A close-up of the planes that fly over our house every day.

   This year is the 125th anniversary of the town of Santiago de la Ribera, next door to which is the Academia General del Aire which trains pilots, and is home to the "Eagle Patrol", which is the Spanish equivalent of the Red Arrows in UK.
   To acknowledge this, the Acadamia is holding 4 open days in May and June to celebrate. We were lucky enough to see the invitation on the internet in good time, and got our names down for Friday 24th May. 35 people attended and we started by watching the flag ceremony, then watching the salute being taken from the company.

Taking the salute

   After a tour around the buildings and a visit to the regimental museum, we had a filmshow about the work and leisure of the Eagle Patrol and had some questions and answers.

Regimental museum

   Having been told the tour was approx one and a half hours long we assumed that was the end and we were going home. However, at the T junction, we turned not left for the exit but right for the airfield!!
   There are 3 types of plane operating from the Acadamia. The first is a propeller trainer, then a jet trainer, then the jet they use for the displays. We can see them practicing every day from our roof terrace at home - sometimes just 2 propeller planes, sometimes 2 jet trainers and sometimes a complete display routine complete with coloured smoke.
   To our amazement there was a propeller trainer and a jet trainer on the apron with the canopy open and steps in place. We got to sit in the propeller one, but not the jet because it had a live ejector seat in it which the pilot said was "cero cero" (zero zero). This means it can eject at zero speed and zero altitude, so if you sat in it and weren't strapped into the seat and touched the release handle under the seat - well you can imagine. (I don't think they were insured for that!)

Jet trainer

Inside the jet trainer - don't touch that handle!!

Propeller trainer and instructor (and pupil)

Biggles!

The Red Baron

   Whilst we were on the apron 3 propeller trainers landed, followed by 3 display jets - all very exciting and very loud. This was totally unexpected and was a real bonus.
   All in all a fantastic experience and insight into the workings of a military base which I would recommend to anyone - if you get the chance - do it.

Two prop trainers just landed

Handbrake on

Now for the debrief

Display jet

Two down and one incoming

Link to all pictures at Acadamia del Aire here

Valeria

   We bought an inflatable kayak from Decathlon in UK a couple of years ago (thank you Colin - brilliant advice) with the intention of bringing it to Spain to use. We did this in spring of 2011 (checked in baggage) and had a fabulous time with her.
   We named her Valeria after a 6 week old baby which a man had on his knee in a bar called Bodegan la Pena in our home town, which we thought was a good name for a boat.

   30 mins cycle ride south of us is the Mar Menor. This is an inland sea, joined to the Mediterranean by 2 canals. There is a spit of land called La Manga (the sleeve) that separates the Mediterranean from the Mar Menor. This means the Mar Menor is sheltered from the worst of the weather as regards wind and waves, is 5°+ warmer than the Med, and there is no risk of being swept out to sea and ending up in Algeria. This is where we use Valeria the most.
   To get her to the Mar Menor we bought a bike trailer into which she fits, along with the pump, seats, paddles, coolbox with food and drink, baler, mooring rope (string!), and drybag for valuables.
   The first year we used her we found we could paddle into the wind with no problem and make good progress, but trying to go downwind or crosswind meant a haphazard series of zig-zagging along and going round in circles. Prior to leaving work I took good advice from an experienced canoeist (thanks Colin) and bought a "skeg" in a quiet moment at work.This is like a rudder at the back but it doesn't move, so it gives you a degree of stability and direction when moving forward.
   Our first launch this year was the first opportunity to try the skeg, so on May 25th we set off for the Mar Menor, and what a revelation. Valeria now goes where you point her no matter where or how strong the wind is, so no more 360's. The weather was sunny, 26° and cloudless at 10:00am when we got there, with a light westerly breeze - just as forecasted. An excellent 2 hours of pottering about found us amongst the moored boats near the beach - time for lunch.

   At 1:00pm we decided to head back to the bikes and trailer (2kms up the walkway from the mudbaths), but found the wind was now from the east, and considerably stronger. Waves were crashing over the front, and paddling against the wind and waves was something that now required concentration and stamina. We eventually made it but it was touch and go at some points - we were never in danger, but it would have been a long walk back. This was so different from the conditions of July and August when we used her the previous year, when the weather was relatively calm and predictable.
   So, as any sailor will tell you, never underestimate the power of the sea - even if it is enclosed and shallow, and above all leave yourself an escape route (ours was the beach bar on the way home).

Internet at last!

After ages without internet we are finally online again.
After touring the lakes we thought a visit to the Camargue would be good, so we had 3 excellent days there - brilliant place.
The lure of the sun in Spain had us heading south, and we are currently wild camping on the banks of the river Segre, just before it joins the Ebro, in a place called Mequinenza, between Lleida and Zaragoza.
Should be home in a couple of days, when the full tour will be revealed.

Wild camping next to the River Segre