag near the coral and we picked her up around 10.15.
Today a PB for Pete. Up to the antennas at the pass, then back towards Piedrahita as some overbig Cus in the Avila Valley. An easy romp home for me with a climb at Bonilla to base, though Pete landing short.
Very nice evening conditions once again

A few nice flights today, but always with the threat on the Cus growing to tall. We landed around 4pm with plenty of margin before the storm.

We made an early start as the temp trace indicated that the conditions could deteriorate. Great flying for 2 hours. At the pass the other side looked very good with a clear convergence to Avila. However in the West there was a large Cb at Bejar and conditons were getting too easy (to stay up). In fact, things were so flyable that one of my bee colonies decided to swarm, luckily to a nearby bait hive! Things cleared fine for the evening flight.

Today finally a very good day with fantastic thermal soaring conditions throughout the day. The last two days have been a bit too windy or overdeveloped giving poor flying on Monday, and making us do something else yesterday (quite a pleasant Gredos Walk). Today a very nice Cu distribution with an easy trip to near the Cherry tree valley pass. On the evening flight the Cus stated to show some uncomfortable vertical development, so maybe increasing instability and humitiy for the next few days!

Hard to believe, but it really is here. It arrived yesterday and is in storage to the E of town. After Easter the tecnitians should arrive and hopefully start to lay it (needs a sand bedding and some very expensive adhesive).
It has only taken 16 years, but it seems we will soon have a nice clean trouble free take off.