La Roquebrousanne

So I finally got some new tyres for the trailer - I had to get them sent rom the UK in the end!

But this allowed a trip to the field to put LC back in the hangar, and hopefully do some flying. There was a Mistrale blowing down the Rhone valley, so it would depend on how far across the southern French coast it had spread.

So we got to the field and unpacked LC from the trailer:

At 39* in the shade, it was hot work. Suzy did her bit by sorting out food and drink - any of you who used to come to Brack will remember her constant supply of burgers, tea etc!

It was blowing quite strongly - our French friends were all barbequeing and drinking Pastisse and Whisky (although not together of course), which didn't bode well for flying. None of them planned to fly again that day, but they said there might be a chance in the evening if the wind dropped.

I got Elsi ready as I could, but left the final rigging to see if the opportunity arose later. It didn't unfortumately. Conscious of having to get her into the hangar and de-rigged, at 7.30pm I decided it was crunch-point and derigged.

Nonetheless we had a lovely day - one of the nice things about this airfield is that it's not too crowded - see piccy below! Anyway, catch you next time.



Spamfield and Back - wet and blowy

Well I got there! Helped admirably by my driving coplot Maria:

.... not the most flattering of piccies - she'll kill me if she sees it. But since no-one is actually reading this, then it doesn't matter! Traffic was appalling - I later discovered that I'd elected to travel on one of the biggest holiday weekends in France - Ascension weekend - and got stuck in a 40km traffic jam on the way to Lyon.

A late arrival in the UK from the ferry necessitated a stay in a Travelodge. It was rubbish. I won't bother with them again.

Packed Maria off on the train. Got the car MOT'd and taxed, then set off for the IOW. Once again traffic was heavy and I only just made it in time for my 1800h ferry. Arrived quite late at Sandown and pitched camp as you can see it was quite late by the time I'd got sorted!

However, sorted I was and looked forward to a pint and a pie.

Next day dawned much as the rest of the week would:

Not much joy there!

Amazingly quite a few made it to Sandown on the Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately the threatening weather sent many scurrying for home on the Saturday evening, and only a few hardy souls stayed for the Saturday evning with band - at one stage I thought we were going to outnumber the audience... but in the end there were about 40 faithfuls at the gig, enjoying a beer and hopefully the music.

I never flew LC, since I managed to badly kink one of the forward lowers rigging her on a blustery Friday morning. Bugger. I looked at the wire and thought "well, I wouldn't take a boat out with rigging like that - or if I did I would be constantly expecting the mast to fall down," so I didn't fly her. Despite Graham's stalwart efforts at P&M to find someone coming down on the Saturday who could bring me a replacement. No luck.

I was rather hoping for a prize - longest travelled not to fly! Nearly 1000 miles each way...

Nonetheless I had a great week and renewed my acquaintance with the HMFC guys who had come. I also finally met Kev Armstrong - quite a character!

The drive back was equally eventful - got a serious flat on the trailer rounding Lyon:

Wow! I think I was lucky not to lose the tyre completely. I put on the spare - it was a little low in pressure, so I topped it up a bit. As I removed the pump, the centre of the valve blew out... hmmm. Looks as if I won't be meeting up with Daryl and co in Gap this evening then!

After my debacle with the RAC at the end of last year, I was loth to call them, but eventually I capitulated and stunningly they turned up within 40 mins and fixed the tyre!

Home by 0100.

Tyre flat the next day - oh well, at least LC is safe in the car park at our appartments.

It took 2 weeks to get new tyres - nothing doing in France - eventually I had to get them via the UK, and amazingly they were cheaper than lower quality tyres in France - even with the postage!

Albeit frustrating sometimes to live in France, there are some compensations:

... the view from our terrace the other evening.

Tyres fixed, it was time for a trip to La Roquebrousanne... to follow.