Our last day of the season gave once again excellent conditions.

An epic looking sky but the shadow blocking the thermals at launch made us take a long glide to the valley for the first climb.  Myself and Clair (on the tandem), Edward and Rob pulled out a low save form the landing field entabling us to have a fantastic 2 hours flying round the valley (Long bar to east, St Maria to NW then back).

James had a good day flying my Niviuk Peak.  Off now for the evening flight and last flypiedrahita flight of the season in Piedrahita.

Another good day with strong climbs though an increasing wind after around 4pm.

The first flight was a nice float about with climbs only to around 2300m.  On the second almost everyone flew straight into the abundant lift and got near base and went towards Barco.  I went a little north and had a mega climb and took a nice line back towards Piedrahita, but less than half way back hit the wind.  Most chose to land at Barco due to the wind, with Pavel going up to Puerto Castilla.

A nice evening flight but too E to make it really interesting.

Wednesday we had quite strong thermic conditions at Chia, but also quite a bit of wind and off to the east.

Today, (Thursday), event stronger climbs and a base near 3000m, though due to the gusts at launch many of the group decided not to fly till later in the day.  James and Ian got the best of it, with James reaching Barco then making it a good way back to Piedrahita.

Another superb day, though the wind took its time to go up Peña Negra so we went to Chia. From Chia 6 of us climbed out to around 2500 and went over the back to the Piedrahita valley, following the river in gentle lift and then out past the Red roofs.   On the north side of the valley the N wind was comming in, so we ran back, though Pavel landing at the Red roof and James, Clair and Rob landing at the Hoyoredondo junction.  I managed to scrape back up, then went back to Piedrahita via Aldeanueva, and the take off, in what was now becomming very good condtions with good Cu, meeting Ian who had gone direct to Piedrahita, rather than following the river.  Ian carried on flying whilst those who bombed at Chia now got another go at Peña Negra.  Nice conditions till around 7.30pm.

This weekend gave some excellent conditions, with Rob making a nice circuit of the valley on Sunday, and the rest of the new group getting an evening flight on arriving from the Airport run.

Monday gave us another excellent Cu filled sky with a light NE wind and climbs to around 2600m.

Paul Feltham, still with his red ribbon, made an excellent flight to Barco on his Mojo for a PB (22km) and some stunning thermalling.  Edward also made a PB on his new Arcus to  around 26km.

James Budd and myself reached the Tornavacas pass at base and decided to continue as a good cloud street had set up along south faces of the mountain range.  Unfortunately the thermal condition were very light and low down the valley breeze was a light Westerly.  We landed around 60km in some of the small available fields.  Ian also committed to the Cherry Valley, landing a little further back.  The rest of the group were mainly in Barco, with Clair up towards the pass.

A very lifty afternoon flight after the low cloud clearing.  Almost too lifty, so we did a modest out and return to the West.

The evening flight gave classic restitution allowing an easy ridge run and some going to the small hills to the north on the return.  A great flight to end the week.

Yesterday, Thursday, the first proper rain for many many months (a day in June).  Temperatures have dropped, and the epic summer conditions seem to be at an end.  However, with the lower temperatures we have had some good XC flying this week, and even today, with some nasty rain we managed a short fly down this morning, then after things went through, did an evening flight to the Long Bar.

We also did a nice walk to some abandoned villages this afternoon.  Also, after the flight to the Long Bar, did some Hop picking at the Villafranca Bridge.  Getting ready for the Autumn beer making.

An excellent flying day in Avila, though it seems that in most of Spain it was pouring with rain, especially in Andalusia Valencia and Cataluña all with floods that made the news.

A good unstable airmass, but the cloud tops kept down by an upper level inversion.  Fantastic visibility and really nice thermal climbs, even though relatively cold.  A nice morning flight, with most staying in the air on the 11 am flight.  On the XC an easy ride to Barco for Martin, John, Paul any myself.

Monday we also went to Barco, also with nice conditions, but with strengthening winds in the afternoon.

Tuesday we made a short morning flight with strengthening thermal and wind conditions, with only Michel making an evening flight.

Tomorrow is predicted very bad in most of Spain weatherwise.  Hopefully we will escape with another good day.

Nice evening conditions, but too north to do the whole ridge run.

A bit stormy, but conditions calmed for a flight down for the new group on Sunday evening.

Generally cooler Monday, with soarable conditions for our first flight with a light NE winds.

This last week has thrown up some fantastic weather with great oportunities for interesting XCs.  Twice we have been over the pass and back, and on Sunday did a fantastic 70km route to the NW.

Tobias (DE) flying his Swing Mistral had a great week for distance and airtime.  He totalled 25hours and 20 minutes airtime for the week.  On the days after the 3 to 4 hour out and return towards Avila, Tobias would leave the tea and buiscuits to the rest of us and continue to fly around the valley till near sunset.