To Warsaw - 2006
The first tour in a GT450, having upgraded from the P&M Quantum 15. The extra 20bhp, fuel capacity and load really made a difference. This trip had intended to reach Vilnius, in Lithuania. The final 240 miles (380km) were not possible due a deep and unmoving low pressure sitting over eastern Poland. A fix was achieved by hopping on a local commuter flight, thus being able to spend 3 full days visiting the friends who were part and parcel of the mission.
The map below shows the route. The total distance was 2550 miles (4080km). The weather was sufficient for comfortable touring, but there was a consistent haze. This was regularly cleansed by rain, but quickly returned. Of the 13 days, 5 were abandoned.
Some items worth narrating:
1. I clocked 120mph (190kph) up the Moselle valley, scraping into Koblenz Germany at close of play.This is a tail wind of 50 mph (80kph). Mind you, I needed to. I had waited all day for the rain to pass through, and, having lost radio contact at the French-German border, made an unscheduled stop at Thionville to phone ATC and check I could cross. Now I know that one just crosses, and let the communications catch up later.
2. Poznan, Poland, is a large regional airport. A call in advance, and good preparation, set me up for a very interesting arrival from Berlin Strausberg. I was moved through two holding points, and orbited about a mile south of the final approach before being squeezed in between Ryanair and LOT Polish 737s.
3. While in Lithuania, the aircraft stayed at Warsaw Babice, fully fuelled and ready for when I returned. On return, during the 3.5hrs to Slupsk on the Baltic coast, I had to make an unscheduled landing on an abandoned military strip and re-fill from the 20 litre can I carry in the rucksack that travels in the back seat. Either the fuel gauge had a malfunction, or some 20 litres 'evaporated' during the 4 days I was absent!
4. A trough, which produced a head wind and a premature dusk, forced me into a farm field near Goszczanow. I sat out the following day's rain in my tent. But I made a good dent in "War and Peace". I always carry a monster novel, and a book of Crosswords. Helps to pass the downtime, and mitigates against boredom pressing for a premature departure when the weather is clearing,
5. Dropped my right hand glove (an excellent French 'Ami Chaud') over the side, north of Hamburg.
6. Set a distance record on the final day. 470 miles (750km) from Lelystad (Netherlands), through Kortrijk (Belgium) and Lydd (UK) and home to Dunkeswell. Just under 7 hours on the engine.
The general ardour of working at the edge of my capability resulted in a rather weak set of photographs. The best can be viewed in the gallery below.
The map below shows the route. The total distance was 2550 miles (4080km). The weather was sufficient for comfortable touring, but there was a consistent haze. This was regularly cleansed by rain, but quickly returned. Of the 13 days, 5 were abandoned.
Some items worth narrating:
1. I clocked 120mph (190kph) up the Moselle valley, scraping into Koblenz Germany at close of play.This is a tail wind of 50 mph (80kph). Mind you, I needed to. I had waited all day for the rain to pass through, and, having lost radio contact at the French-German border, made an unscheduled stop at Thionville to phone ATC and check I could cross. Now I know that one just crosses, and let the communications catch up later.
2. Poznan, Poland, is a large regional airport. A call in advance, and good preparation, set me up for a very interesting arrival from Berlin Strausberg. I was moved through two holding points, and orbited about a mile south of the final approach before being squeezed in between Ryanair and LOT Polish 737s.
3. While in Lithuania, the aircraft stayed at Warsaw Babice, fully fuelled and ready for when I returned. On return, during the 3.5hrs to Slupsk on the Baltic coast, I had to make an unscheduled landing on an abandoned military strip and re-fill from the 20 litre can I carry in the rucksack that travels in the back seat. Either the fuel gauge had a malfunction, or some 20 litres 'evaporated' during the 4 days I was absent!
4. A trough, which produced a head wind and a premature dusk, forced me into a farm field near Goszczanow. I sat out the following day's rain in my tent. But I made a good dent in "War and Peace". I always carry a monster novel, and a book of Crosswords. Helps to pass the downtime, and mitigates against boredom pressing for a premature departure when the weather is clearing,
5. Dropped my right hand glove (an excellent French 'Ami Chaud') over the side, north of Hamburg.
6. Set a distance record on the final day. 470 miles (750km) from Lelystad (Netherlands), through Kortrijk (Belgium) and Lydd (UK) and home to Dunkeswell. Just under 7 hours on the engine.
The general ardour of working at the edge of my capability resulted in a rather weak set of photographs. The best can be viewed in the gallery below.
