The Journeyman Balladeer
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The Tours of the Journeyman Balladeer

If you have quesitons, or seek advice, then contact The Journeyman Balladeer via 'Contact the JB' under the 'Other Stuff' tab. 
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THE WASP IN BOTTLE TOUR  Summer 2020
The Coronavirus prevented the two planned tours to Europe. So...I tried out a new model of touring this season. Bottled up in England, I did 7 x short tours of 2-4 days, returning to home base in Weston Zoyland after each. I ricocheted  (like a Wasp in a Bottle) off 80 airfields (79 with PPR) between the borders of England to a total of 3575 miles (5752 km) in 24 days.  Surprisingly, this is 100 miles more than my out to Sicily, and back. Also a lot less demanding.  Engine time on tour was 75 hours. In the process I landed at 76 new airfields, taking my total to 453 airfields. Perhaps that’s why it’s called the Grand Tourer 450!
Main benefits compared to the ‘out-and-back’ touring model were:
  1. Less ‘stuff’ needs to be carried.
  2. More time to stop and talk, rather than make progress. 55 airfields had person(s) present.
  3. Concentrated on fuel economy, with best pump-measured full-to-full of 9.7 lph achieved.
  4. No killer long haul back from end point.
  5. Period of suitable flying weather much easier to guarantee for 4 days in UK, rather than 14 days in Europe.
  6. Re-discovery of how beautiful England is in summer.
Fuel remained the main touring issue, especially in the early tours.  I am grateful to Lee McIlwaine for his assistance as I passed through Headon (Nottinghamshire) and Hogham (Lincolnshire) airfields, 



(The detailed page of this tour is under construction)

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SOURCE OF THE RIVER DANUBE
July 2019

Failed! The objective was to fly the River Danube - Source to Sea. This is 1742 miles (2805km). I made the start of the Danube, Donaueschingen, in the Black Forest in Germany. So I did make the 627 miles (1009km) from home base to the source. An incident occured that meant the aircraft was unflyable. It took 3 days to sort this and get home, and a further 5 days to drive out with the trailer and recover G-GEMX.
(The detailed page of this tour is under construction)

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THE CZECH REPUBLIC
September 2018: 1,609 miles (2,589km) - 9 days

One of my most difficult and frustrating tours.
  1. 2.5 days lost to rain.
  2. Close family bereavement on day 5.
  3. 2 days of head wind on way back, with 425 miles (683km) done at average speed of the low 50mph (c.80kph).
The original plan was a tour of central Europe. I only managed to get 44 miles (70km) into Czech. But I did get to drink beer in Pilsen. Good advice and assistance from local flyers. Clearly much more to be done out this way and further. The idea of Danube - Source to Sea is attractive. This tour also gave me the idea of basing G-GEMX in Europe during the summer. Zoufftgem, on the Lux/French border, is an ideal candidate. It would save c.500 miles (800km) each way, and avoid 2 x Channel Crossings.                                                                            Above: Tachov, my first of only 2 airfields in Czech Republic. 
(The detailed page of this tour is under construction)

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THE SHETLAND ISLES in northern Scotland
July 2018: 1602 miles (2,575 km) - 6.5 days

First major trip after 4.5 years off flying.
Finally made The Shetland Islands, on the 5th attempt. Flying up took 2.5 days. 1 day was spent waiting for the weather in The Orkneys. 24 hours were spent in the Shetlands, with 4 fields landed. The last 2 days were spent running away south, to escape incoming difficult weather.
       Highlights were:
Landings on the gravel strips of Foula and Fair Isle.
Flying the Orkney Isles again.
Being helped by Scottish Information to let down over the sea and find the runway at Sumburgh.
Right: The island of Foula, west of The Shetlands. Approach from the east
Click on the picture for the full story and more photographs

OTHER TOURS from Way Back in the day

THIS PAGE IS UNDER RE-CONSTRUCTION    December 2020   The links below are active and lead to the trip reports.
5 days thru ireland 2012
Scandinavia 2012
To Sicily 2011
scotland and ireland 2010
french novice tour 2010
france 2009
poland 2006
to the pyrenees 2004
Round the UK