A reduced circus formation gathered at Andrewsfield for a trip to Lydd and Shoreham. Jane was up north tending to her mother, Peter was chasing the weather in Mexico and Steve M had committed to some quality time shopping!. But myself (Rob), Steve R, Shane,  Nick and Richard were ready to carry the flag.

Richard goes one up on Prescott

The weather did not look too promising, and the reduced numbers suggested a two leg journey would be best. So with NOTAM's promising dire consequences for gate crashing Tony and Gordon's party we decided to drop Shoreham and just do Lydd.

Steve's ears pricked up. Some years back a Lydd FISO had given him an ear-bashing for some non-standard radio usage on his cross country qualifier. He assured us he wasn't bitter, but we managed to calm him down. "You can land at Lydd." Steve told me, "OK, you can do the radio." I replied. We were going to have to work at this co-ownership...

Fuelling complete, Uniform-Delta set off with me at the controls and Steve at the map (no GPS for us!); Xray-Kilo followed with Shane alone, but for Nick's GPS; and Delta-Hotel set off last, Richard piloting and Nick, having jumped ship from the 172 to get the Arrow experience, holding Richard's full colour GPS.

Uniform-Delta scraped the cloud ceiling at 2000ft heading south towards Canvey. Southend warned us of India-Kilo naving in the area (Hi Peter), and then unidentified traffic following us (Hi Shane). I experimented with Uniform-Delta's VOR which now seemed fully functional, but as the cloud was lowering and the Kent hills were looming concentration was required elsewhere. 'Having fun?' says Steve, 'No!' snaps I - we were down to 1000 feet now.

The Arrow inevitably caught us up and passed by, wings waggling, 8 miles out from Lydd. Richard contacted Lydd and got a right base join for 21, and we did the same. Lydd, I had been told is notoriously difficult to spot, so I followed Richard. The Arrow turned final, but for what? Ah! There it is...

Arrow and Cherokee landed and parked up. But where was Shane? He couldn't be that far behind. It seems Shane had failed to spot the runway, the power station and the sea and drifted west to Rye. The man in the tower (or is it a greenhouse on top of some stacked up containers?) at Lydd helped him back and we saw him on downwind. Must be a different FISO since Steve's last visit. But what's this Shane being chased down final by a Trislander. "Behind you!" we on the ground all cried - this was fun! Shane lands and taxis so fast we though it might have been an aborted bounce.

"Behind you"

Tea, coffee and fizzy orange in the restaurant while we watch the banks of cloud move east. The emergency siren sounds and the airfield fire engine scrambles out to the runway side. A Cessna lands, parks, and the pilot walks away (he did have a limp). The fire engine returns to its bay and that was it. Hmmm.

The highly visible Rob, Shane, Steve and Nick, and the Arrow, Cherokee and Cessna

Back in the aircraft and back to Andrewsfield: Steve piloting Uniform-Delta, me naving;  Nick flying Xray-Kilo with Shane on nav; and Richard on his own in the Arrow. Richard had alerted us to Leeds Castle and we kept a lookout, but when we saw it the best picture I could have got would have been of the inside of the aircraft. Next time.

Another way of traveling: Sunday afternoon on the M20

Across the Thames and Southend warn us of a number of aircraft operating over Hanningfield reservoir. Eyes open, but we can't see anybody else - which is even more alarming.

Power on the Medway  and clouds over Southend

Andrewsfield and the post match warm down. Steve excels himself by misplacing his phone. Locating it involves wearing all the hats he can find while we ring it. Fortunately Steve M turns up. Shopping has sharpened his senses and he quickly locates the phone in Mr R's flight bag. Maybe Steve (R) was joking about being kidnapped by aliens. Am I sure I want to fly with him again?

Saling Hall and Steve two hats

Well actually "Yes"! Having spent the Friday and Saturday on my employer's disaster test I was a bit drained and not looking forward to the following week. But, a day out with the circus restores the lust for life. Thanks Guys.

[Text: Robert] [Photos: Robert and Richard. Click here for the rest of the photos]