Very light winds from the north with good climbs of up to 5m/s and a base over 3000m. After flying down to the Cherry tree valley pass (Puerto de Tornavacas), Dave Shaw unfortunately landed, after flying very well and ahead. By this time the Cu was fantastic along the Bejar range and would have allowed an out and return way towards the West. Anyway, but this time, everybody else landed at Barco or before, so I flew back to join them.

During the evening flight I did two tandems, one with a girl whose boyfriend has almost forced her to fly. One of the worse tandems I can remember as she became very ill and almost fainted. The conditions were so good it was hard to get down, and after flying most of the way out with big ears I still got to over the landing fields near take off height.

I did the airport run, but things looked pleasant. Alan and Dave had a flight around the valley, and the evening flight was unusual with the conditions switching from the spines on the right to the left.

The cloud on the hill cleared by 1.30pm then quickly rose with very strong climbs in the valley. With the northerly component we stayed in the valley, with David Glew and Dave Cassidy making the most of conditions. Piers, Paul and myself flew in a huge flock of young Storks, presumably practicing for the big off within a week or so.

Over in Serbia, excellent news for the Brits. Two days in a row british task winners. Yesterday Russel Ogden, and today Craig Morgan (who I think looks rather like Bob Par, in the overweight version of Mr Incredible). Well done to them and to Mark Watts who has been knocking in high scores and has finished 17th overall.

A nice fly around town in the morning with a classic looking sky (though very low) and strongish thermals. We bailed out of doing the XC flight due to some big build ups coming in from the NW

With a cold front just about to skim the north of Spain, all things were set for a big day. However, after a good start, most got stuck before the pass. Myself waiting there, then unable to fly back when all were down due to increasing westerlies. An interesting thermic evening flight with a goal to Bonilla. Dave Shaw nearly got there, the rest of us peeled off sooner preferring the beer at the long bar.

With wind quite crossed at take off we scrabbled on the big spine before gliding down the valley and really getting up at the Long Bar (Lavadero). Unfortunately a few bomb outs, but Dave Shaw, Dave Cassidy, Paul, Piers and myself over the pass. Quite rough in places with climbs initially not more than around 2500m. At Muñogalindo a mega climb for me to 3400m , but for Dave Shaw to 3700m. Piers and Dave Shaw landed at Avila, the rest of us down at around 80km near the windmills.

A cool start to the day so we took off around 2pm into light and reasonable stable conditions. Quite a few bomb outs along the course to the Quarry, but by that time the climbs had improved with up to 5m/s climbs. The route back via the long bar then north of the road. After landing at Piedrahtia we went up for another go. There were some interesting high level convergence clouds by this time, and although late we were going to try for another XC. However, we ended up just flying locally.

Sunday morning we managed a quick soaring flight before taking our group to the airport, and a pleasant evening flight for the new group. Today monday saw excellent climbs on the early flight, good enought to do a quick out and return across the valley and back. Hero of the afternoon XC was Mike Blaine, who among 5 who crossed the pass was the only one to reach Avila.

Our congratulations to Bruno Croué from France who made some fantastic flights this week. Last saturday 178km, and on Monday he beat the site record (prevously 245km by Steve) with 247km. A great flight in very pleasant conditons with very little wind but great convergence and Cu allowing him to negociate the new airspace after Avila. The biggest distance from the area is still from Lastra del Cano with 281 by Patrice Quillet, also from France.

A late start, with light conditions on take off till around 4pm. We took off at 2, and only Ian and myself got properly established. There were wave clouds in the Ambles valley, so at the pass we turned back along with the french, though the way back was into a 20km headwind. We went back via Bonilla, where Ian ended up. by this time the rest of the crew were back at launch for the second flight, and I met up with them around the Long Bar on my struggle back. As the wind started to pick up around 5pm we landed around the long Bar. A short evening flight with the conditions too crossed from the West to be very interesting. Yesterdays evening flight was really good, with no wind, so no ridge lift, but excellent climbs in the valley. I made a commercial tandem flight and the client was extatic.