Gap Year Geckos - the Light Family return!

Really good to see Tony and his family again with Jo coming along for her second flight plus her friend Jasmine - both are on their gap year and planning adventures down under and in Africa and the States, they'll probably have off-roaded, bunjee jumped and sky-dived their way round the world the next time we see them!

A great thermic flying day - it was hard to persuade the wing to descend when it was time to land.....heres Jasmine and Jo in action - nice photo of Jo where her head perfectly forms the peak of the Saliente mountain - I'm saying nothing Jo!!

Head for the hills

The boys from Mojacar escaped the Playa and headed for the hills on Saturday, Chris, Lee, Cookie and Luke made for Saliente for a spot of flying!
A bit of a cahnge from Saturday afternoon at Mojacar Playa, Cookie loved the views and said he felt like he should have bought his passport with him!
Two fab flights with birds eye views of the Santuario at Saliente Alto..we think they're converted!
Vouchers for Gecko Fly paragliding tandem flights can now be bought in Mojacar direct from Chris by calling in to his bar 'Reflections' on the playa or call him on 652 720791
For other outlets and more info - call us

Parapente en Collado Garcia

Cuatro pilotos de parapente, Juan y Antonio de Almanzora, Stefan de Belgica y Chris del Bar 'Reflections' en Mojacar - Julio en Collado Garcia ' viento fuerte, dos inversiones fuertes....esperando un poco ...y un poco mas .....por fin, vale la pena - aire muy suave!

Collado Garcia - Tandem flying/ vuelos en biplaza

Sunday afternoon on a sunny, windy day at Collado Garcia. Two tandem pasengers to fly - Sandy and Gilbert - Sandy has flown gliders and had a tandem flight with Gecko Fly Parapente at Saliente last year - he was keen to go again, this time in the Sierra Filabres.

Here he is getting ready, taking off with Chris as anchor-man (the wind was strong!). Once up the air was smooth and he even did a bit of flying himself (the first time Steve's felt confident to hand over the controls!) then back to earth and looking happy afterwards.......

Meanwhile Gilbert waits for his turn, last time he did this was at Olu Deniz in Turkey, at least its not such a scary drive to the take off.......

Gecko Fly Tandem with Andreas

Andreas' last flight was a bit of a flop to bottom so this weekend he left his valley and headed for Saliente and the hills hoping for more...here's Steve reassuring him they'll be going up this time!
(They did!)

'Pro Sun' takes to the skies

Kelly from Pro Sun Solutions in Mojacar got his Christmas present at the weekend - here he is listening carefully to Steve's briefing, a great take off watched by Emma (who had her own white knuckle ride driving up the mountain) and in the air. Kelly's family chilled out at the terrace in the Restaurante Virgen del Saliente below - the best view and no walking!

www.stevebrockett.com

Steve is in the process of building his new website - aerial photography and paintings - you can view his work past and present - unique images of Andalucia AND purchase a print, commission a painting, leave comments or even order a mug with an aerial view of Albox on it! (well not quite yet but coming soon!)
Its not finished just yet but take a look and let him know what you think
Find it at http://www.stevebrockett.com/

Website hosting by the fab smugmug

festival internacional del aire el Yelmo 2008 : sierra de segura : jaen

first light of the day strikes the cliff top pueblo of Hornos

flying conditions were good for the festival of free flight
this weekend: a chance to leave the dry landscape of almeria
and spend some time in the green lush landscape of cazorla



Hornos from closer up


Hornos with the pantano behind


Segura de la Sierra

Flying Jesús

Jesús de Madrid y Gales y http://www.sierrawoodworks.co.uk/ en su vuelo en biplaza con Steve:
















Para alguien loco por las aves es lo mas cerca que se puede estar
de ser una de ellas. Es como ser un aguila perdicera durante
media hora... Totalmente recomendable.
For someone mad about birds it´s as close as you can get to becoming
one of them. It´s like being a Bonelli´s eagle
for half an hour... Absolutely recommendable.

The last few flights have been in the Los Velez valle, around Chirivel,
where the colors and farming are a distinct contrast
to the Valle de Almanzora


more and more i am drawn to the abstaction of the lines
and forms i see below


early starts! up at 6.30 am and in the air shortly
after 7. 00 to get beautiful flying conditions and nice
light , before the andalucian sun starts stirring up the
inversion, and the first thermic activity begins


i'm dreaming of flying down the draa valley in morroco
and photographing the date palms ....maybe this autum!



in the meantime andalucia is a big playground!

Reportaje para Lineas de Paisaje - Press interest!

Habia mucho reportaje en la prensa de Andalucia sobre las fotos de Steve en el Museo Pedro Gilabert in Arboleas - ver:

www.elalmeria.es/article/ocio/155469/steve/brockett/lleva/sus/fotos/aereas/museo/pedro/gilabert.html

www.ideal.es/almeria/20080611/cultura/imaginacion-contra-frivolidad-20080611.html

y http://www.portalmanzora.es/ foro de discusion>arboleas>museo pedro gilabert

o en ingles ver abajo:

Lots of press coverage of the exhibition, click on the links above or see a profile of Steve Brockett in Almeria's 89.8 magazine below:

from sky to gallery

The first exhibition of my aerial photos in the museo pedro gilbert
arboleas. a lovely space with lovely staff and a very supportive
town hall

On show are 22 photos in limited edition a2 prints of the
landscape around almeria many thanks to Luis Ramos
the director , Conche and Lala for
all their help and support


in the end the show was impresionantesssss! we were happy!


lots of people came to the private view and thanks to everyone
who made the effort!
here are just some of the people who matter!

Up, up and away!

A cracking day for Graham's tandem flight with Gecko Fly Parapente - at last, summer flying weather is here! Watched by family and friends Graham and Steve fast became a small speck in the sky with the highest altitude achieved on a a tandem flight here at Saliente!

Safely back on the ground Graham admitted it took him 10 minutes into the flight before he looked down!

Here he is being clipped in just before take off.

Should have been there!

The third Saliente Fly(ing) Fiesta saw some luck with the weather, big black clouds behind us but fab flying conditions and sunshine for the spectators. Richard got his birthday tandem at long last, Antonio made it to 700m above take off (thats 2000m above sea level!) and Cabrero of Almanzora experienced some spiral diving on his tandem flight with steve. Classic landings on the Plaza in front of the santuario (missing the crucifix this year).

Loads of nice folk came and enjoyed - in the sky and on the ground - a big thank you to dj bumble, hector, sam and trish for music, raffle and keeping an eye on the ground and in the air and well done Kevin and Kath for winning the raffle (you certainly know how to up the odds!!)

See you next year!

I forgot my camera so thanks to Mike Y for a few photos!

Third party fire and theft

Local insurance man Glen has been waiting for the weather to warm up to experience free flight above Saliente but finally last week the day arrived - Glen's daughter however was in floods of tears about her dad running off a mountain - but once we all got up to take off she cheered up!

Here's Glen at the landing looking in his pocket for the cloud he promised to bring back for his son!

Exposición Steve Brockett

steve's exhibition at the museo pedro gilabert
arboleas from june 13th to july 25th-
images taken over the last two years
flying over the almerian landscape
opening 13th june at 9.00pm

Descubre Los Vélez-Discover Los Vélez-Ontdek Los Vélez

Check out the new website http://www.losvelezrural.com/ - information on where to stay, what to see and activities in the Los Velez region and el Parque Natural Sierra Maria

Third Saliente Fly Fiesta!

Third Fly Fiesta at Saliente! - theres a good weather forecast - more flying tunes from dj bumble, the chance to win a tandem flight and of course some great flying for paragliding pilots from Almeria and Murcia!

For the evening there's flamenco music and dancing and Cabrero's mobile pizza van could be making an appearance......see you there, hasta pronto!

11 countries in 2 days...

Just the last 2 days our blog site has been visited by people from 11 different countries...
Spain - Barcelona, Malaga, Almeria, Murcia
Brazil
Guatemala
UK - London
Germany
Kazakhstan
Serbia and Montenegro
Norway - Tromso
USA - Salem, Orange County
France - Paris, Ile de France
Greenland - Nuuk Vestgronlau.....
thats great .......who are you all??

Significant birthdays!

Its been a week of flying passengers celebrating their 'significant' birthdays - it was a pleasure to fly Judith and her son Spencer at Saliente - friends and family all gathered on the mountain top to sing Happy Birthday as Judith soared overhead!











The average age of tandem passengers so far this year has been around 50 - what about all you younger ones?