An absolutely brilliant weekend.
Thanks so much, James and Rob. You (and your helpers, but especially you both) worked like Trojans in the 2 days I was there, and so far as I can tell that was only two out of four days of full-on plans and entertaining.
The scene was set for me by being handed a cold beer by Paul Sengupta 20 seconds after the prop stopped on arrival, topped by finding myself within the hour tasting the local grape juice on a vineyard tour.
As ever, it was great to finally put faces to more forumites, and to meet up again with the others.
My return flight couldn't have been better*; absolutely stunning visibility all the way up the Atlantic coast, culminating in a view from 6000ft over the Cotentin peninsular of the entire Normandy battle area in a single view on one side (highly appropriate for the day after the 71st Anniversary of the landings), and the Channel Islands sparkling in an almost tropical looking sea on the other.
My little Jodel very nearly beat a TB20 from Saucats to Dinard, too.
(Iceman will give you some old guff about them stopping at La Rochelle on the way - don't listen to him.)Here's to the next one; I'll positively have to ensure I make it for the full bash next time.
If there's anybody reading this who, like me, had been thinking "I've got to go on one of those, they look like fun" then you're right: You do, and they are.
PS Did anybody route through Cherbourg this afternoon? There was a C-17 on the ramp by the tower, with a C-47 close by, and it looked absolutely enormous - even from high in the overhead.
*
Except for the annoying and unreliable fuelling system at Dinard. Hrmmph.