A buoyant morning flight, then another XC flight to Barco for Watsy and Colin. Bill and Pete got a good way along the course, but Mike and Phil bombed at the Chalets. Conditions dropped of quickly in the evening, giving little more than a flight down.
Light N winds with a higher base of around 2600 today, with some climbs near 5m/s near Barco. A lifty morning flight, then a jaunt to Barco for the majority of the Isle of Man boys. Classic evening conditions with most making the ridge run and back. I did two tandems in the evening for a couple from Plasencia. Forecast for tomorrow looks good here, but raining in most of the south of Spain.
Although the day started with mist and low cloud-base, by 1pm the mountain was clear with a good distribution of Cu around the valley. For the first flight conditions were quite light, but for the second good climbs to 4m/s could be found. An evening flight with about 15km/hr at take off, but a bit too north to get around the big spine successfully.
Although the forecast was against us, the weather was ok. An interesting early flight, all arriving over town with altitude and small Cu’s (mist formations) setting up at around 300m. Large towering Cu´s all day, but with little convective power, allowing us flights during the afternoon.
This morning at around midday we took of from the southerly site of Lastra, straight into good climbs (to 5m/s), but luckily with only weak southerly winds. I flew home to Piedrahita, and the others after an hour or so flying landed in front of the hill. By 3pm the wind was on the hill at Peña Negra, so we did a few flight there, though by late afternoon high cirrus started to come in from the west.
Almost no meteo wind, with gentle anabatic winds the whole day through with superb Cu. Plenty of flying, with 4 flights and the best flight for Colin, who along with myself had a nice flight to Barco. Once at Barco conditions were pumping, but Colin needed to land for the usual nicoteen and Cafeen fix. This is Colin’s 4th week with us this year, so great to see him get a good flight in again.
Too windy during the day, but epic soaring conditions alongside Griffon and Black vultures from 6.30pm. Light wave and thermals till near dusk to 500m above take off.
My bees at around 1600m near Tortoles have had a tough summer. Although there is abundant bloom in spring, the southern part of the valley is very dry and there seems little forage for July and August. One of my best looking hives in spring, which I expected to reach 3 Warre boxes had almost no honey reserves a few weeks back. Many of my hives in this location have had to eat through their spring crop for survival.
Although I am very much against feeding sugar solution to bees (mainly in the case of taking too much of their honey), in this case I see it as more of a survival thing. If I don`t feed, they will probably perish over the winter.
A morning of strong winds (unsuitable for paragliding work) gave me the opportunity to rig up some boards to adapt a standard feeding dish. Four of my hives recieved this, and a fith a bowl beneath with cut twigs to stop the bees drowning. All were given a 50 percent sugar solution with a good dose of honey for flavour.
