Hope and positive thought were defiantly making the sun come out so a plan was hatched. This time Chris T could go first (we had tried yesterday) and he can tell us what it's doing. We would rout via airfields so if the weather deteriorated we would be near somewhere to stop. Off we set in our groups with a few minutes gap, we really didn't want to be bumping into each other.
We routed St Quentin, Perone, Albert then St Omer with Abbeville and Le Touquet as alternatives if it was bad up north. Everything started well but the cloud was lingering the further north we went. Chris found it first and was forced to descend, we followed 10 miles behind and soon found we couldn't get through. We passed Albert and it was getting uncomfortable as the darkness loomed to the north preceded by wispy low cloud.
It was no good, we had to stop and sit it out, so one by one we headed to Abbeville. Nic charged on enjoying playing in the low cloud. Chris in the Eurostar arrived at Abbeville first, being in front, but sounding like he arrived before setting off? Ed & I headed along the Somme valley enjoying the scenery of the small villages with their tall churches as we passed them by.
Safely at Abbeville gradually everyone arrived. By mid afternoon 14 of the 18 UK microlights that traveled to Switzerland were at Abbeville! By 6 o'clock many had gone into town with the promise of a fine day on Tuesday. Ed, John, Nic & I stayed at the motel on the airfield and enjoyed a fantastic meal in the restaurant.
That evening as we checked in the weather was clearing which prompted the first intrepid pilots to press on for home. Two Eurostars from Manchester left first followed by a group of 3 more Eurostars and a Skyranger. By 7:30 we were enjoying our starters when the first group called from Southend where they had found an open customs field. Everyone was safe and the crossing was fine.
