A bad case of the winter blues...

I had a bad case of the winter blues...I’d been stuck inside with the best that winter brings.  It didn't help talking to mates back in NZ who were catching huge fish and having the hottest summer ever!

Having completed my PPL with Sue 4 months ago, I was keen to get in some flying hours and increase my confidence by flying into other areas.  I also wanted to practice crosswind landings while I had Sue with me to get me out of trouble—if it came to that.

With the weather not really playing ball ... we managed to find a few days where the weather looked flyable and Sue was available!  So, I took the opportunity to cure my winter blues and went to Limoges, for 3 days of flying.

First flight was to La Rochelle, and back

I got to Limoges just after lunch so we thought that an easy flight to La Rochelle would be a good way to get back into it and regain some of the knowledge I felt I had lost.  It was great to get into the plane and I gradually being to feel confident again.  Radio calls felt unfamiliar and I had trouble, remembering all the checks, oh and how do I land again?  It was reassuring having Sue sitting next to me, it gave me the confidence to just do it and I realised I had not forgotten as much as I thought.

Day 2 was to Aurillac, flying over the Massive Central,  with snow everywhere

This turned out to be a perfect flying day!   No Clouds—you could see from horizon to horizon.  This was not what the forecasters had predicted but we certainly weren’t complaining.  So we flew to Aurillac for a cup of coffee at the cafe near the airport.  They refused to take money that day for landing fees, (I think the paperwork for a 5 euro landing fee was just too hard for them that day).

After coffee, we left for a flight over the Massive Central mountains. It was great looking at all the skiers from above—normally I'm looking up wondering what its like!  We found a small airfield covered in snow and had a bit of fun practicing my landings there.  It was a thrill to abort the landing at the last minute!  Next, a few crosswind landings at a small strip just below the mountains, then off home, back to Limoges.

3rd day was to l'ile d'Yeu, an Island on the west coast of France

For my last day we headed out to an island on the west coast of France. l'ile d'Yeu.  It has a Population of 5000 bursting to 30000 over summer.  It's a fishing village and by the sounds of things, seems to be popular with many Pilots.

With the controller out to lunch, or perhaps closed for the winter, we had the place to ourselves.  A friendly local (who I am sure was an ex formula one driver) offered us a ride into town, dropping us off at the best restaurant on the island.

It was a great place to visit, If only for lunch but it was time to get back up in the sky and head back to Limoges.

With a few more practice crosswind landings, we were home all to soon.

It was great to be up in the sky... getting from A to B is so much faster than a car, having the freedom to go over there just for a look at the castle, or see what’s on the other side of the mountains.

It was great revision for me. It turned out to be one of those clear weather gaps in the middle of winter that was perfect for flying.  I'm pretty sure it has cured my winter blues for now, although I think I may need to visit again soon!