What a day.  Quite remarkable.  After the Pass near Muñana, Nigel and I climbed to 4500m then flew without turning to Avila then pretty much back to the same spot without dropping much below 3900m. We for sure did not continue beyond Avila due to the mega conditions  which would have made it too difficult to stay Legal below 2900m.  The return was easy to about Muñana, In fact, that section, about 60km out and return without turning could have been the fastest O&R section I have every done!.  However, thereafter and getting over the Pass presented us with more headwind.  I tried the right well to the N of the windmills, and Nigel to the South, However, not successful.  With me landing on the plateau nearish the Antenna at the pass.

Ian, a little behind Nigel and I also made Avila and most of the way back to the Pass.  Another PB for him.  Helen also cracked the Pass with a climb over 3000m, though unfortunately landed just before the climb that Put Nigel and I in orbit for the rest of the Afternoon.

Jamie also came over with Nigel and I but after a hard scuttle around near Muñana, landed nearby.

Marshal on his second flight also made Avila and back to the bend in the road.

For sure this cold have been a 200km + day for Nigel, Ian and I as we reached Avila around 2.30pm with a Cu filled convergence ahead. However, with cloud base 1600m above the legal limit it would have been reckless and foolish.  Luckily this was not a weekend, or we might have seen another dozen Online postings of illegal flights over 200km!

Another excellent XC day, though with a little more wind and a bit more from the N than yesterday.  Unusually showing more wind in our Valley early on than the Avila valley.  A very marked convergence on the mountain, and the finger of convergence stretching out from between Muñogalindo and Avila to the mountains to the south.  For sure an Avila day, maybe more, but depends a little on lower wind strengths at Avila.  Excellent evening flying also for sure!

Best in our group today was Johan again, with 82.8 landing near Villacastin on purpose.  Iain made a great flight on his second attempt after an early bomb out. Conditons going to 3800m+ in the Avila valley so a lot of caution under the airspace, which was the main reason Iain landed when he did.  Others outside our group today would have made Segovia and beyond as it was a CLASSIC.

This will be another remarkable XC day.  Good for Open XC and also OK for the return, but today I imagine we can set Segovia as a goal.  Generally a westerly flow and less chance of N at Avila.  A base a little higher than yesterday, but not much above 3400m, so we should be able to keep below the limits in the Madrid Airspace.  Light winds, so it will be a slow flight, but for that, less turbulent and nicer.  Good Cu formation and no risk of storms or OD (spread out).  A long line of convergence forming from the Pass to around the Windmills after Avila area.  Practically perfect in every way!

Todays forecast lived up to expectations with climbs to 3300m, light winds and strong thermals.  Johan made it back from 50km out to the NW of Avila, and Nick on his FIRST EVER Xc, made 54.8km.  Marshal also made it a good deal back from Avila to near the Pass.   An epic day.  Also nice evening conditions for those who had a less epic day.  And, on top off all that, Johan´s new glider arrived from Ozone.  Poor Johan, who is out with us for 3 weeks has been on my old Mentor 3 for the last week as Ozone failed in their delivery promise of a week before his arriving.  He is one of those exceptional pilots, like Ian Walker, who gets to fly just once a year, so it is all the more remarkable that they bang out these epic flights on their annual holidays.  Below a pic of Johan back int he landing field and of Nick at his field in Avila.  Also my quick character sketch of Johan with a slightly more aerodynamic skull now!

Today is looking really nice.  Not epic for open distance, but generally a quality XC day but without excesses.  We have generally a light wind, NW in our valley and more NE in the Avila valley.  Some inversions but climbs later in the afternoon to around 3000m and some Cu formation, though less than yesterday.

Some interesting convergence lines in the avila valley along the Sierra to the North.  could be a good day for and Out and Return to Avila.

This years all the Sundays seem to be great for XC and soaring.  yesterday with no exception with a Cu filled post frontal sky and abundant lift.  Nigel probably made the best of those with a circuit to the Pass then towards the river north of Barco and home.

the evening flying was spectacular.  I made a tandem flight taking the passenger to 3000m.  Looking great for the week ahead too.

The end of the week dinner at our place.  A week of  some stunning flying and 6 big PBs, 5 over 150km and 2 over 200km.

This, Sunday, should be a very pleasant day.  A inversion around 2200 to 2400m early in the day but climbs later in the afternoon should reach 3000m.  Winds straight on the hill.  This is a great day for circuits of the Valley. i.e., Pass, Redroofs, Hoyoredondo etc.  Should be excellent evening conditions with restitution.

Classic SW convergence line after Avila towards the N of Segovia, climbs to 3000m and plenty of wind to get you a long way.  The only trouble is that that wind is well beyond the comfort level for most paragliding pilots.

The good thing is that it is now looking good for tomorrow and the rest of next week.