Well it was quite big, and very lovely flying.  Not much blogging this week but I have been spending all my time trying to teach our builders how to read blueprints and do a basic carpentry cut during the non flying moments.

We have now stopped them so our house is on hold again, but it was too tragic to watch them destroy the materials.

On the flying front Tuesday was nice in the morning and just to strong (5m/s climbs and getting windy) for our second flight.  We flew, but stayed local.  Yesterday, just an evening flight, but today three nice flights.  On the XC we did not go over the pass, though Ian landed at the Antennae.  I flew an hour and a half tandem with Laura, never quite getting enough height to get over……..but none the less, very pleasant air.

Tomorrow bodes well……Big Friday!!!!!!!!

That is the end of our mainly Dutch week.  We got to fly all but Saturday.   Friday we managed to get in a flight early in the morning before the Cus grew to big and the rain arrived.  We spent Friday afternoon in Salamanca.

Whilst the guests were Geocaching in Salamanca I made an impulse by of some new wings….A pair of grey Geese and a pair of pigmey chickens.  I just could not help myself! the usual temptation/impulse buy which I am sure happens to everybody when they go shopping near Poultry stores.

More Geocaching in Avila today for the guests. Our new birdies stayed at home and got used to the other chickens.

Today, Thursday, the good run of weather seems to have come to an end.  We arrived at Lagunilla with high Cirrus and some wave forming up.  There were plenty of Griffon vultures flying which encouraged David Glew and myself off.  However, we did not spend long flying as it became uncomfortably windy.

Since Saturday the epic conditions have continued but without the storms we suffered saturday afternoon.  Each day we have had 3000m + with strong climbs and ligh winds from the N.  Perfect conditions for circuit tasks, though I must admit my cold of the last few days has not had me pushing for every hour of convection and km.  Today wednesday we have just had our morning flight and the hazy cirrus is keeping a lid on the stronger climbs.  The bands of sunshine comming through are allowing Cus to form at around 3500m.

The mountain is very scenic at the moment as the broom floration has now reached the upper part of the hill.  The photo shows Pato, our local HG pilot during  last nights evening restitution.

Our cat Fred, after around 12 years with us, dissapeared last night from our new encampment.  A frantic day of worry and all my tracking skills to no avail.  We finally decided he must have been taken by a wild animal (Fred is a very homely cat, never leaving sight of his bed and food bowl) and were all in a near tearfull state when Fred strolled back into camp almost 24 hrs after his dissapearance.

On the flying front an absolutely epic looking day with high Cus and light N winds.  Unfortuntely, being changeover day, we only got to do a big soar in the restitution.

This week we have a group from Holland, most of whom were here last year and led by Charlie, who we even named a field after (his favourite bomb out spot).  Unfortunately Charlie recently had an accident on a tandem in the Alps. We wish him well and a good recovery.

This period now has three slots available as 3 pilots had to pull out.

Our house is slowly going up but far from finished.  We have now moved into the field and are in a reasonably lavish tent in the forest below.  No internet connection, so I must steal moments when I am at the house, though there seems to be little time as the non flyable times are taken up with preparations for the comming competitions and also supervising the guys trying to erect the house …..not being such good carpenters as we hoped. Our flying has been difficult this week with a run of strongish easterlies, though Tuesday and Wednesday were excellent and today came up with some remarkable conditons allowing us to go to near 4000m.  Gary Jackson, Nigel Page and myself went to the Bejar range and tried to get home, whilst Ken Cole flew back from Barco.  Nigel and I were the last in the air but had to deviate to Puente de Congosto, to avoid Cb conditions later in the afternoon.

Excellent conditons today.  A light E on the first flight changed to a light NW for the XC.  Nigel, Rob and myself landed at Avila with Peter at the bend in the road and Raymond about 20km short of Avila.

A standard day, with and early flight then and XC over the pass.  Finn and I found it a bit bouncy on the other side so landed level with Amavida.  A nice evening soar with good climbs till late.  Martin made the most of his hang gliding flight and I flew a couple of commerical tandems.

Congratulations to Finn Kennedy today.  After nearly 2 hours of flying around during the morning, Fin had a further 2.5hrs to Avila, landing near the city walls. A day with good Cu developement and a base of around 2600m.   A great evening restitution flight was enjoyed by all, especially Martin on his hang glider.