31 May -07 June 2010 Basically – The Grumpies Inspect the French Fences.

There were some 19 of us (perhaps more!), in a multitude of aircraft. As before in our previous expeditions, people came and went as the whim took them, some joined for a few days some went the whole way – It was unplanned remember!

Let’s see if I can remember everyone who participated in one way or another:

OO-GAZ – Ni Thomas & Andre Everaert (Grumpies One & Three)

G-BIPV – Tim Comber + Chris Thomas & David & Pauline Barrett (Grumpies Two)

G-BCEE – Peter & Angela Marchant (Grumpy Peter)

G-BOIX – Paul Norwood & Friend (Grumpy Cesspit)

G-MALC – Brian Hogan & John Jeffris (Grumpy Tie)

N260AP – Paul Newton & Alan Mapleleaf (Grumpy Mad Cow & Grumpy Mad Canadian)

D-MVFR – Jogi Beck & Uli Nees (Grumpy Star & Grumpy Airbus)

D-ENFL – Peter Romeikat & Ed Manning (Grumpy Hummer & Grumpy Eazy)

G-RCWK – Richard King (Grumpy Trucker)

If there was anyone else, then sorry, my small brain cells didn’t take you in, either that or the wine has taken its toll!

It was a Monday; a gloomy day; the last day of May. The annual European AYA Fly-in had just ended. Friends were sadly disappearing off into the sky (or road!) on their way back home after a lovely weekend of fun and frolic in Midden Zeeland, The Netherlands (For which, very many thanks to Ted & Silvie van Dam Merrett). However, there was also a bunch of intrepid aviators and their willing victims or passengers with adventure on their minds, milling around the verdant grass of the airfield watching the clouds and visibility, muttering under their collective breathes, wishing it were a trifle better. Yes, it was the start of the 2010 Grumpy Trek to far flung places, to go where no Grumman had gone before, to explore the boundaries of France to ensure that no invading hordes from the north, south, east or west had broken the chain link fence nor broken the combination lock codes. It was their duty; their firm intent; And anyway, the wine was supposed to be good this year!

Monday dawned as usual. The weather was cloudy and a few spots of rain lingered. Us old men were getting a bit weary by now, the odd spring was going from our step – We missed the home comforts, the wee wives pandering to our every whim and fancy – Time to head home. Now as you will know, once the whiff of home gets through to one, it’s full steam ahead. No messing. We sailors call it “Getting the ‘Channels'” (And if you want an explanation, it’ll cost you a beer or a bottle of Chablis!). Without any delay, it was back to the Chambery airport, pull the chock, and fiddle with the fiddly bits and up, up and away. We weaved our way north between Lyon and Geneva, past to the west of Dijon and directly to Troyes for refuel and lunch

Troyes airfield people we found miserable! The first ‘miseries’ of the whole trip, methinkest. The girl in the restaurant was miserable as we ordered sandwiches and coffee (the coffee was cold!). The bloke behind the counter scowled at as when we tried to use the wrong door to get out to the toilets (if only they’d labelled the doors adequately) and I cut my finger and it hurt! I badly needed my missus to kiss it better and put on some Savlon! Well me hearties and patient readers, all good things have to come to an end, and it was there that Sir Brian and John in G-MALC and Andre and I in OO-GAZ departed on our separate ways. B & J onwards to Le Touquet (I think) and finally to Turweston in the UK. André & In went further north into Belgium and André’s home field of Kortrijk Wevelgem (You need all your teeth in to even say it!!) where my little AA1 G-BFOJ awaited patiently.

Having said our fond farewells I left André waving my departure as I took off for Bournemouth on the UK south coast and the embracing embraces of my long suffering wife. Once more we had achieved a tremendous voyage of discovery, taken in sights reserved for us privileged few who have had the luck (and the taxi fares!) to be able to fly our unique aeroplanes in such stunning places. We left behind many happy taxi drivers and some very friendly people, the knowledge that the French fences were indeed intact. France can sleep easy in their beds …………… for now.

The friendships we have made over the years continue to grow stronger into a deep brotherhood. I feel honoured to have known these Grumpy people. Thank you all for making it possible. Safe flying.

by Nigel Thomas