After a shocking forecast for the week it now looks sorted after all. Although the visibility was poor today (unable to see the Sierra de Bejar) the conditions were very good. After a slow trip to the quarry we made a 4-5m/s climb to over 3000m. Cus popped up just where we needed on each glide with climbs by Avila to 3500m. We landed at Avila but could have probably made Villacastin but Sylvian desperately needed to pee. I had a great time of the Hook 2 once again and remarkable it did not seem an awful lot different on glide and trim speed to the Omega 8.
Nice evening flight but condtions dropping early due to the smog.

After yesterdays classic conditions today we had strong SW, poor visibility and Cb development. the next few days are looking tricky for decent flying. I had sort of got used to the regular easy conditions we have been having since the beginning of July.
This week we have a fully french group from the Pyrenees (with the exception of course of Colin, now on his last week). I hope thing improve over the week so that they can get a taste of how good it can be this time of year.

An epic looking day. Straight after take off the day showed its quality with a climb straight away to over 3000m. An easy ride to the pass, some of us going way back on the plains behind take off.
Only Colin didn´t cross the Pass, being tired from yesterdays efforts and having taken a big full frontal.
We seemed to be at Avila very early, after the pass hardly stoppingto take climbs, paying more attention to not getting cloud suck. Bill took another scare, landing soon after for his 3rd PB of the week at 37km. We moved well N of Avila to aviod the airspace, which was easy, as that was were the Cu route was. On having to cross a large forested area in the flats we lost Nigel who was too low to cross safely. From there on Thomas and I had a fast easy time to Segovia(120km), arriving high and able to do a bit of sight seeing over the city. Thomas´s flight can bee seen at //xc.dhv.de/xc/modules/leonardo/index.php?name=leonardo&op=show_flight&flightID=167794
I had my first flight on the Niviuk Hook and for sure this is the very best 1.2 glider I have flown. Fast trim, agile handing and a good glide. Probably better than most of the Dhv 2 gliders I have flown as well.

Yet another marvellous day with easy climbs with little drift and great visibility. I test flew the new Synargy 4 from Sol making an easy out and return to Barco in the company of Nigel and Tomas who carried on flying toward the pass then out in the valley raking up around 4 hours. Steve landed half way back and Bill a bit short of El Barco de Avila. Julian had a decent day with good climbs around the take off. Colin was the first to get back to Piedrahita from Barco and continued to fly to Santa Maria de Berrocal (red roofs) for a coffee as getting down at Piedrahita was difficult with the huge lift going off almost constantly.

Super evening conditons with a few commercial tandems for me

A very pleasant day with easier climbs than yesterday. I flew with Tomas on the tandem and most of the boys had a good day with arrivals at Barco or a bit on the way back. Nigel, Tomas and I made an attempt upon the Bejar range, but the lure of ice cream took us back to Barco.
A very exciting time for Bill, who on his second XC flight, equalling his PB of yesterday to Barco, had a bit of an event close into the hill early on.
Nice evening conditions once again

A great day for Bill with his first XC. Quite a struggle early on in some strong but ragged climbs. Nigel and Steve flew back someway from Barco, myself my tandem passenger and Bill deciding to have a rest and a drink at Barco.
Big smooth evening conditions again.

A pleasant day with some difficult low climb outs on route to Barco. A mention in dispatches for Colin and Bill who took off early as wind technitians, bombing near Santiago. I flew one of my first experimental XC commercial tandems……which went well: no vomiting and the goal achieved to Barco. The evening flight perhaps gave easier climbs that the day time flight.

A great flight for Jean Michel Laport on Saturday. 205km, landing just after Ayllon. So it was worth waiting through the dust devils at launch.
Today, Monday, very nice easy conditions with a NNW and reasonable Cu development. I have been suffering from a cold since mid last week so decided to fly back from the Pass to Piedrahita. Nice evening conditions with good climbs till late.

A potentially big day. I did a quick commercial tandem at 12, but conditions at that time started to get bit rowdy in the valley. Take off conditions were not good, with switching to backwinds and dust devils. Those who got away looked like they were on for 200km with a great convergence line setting up. Our group stood down as it looked a bit iffy for the take off.

Today we had light N winds. I flew with Enrique to Barco on the tandem. Simon flew some of the way back. A nice evening flight was had by most.
We are told that yesterday, Tomas Puthod (F) flew over 300km. We battled against the N wind towards Avila, but Tomas flew over he back, crossed the Gredos mountains and carried on South. A great direction, as there is no airspace to worry about. We will have to consider this route, though the retrieves are 3 hours plus even if you bomb out after 30km…. that is what tends to stop us trying.