Monday, September 9, 2013

Flying High

Saturday morning I got the call at 7:15 "all clear to fly". Good. I was already up, showered and dressed. Managed to run into Simon as he was boarding the metro mostly by good luck after having missed the agreed upon metro by one minute, and headed to Boulogne to meet our friend and pilot, Arnaud.

A nice drive to Etampes and we were at the airport. Lots of friendly rabbits hanging out and also a hangar full of planes.

Lots of planes
Not ours thank heavens
Also not ours but rather nice

I think I am bigger than the plane!
















I have been speaking happily and confidently about our upcoming adventure. Now I realize how small our plane is.










Okay no worries, we'll just put a little leash on it to take it to the runway, top up the gas, do a thorough check, turn the propeller until the engine catches, and get ready to go.










Last chance to change my mind





During the pre-flight briefing Arnaud gives the following instructions:
  1. Please don't vomit all over the plane
  2. Please do not touch the joy stick or put your feet on the pedals
  3. Please do not talk to me when I am talking to the control tower
  4. Please do not pull the cord that releases the parachute. There is only one parachute. It is for the plane not you.
Okay. Got it. It must take a lot of trust to believe the average passenger won't do something stupid, like pull the parachute release.

Do I want to drive? No thanks you are doing just fine..
No auto pilot here. The real pilot has work to do.


Lots and lots of farms
A surprising number of chateaux
Looking at all the farms surrounding the chateaux makes me believe I have stepped back in time. People really still live this way? In a real chateau? And they are not even royalty. I hear that a chateau can support a whole village of people.

What a great way to spend a Saturday morning! I am very lucky tobe living this amazing life.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Waiting to hear from you!