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From Lelystad to Orleans

On Thursday, July 30 2009, we left home for a two week holiday in the south of France. Veleda and Maurits left by car in the morning to Orleans, where we would stay over the next day. Laurence and Annika brought Rene and Charlotte to Lelystad airport in the afternoon. We left at about 4pm, after a low pressure area had sufficiently moved away to the north of the Northsea, and winds were calming. To the French border we had a significant headwind, but afterwards we had calm winds for the remainder of the flight to Orleans. After 2:45 hours of flying we landed. We enjoyed a nice Asian diner in Jargeau.

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From Orleans to Le Blanc, Limoges and Brive

The next morning, Friday July 31, we travelled further to Brive, where we would stay one night. This Time Charlotte went with Veleda by car, and Maurits joined Rene by plane. It was good flying weather. We first flew to Le Blanc, then to Limoges and then to Brive. Veleda and Charlotte had already arrived at Brive airport when Rene and Maurits got there.

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From Brive to Figeac

On Saturday, August 1, we could enter our holiday home at Cajarc. The nearest airfields to Cajarc are Villefranche-de-Rouergue and Figeac. Villefranche is grass only, and can not be used after heavy rain. Figeac has a concrete runway, which was the better option for the two weeks period. It was a short drive and flight from Brive to Figeac. Veleda and Maurits arrived before Rene and Charlotte. Flying is not efficient compared to driving for short distances. If it is less than 2.5 hours of driving, the car will win.

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Roundtrip via Agen and Bergerac

Sunday, August 2, was a cloudy day. Rene made a flying trip through the area.

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To Montpellier

On Monday, August 3 2009, we were going to meet Roy, Wanda and their children Ezio, Mauro and Kelso in Montpellier. It was a cloudy day, and we had some light rain on the way to Montpellier and when we arrived in Montpellier. On the way to Montpellier we also passed the Millau bridge. Roy picked us up at Montpellier, Candillargues airport, which was not far from their home in Baillargues. After visiting their home, we all had lunch at a beach restaurant. Before returning to Figeac, Wanda, Ezio and Kelso made a local flight with Rene (view).

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To Cahors and Rodez

On Tuesday, August 4, Maurits wanted to stay at the holiday home to go swimming. Rene and Charlotte made a flying trip to nearby Cahors and Rodez.

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To Albi and Cassagnes-Begohnes

For Thursday, August 6 2009, thunderstorms were forecasted for the end of the afternoon. Rene and Maurits made a flying trip to nearby Albi and Cassagnes-Begohnes.

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Cloudy and rainy southern France

Friday was plain IMC weather. On Saturday morning we tried to fly south to Carcassonne. After ten minutes in the air, the low scattered clouds we were overflying became low overcast. Though it may be legal to fly VFR without sight on the ground above a certain altitude, it is not wise if the cloud layer touches terrain. To be forced going through a cloud layer hiding cumulus granitus in case of engine failure is something to be avoided, and we returned to Figeac. On Sunday it was raining all day.

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To Toulouse

Monday, August 10 2009, started with low overcast. The meteo forecasted few at 1600 ft, and scattered at 5000 ft in the afternoon. At 12:00 LT we departed Figeac to Castres. While we were flying south the broken clouds became overcast, and therefore the last part of the flight was flown below the clouds. The mountain tops south of Castres were in clouds. We cancelled Carcassonne, and flew to Toulouse instead. After visiting Toulouse we stopped-by at the Graulhet aeroclub before returning to Figeac.

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To Carcassonne

On Tuesday, August 11, we succeeded in reaching Carcassonne. The day started with a thick fog, that lasted until about 10:30. We went to Figeac airport, where preparations for the flightshow the coming weekend were already in progress. We made a stop-over at Lezignan-Corbieres before moving on to Carcassonne. After spending the afternoon in the medieval city, we went back to Salvaza airport to fly back to Figeac.

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To Villefranche-de-Rouergue

Figeac airport was closed from August 13 to August 17 for an airshow. On Wednesday, August 12, Rene flew the Arrow to nearby Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Veleda first brought Rene to Figeac, and then picked him up again at Villefranche-de-Rouergue later that day. Charlotte and Maurits wanted to stay at the holiday house to go swimming. Rene took the opportunity to visit some nearby fields.

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From Villefranche-de-Rouergue to Orleans

On Friday, August 14 we travelled to Orleans, where we stayed for the night. Veleda and Charlotte were driving, and Rene and Maurits flew. A few stops where inserted on the way to Orleans, and we arrived at Orleans at about the same time.

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From Orleans to Lelystad

Saturday, August 15, was the last day of our holiday. This time Charlotte joined Rene by plane, and Maurits by car with Veleda. We again inserted a few stops to arrive at Lelystad at approximately the same time as Veleda. When we arrived at Lelystad, we received a warning by radio that another plane, that flew from outside the circuit area directly to final RWY 23, came out below us on final. We broke away from final for another round.

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