A look at the weather forecast this morning showed that it might be possible to get back to the UK before all the fronts arrive. With that in mind I left Halmstad as early as possible, but not really early enough. I submitted my flight plan as soon as I woke up to try and avoid delays at the airfield. It was not to be. By the time refuelling had been carried out time was running away. I finally got airborne about 9:00am and headed for Denmark. 
There was a lot of low cloud about, but I managed to avoid it and once I had crossed into Denmark things started to improve. 
By the time I got to my destination Aero, the sun was shining. Aero is a delightful little airfield run by a husband and wife on a small island 20km x 1km. It is quiet and peaceful. The runway edges are the home for hundreds of orchids and the owner proudly told me how ay species of grass they have (over 20)., They were very disappointed that I was going to stay only a matter of hours ad suggested I really ought to stop there. Camping was allowed (the first time that has been possible since the trip started) but I really wanted to make better progress, so I left. 
As I approached Germany, the tail wind grew and was for the most part around 25mph. It all helps. The visibility was not very good and the air was quite lumpy. I climbed and eventually at 7500 ft found smooth still air. All too soon it was time to descend into Leer Papenburg. I arrived on the downwind leg at exactly the right height, turned base then final thinking this is ok. Then as I got nearer the ground I realised the impact that a 20 knot wind from 45 degrees over trees that are nearly 200 ft high has. I was all over the place. It makes a 13 knot easterly at Willingale feel like a breeze. Twice I got close to the runway, but then had to give it up. The solution was to touch down slightly fast just n the very start of the numbers. With that done I was on the ground. I would recommend this place. They have Mogas as well as Avgas and an excellent restaurant.
With both me and the plane refreshed, it was time for the next leg to Midden Zealand. From there I felt it might be possible to strike for home. As I got closer the visibility declined until I felt I was flying at 120 knots (with a tailwind giving me 140over the ground) in about 5 k viz. legal but not at all nice. Without GPS who knows whether I would ever have found the airfield. I landed ad parked up. I had been here before, but it was unrecognizable. Then it was sunny and you could see for 20 miles or more. Today it was hot clammy overcast and murky. The sound of thunder and a view of the storms on the controllers screen suggested that I gave up chances of getting to the UK tonight. Lets hope tomorrow gives a chance.
So for the stats; today a total of 562 miles making 4103 in total.
There was a lot of low cloud about, but I managed to avoid it and once I had crossed into Denmark things started to improve. By the time I got to my destination Aero, the sun was shining. Aero is a delightful little airfield run by a husband and wife on a small island 20km x 1km. It is quiet and peaceful. The runway edges are the home for hundreds of orchids and the owner proudly told me how ay species of grass they have (over 20)., They were very disappointed that I was going to stay only a matter of hours ad suggested I really ought to stop there. Camping was allowed (the first time that has been possible since the trip started) but I really wanted to make better progress, so I left. As I approached Germany, the tail wind grew and was for the most part around 25mph. It all helps. The visibility was not very good and the air was quite lumpy. I climbed and eventually at 7500 ft found smooth still air. All too soon it was time to descend into Leer Papenburg. I arrived on the downwind leg at exactly the right height, turned base then final thinking this is ok. Then as I got nearer the ground I realised the impact that a 20 knot wind from 45 degrees over trees that are nearly 200 ft high has. I was all over the place. It makes a 13 knot easterly at Willingale feel like a breeze. Twice I got close to the runway, but then had to give it up. The solution was to touch down slightly fast just n the very start of the numbers. With that done I was on the ground. I would recommend this place. They have Mogas as well as Avgas and an excellent restaurant.With both me and the plane refreshed, it was time for the next leg to Midden Zealand. From there I felt it might be possible to strike for home. As I got closer the visibility declined until I felt I was flying at 120 knots (with a tailwind giving me 140over the ground) in about 5 k viz. legal but not at all nice. Without GPS who knows whether I would ever have found the airfield. I landed ad parked up. I had been here before, but it was unrecognizable. Then it was sunny and you could see for 20 miles or more. Today it was hot clammy overcast and murky. The sound of thunder and a view of the storms on the controllers screen suggested that I gave up chances of getting to the UK tonight. Lets hope tomorrow gives a chance.
So for the stats; today a total of 562 miles making 4103 in total.
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