The forcast wasn´t so good, but the day turned out to be epic.  We took off around 12pm and flew north to the flatlands, embarking on what might have been a 150km FAI triangle (Piedrahita, Peñaranda, Avila, Piedrahita).   Ian Walker, Dave Shaw, Bob, Nick and myself cleared to the flatlands north of the Piedrahita Valley,   Mike and Rod got stuck on the southern side of the Valley and Ian Newham, whose radio was out, flew the other way to Barco, whilst Catherine flew towards the pass after getting low crossing the valley.  After 5.5 hrs in the air with a mega sky and climbs everywhere myself and Bob both landed due to being a bit sick.   Dave made the glide to Avila then started back along the N110 to Piedrahita landing after over 6 hours in the air.  A PB for both him and Bob.

A slightly better day, though still with the formation of large congestus clouds making for some unnerving flying.   Our first flight was just a sled ride, but on the second flight Emily and Catherine made a good stab at the trip to Barco.  By late afternoon the clouds had a much better appearance, though our evening flight didn´t last too long.  The national paragliding league starts Thursday, so we imagine it will get quite busy tomorrow with pilots arriving.

The instability continues now into its fourth day allowing us only a short period of mediocre flying this morning.  The spanish institute of meterology promises better for tomorrow, though today was supposed to be OK as well.

A downflight this morning,and a little thermalling at 7pm after the storms had gone through.  Hopefully this period of instability will go over the next few days

After yesterdays big rains and storms we had some very pleasant flying this morning.  I flew a commercial tandem and the passenger was quite blown away with what we did.  Nice solid climbs with vultures in almost every thermal.  We landed out in the valley as the clouds started to get a little out of hand.

The airspace and waypoint map for 2010 is now available for downloading on this web page. (The Flying/Maps and Navigation).

An A3 size colour print is available for our clients and competitors in this years events.

The day had great promise with a SE flow and a base rising to 4000m in the afternoon, though with deepening low pressure.  The wind came on the hill aroud 12, but was fickle, threatening to waver over the back.   Good Cu formation soon cast shadows over the slope, cutting further the anabatic flow and making the cycles at take off more scarce.   During a good period of a gentle wind comming onto lauch we rigged and I went off straight into lift infront of take off, though at this stage the valley upto Piedrahita was in compete shadow.   Unfortunately the wind switched to over the back at launch not allowing anyone else to take off while I was still in the air.   Within 15 minutes I had bombed, the climbs being very slow or non existent.   Only Dr Mike and Nigel managed to get off the hill,  Mike managing a good climb but then landing near San Miguel.   Rob tried to get off, but clipped a rock just past the road huring his ankle, though not to seriously.

As the wind stayed resolutely over the back we went to Chia for some soaring.    Very light conditions but stayupable.  Unfortunately on landing Gary connected with a a dry stone wall with his recently repaired ankle so is now in considerable pain.

A great day with base over 3600m in the flats towards the end of the day with Cu forming only over the high mountains around 4200m.  Conditons in the valley were uncharacteristically weak early on, claiming a few early bomb outs.  Anton, Mike, Nigel and myself went over the pass flying into a light headwind (NE-SE).  AlthoughI wanted to fly back around Muñana, Anton pushed on for his PB.  Mike likewise didnt fancy going back over the pass.  After Mike landed near the Y junction near Avila, Nigel an I too a big climb and flew back towards Piedrahita, now with a bit of a tailwind.  We got down early though so that we could get the other guys up for an evening flight.

Another nice day with everybody getting away with comparative ease on the XC.  Best of the day was Nigel who flew to the Tornavacas pass and then back a little to land with Mike, also not far from the pass.  Good climbs in the flats but blue thermals.  Only onthe big peaks did the climbs break the inversion around 2700, to form clouds around 3300m.

We went XC this morning on the first flight leaving the take off area at little more than 100m towards Barco.  Only Dave, Nigel , Anton and myself cleared Santiago de Collado.  Three  of us reached Barco, deciding to land early to get back to give the others another go.  For the second flight very lifty conditons in the valley, though the direction not usefull for long XCs. Only 4 pilots flew the evening flight, the others being too tired.