Fanas - a video by Andy S.

Andy is now using a 'Feyju Tech Gyro' (Gimbal) with his GoPro: it brings the quality of his videos to a completley new level! And as usual with his videos, the music fits perfectly.

Unfortunately I already had handed in my equipment for inspection the day before - as I expected this to be a pretty good day. Furthermore I had 2 appointments, I didn't want to change again. (I had moved them already once in order to be able to go to Spain...)

Rigi

As my equipment (Harness/ Reserve) will need maintainance and therefore had to be delivered to Brunnen (FS Touch&Go) I took the opportunity for a flight from 'Rigi Kulm'.

looking NE

As the air was quite stable, 'hard work' and patience was required to gain altitude.

Zugersee, Arth-Goldau

Nice flight which had the potential for more  ;-)

more site-seeing: Vilanova de Meia

The day started much better than I had hoped, but the fcst (and webcam on launch) indicated still (too?) much wind. So I decided to have a look at another site nearby: Vilanova de Meia.

Vilanova de Meia

I found the LZ easily, as well as the roads to the (2) different launches: but to call them roads is an exageration: for 'Cogullo' 4WD is highly recommended (though I got there in my rental car); the last 1.5kms of the track to the other launch require 4WD (so I didn't actually get there.)

large LZ with windsock

Cogullo South launch

As the sky became clearer all the time I headed back to Ager and up to Coll d'Ares. Launching would have easily been possible: nice wind coming straight in at times, but at times coming also gusty and cross from the left (similar to yesterday), so I didn't fly.
Instead I continued sightseeing to the north of the Sierra de Montsec.

Ager / Organya

Promises, promises... According to the weathermen, it should have been a good day, BUT due to a high cirrus layer here at Ager only weak thermals could develop; additionally a low ceiling and east wind made flying not very attractive. I was the first to land, but shortly thereafter nobody else was flying as well.

Coll d'Ares, TO a little higher up than for the other flights here

So I drove again to Organya, as Jordi had told me to expect good conditions there.

As I arrived in Organya, many pilots were flying high above, doing acro and stuff, which I watched for a while. I also watched some not so nice 'landings', as the thermals made coming down rather tricky. (That was the reason, I had used the altn LZ on my last flight here).

Organya

When I arrived at launch, conditions had completely changed! Everybody had landed. I had to wait quite a while to just get a little head wind for launching for my 5' sledder...
>> Too much driving today for way not enough flying ;-)
Tomorrow: more promises?!

Ager

Finally a day without too much wind! Cloudbase was lower than yesterday, but the thermals were very nice. So after a good flight today no need for any 'site'-seeing  ;-)

TO Coll d'Ares

Exeptional clear views to the north: Pyrenees

Embalse de Caneles

Camping 'Vall d'Ager', with LZ (at 2 o'clock)

Ager and more 'site'-seeing

Again, the day started without clouds. Already at 1000 the first pilots were flying from Coll'd'Ares.
We headed up after 1100 and found a launch full of waiting tandem- and solopilots, as the wind was coming in cross or even from behind (W to NW). 

Coll d'Ares: parawaiting

After waiting quite a while (and setting up several times, as the tailwind had rolled up my wing) I finally managed to launch as well. I found strong thermals, but intermixed with the wind (> 20kmh). I didn't like the conditions at all and landed already after less than half an hour flight time :-((   After I had landed only HG could be seem still flying...
It was not 1500 yet and as I didn't want just to hang around I decided to go for some more 'site'-seeing.

Abella della Conca

In 1h45min I had reached Organya another good site here. At the LZ I was introduced to Jordi from the local flightschool Organya Experience.  He gave me an excellent site introduction an drove me up to launch.

Organya (Launch:left side)

Organya

The thermals have been strong here too, but it was much nicer flying without the influence of the West wind. Jordi also drove me back from the alternative LZ, where I had landed.

Altn LZ (less thermal activity/ turbulence, but more wind)

Many thanks for everything Jordi; It was a pleasure having met you! Hope to meet you again.

Castejon de Sos / (Tozal Gordo)

I woke up to an almost cloudless sky, but there was (too) much wind in todays fcst for Ager, so I decided to do some 'site'-seeing. And no, that's not a typo ;-)
Driving through beautiful landscapes:

Portell deis Terraders

Embalse de Escales

Castejon des Sos, the other 'must' site here in the Pyrenees is just 2 hours drive form Ager. After having looked at the LZ there, I also wanted to have a lookat the launches so I drove up to 'Pedra Blanca'.

Castejon des Sos: Pedra Brancas

Just as I was arriving, I saw some gliders in the air :-)) I was able to talk to their driver and was told that fo the moment the conditions would be good for flying; furthermore she told me that normally a ride up would cost 10EUR (with 4 pilots as a minimum). But my problem was: how would I retreive my car; walking back up was no option, as it's a 35' drive with an altitude difference of more than 1000m. I decided to fly and hoped I would find a 'Para'-taxi later...

Pedra Brancas

Liri

After I had retrived my car I headed back to Ager, but on a different route. Here I could visit another flying site: 'Tozal Gordo' (near Graus/ el Grado): but it was completely blown out.

Tozal Gordo (Pano looking South)

Benabarra

Ager

With the lousy wx fcst for the next days (week?) I've decided at short notice to 'head south'...
So I flew to Barcelona (BCN) (Thursday), rented a car and drove to Ager.
Remark: as I have said to Ruth after having made my desicion: the wx in Switzerland will be thus much better than forecasted and in Spain worse ;-)  (> see also XContest for todays flights.)

on the way to ager (near Igualada)

puppies (near Balaguer)

When I got to Ager (around 1800) I saw some gliders, but it was too late to make it up the hill.
This morning then(Friday) started out pretty nice: according to the fcst there should have been (too?) much East-wind and no rain, but actually during the morning we got just little east wind and a little rain. Anyway, a group of French pilots took me up to Coll d'Ares, the main launch, explainig me the different TO- and landing- options along the way (- thanks Roland!). As conditions permitted a launch, I took the oppotunity for a first flight here in Ager. There was even some light thermal activity but the flight had to be cut short due to some spells of rain.  

Coll d'Ares

Link to webcam on launch.

almost tame fox

Later in the afternoon it was clearing up nicely, but remained too windy... So I visited all the launches and landings.

Overview of the area ( I hope I've  gotten all the names right)