Le Weekend (long weekend in France)
We have only very recently taken delivery of a Robinson 66 and have been excited to join the turbine club. No more refueling with avgas we have graduated to Jet A1, which coming from lower down on the fractionating column is far less volatile, smellier and is effectively heating oil. But, it makes a very cool noise on start up, an ignition roar as opposed to the banging and spluttering of the R44 rotary engine.
First stop was Cherburgh which is in a good position for a flight down the western side of France. The refuelling was extremely efficient although the landing fee at 53 euros was quite steep. There are a few commercial flights landing here so there is a small restaurant with a viewing gallery which makes it more likely that you can get something to eat than at Le Touquet which only has an automat in the arrivals area.
After Cherbourg we flew south to land at Domaine de Ballerand. The Chateau itself is composed of a dramatic castle set on the side of a large lake with a number of outbuildings behind around an unfeasibly large expanse of tarmac. The castle itself is under extensive modernisation. The windows are filled by plastic sheeting and the interior is gutted the bare walls lined with insulation bricks. Attached to the house were 4 converted outbuilding which are standing in as accomodation as the castle is renovated, a process that will not be completed for another couple of years. Compared to the impressive castle the actually rooms available are rather underwhelming with motel decor. But, the owner was very welcoming and as there was no supper available we were driven into the nearby village to a local hotel. Here the clientele was being entertained by a gospel choir. There was a certain incongruity about eating gazpacho while only feet from your table are four ladies from south London singing with great gusto about how the walls of Jericho are comin’ a tumblin’ down.
The next morning the other helicopter flew in to join us and we set off together for the flight north over the Auvergne to Chateau d’Origny. This is a beautifully renovated chateau with two designated helipads almost outside the front door. We arrived somewhat unannounced around lunch time and were very kindly given plates of great and salami in the panelled library. We then decided to take another flight over the Auvergne as the weather was beautiful and the flying spectacular. The area is one of grass covered extinct volcanoes and high plains riven by deep tree filled gorges.
We stopped at Le Pre Bossu for tea. A really lovely farmhouse decorated chalet style with antlers, exposed wood and sheepskin rugs. The proprietors laid out some bright orange markers in their field to help us locate the landing site. Without this help it would have been quite difficult to spot in the undulating landscape. We pigged out on three different types of cake and four different kinds of tea.
That night we had a wonderful supper in the dining room of d’Origny with the other guests. The food is cooked by the family. Werner, his wife and their thirteen year old daughter produce delicious food from the kitchen located at the other end of the room. It is very much a family affair and everyone gets the same menu.
We woke up the next day in our giant panelled room and had breakfast of homemade jam, local yogurt and bread. The Chateau is conveniently located just outside the ATZ of Roanne airfield so it was an easy hop over the hedge to refuel. Both Jet A1 and Avgas are available.
The next stop was La Borde which is close to Auxerre and took us another 100 miles further north again. La Borde is a small boutique hotel of 7 rooms surrounded by notable gardens. The farmhouse and its outbuilding have been beautifully converted and all the rooms look as if they have been styled for an interiors magazine. Every fixture, colour and exposed detail have been carefully choreographed. We borrowed a couple of bicycles and set off to explore the countryside.
That night we sat outside, just the four of us and had a gourmet supper accompanied by no more sound than that of a chorus of owls. The next morning after a leisurely breakfast we were heading home. We flew to Troyes to refuel and clear customs and then it was direct track back to suffolk.
