Up at 5.15; exhausted but happy; breakfast with Richard apologising to other guests reading daily paper for terrible front-page photo of us; they all looking at; lady shakes my hand after reading article- Richard embarrassed- don't blame him, judging by his description of photo!
At 0700 hours at airport in hangar prepping aircraft; high humidity; sweat running off us, even in shade of hangar
Eight-thirty in plane taxiing, but ATC don't give permission to taxi to departure point- vector us to stand outside main airport buildings- why? TV and other media all waiting for us there!
Usually high-security at airports preclude anybody getting onto tarmac; these media people either more persuasive, or airport management supportive of flight…
Arrived at stand, switched off, and media flocked around us, shooting, filming, asking questions, asking us to look this way and that way; Richard and I trying to get our headsets and helmets off to respond- good time with them all; very efficient, thoughtful questions and filming; not too long before ATC get signal media finished, and we given permission to depart!
Bali about 310 miles away, with us flying at 5,000 feet; lovely flight, cooler at higher altitude, with my kit working well, but drifting a bit, due to lumpy conditions, with cu-nim. clouds building up around us, forcing us to deviate around boiling cloud formations as they start developing.
Funny sensation, when we fly into edge of cloud; I immediately feel a drop of at least 5 degrees, and can smell and feel the dampness in the air; Richard describing some very pretty puffballs of clouds forming independently in places.
Due to bit of a headwind, and Bali, being a big international airport who may delay our landing, Richard and I decide to err on the side of caution, and divert to our optional refuelling point of Surabaya.
We call them when just 12 miles out, and are given clearance to land, and are directed to start our descent. High humidity and temperatures felt whilst still about 1,000 feet up, and it hits us like a hot, wet blanket as we touch down. Directed to particular stand to refuel, and, to our utter amazement, find a TV crew and other media all standing there, waiting for us!
We only decided to divert about 10 minutes earlier, and, lo and behold, they are there!
Does somebody know more than we know?!
My only answer, on reflection, is that ATC at Semarang must have told the inquisitive media that we had it down as a possible diversion, and they decided to be there just in case! Bit of a strange time, with the TV people not asking us any questions, but just filming us!
Richard alerted me to fact of camera whirring next to my face, so I gave them a run-down of what we were doing, and why, hoping I was answering the questions they were not asking!
Richard went off to file flight plan whilst I supervised refuelling of aircraft; the exuberant, enthusiastic man proceeded to squirt av-gas into us like we were a Jumbo Jet, at what seemed to me like about 10 litres a second!
Result was a spectacular geyser of av-gas fountaining high over my flying suit and seat, amongst huge apologies, with me trying to pour off what had not yet soaked in!
Amazing enough, within minutes, all seemed to have dissolved and evaporated, like a dry-cleaning job, leaving my suit smelling as fresh as a petrol station.
Had to depart quickly, due to storm building up behind us; had great 2.5 hours flight to Bali, mostly over water at 5,500 feet; very smooth air; virtually no turbulence due to flying over water most of the flight; magic conditions for me, as easy to keep well on track in smooth air, only deviating a couple of degrees either side of our track, except when I started falling asleep again in the soporific rhythmic voice of my nav. kit alternating between compass and angle of bank!
We flew over the end of Bali island, keeping several miles out to see to avoid the sea breeze pushing up against the huge, 10,000 foot high volcanoes we had been passing, shrouded in cloud unfortunately- would have been a magnificent sight- for Richard anyway.
Funnily enough, I have no problems painting my own life-like images, based on Richard's descriptions, so I feel somewhat cheated along with Richard when the view is hidden!
Flew last 45 minutes over the island, mostly covered in cloud below, being aware how busy the airport was, judging by the almost incessant radio chatter of planes arriving/departing.
On our final approach with clearance to land, Richard pointed out huge Jumbo Jet at end of runway, waiting to depart after us; made me feel a little insecure, wondering if the captain of the monster would actually see our little butterfly coming in over him to land!
Made us suggest to ATC that we didn't mind the big guy going first, but the ATC man quietly reassured us that we were clear as number one to land, and- a second or two later, a kind, gravelly voice came over the radio to us saying "Thanks anyway for the thought mate!"- presumably the Jumbo pilot, watching us float past his cockpit!
There is definitely some camaraderie between all pilots in the world, and we felt quite special, that the driver of the monster was happy to include us in their elite club!
Hot, sultry air as we land, tired but happy after over 5 hours flying today, now taxiing on one of the worlds most beautiful and popular islands- Bali- the island that was rocked by several terrorist bombs several years ago.
We have been struggling over the last few days trying to secure fuel for our next stop at Bema, a small airport with no av-gas, and no guaranteed quality car petrol, that we can also fly on very well. Best petrol appears to be about 80 octane, but dubious source and quality, that may result in engine failure whilst on the next leg to Cupang, our jumping off point to the great continent of Australia and Darwin!
After attempting many options that included asking the air force to fly fuel in for us, and perhaps air-freighting our additional long-range fuel tanks from Cupang back to Bema, it reluctantly became clear that the only rational solution enabling us to stick to our tight schedule was for Richard to do the next leg, loaded up with an additional 50 litres of fuel strapped onto my seat.
Having earlier established the priority and goal of the flight being to raise awareness and funds for the Seeing Is Believing programme, we reluctantly took this course of action.
Met by great ground control staff and airport officials; soon had aircraft fuelled up and secure for night; headed to nearby hotel; very tired.
Late afternoon, after finding accommodation, realised the hotel was on the beach; stripped to shorts and flip-flop shoes and headed for the water, just as getting dark.
Appears to be a reef further out, as virtually no waves; water far out at low tide; I stick white stick into sand; we pile shirts and towel on top and wade out; keep shoes on as shells on sand; when up to waist progress halted by me suggesting to Richard unlikely reef sharks will come in this close; Richard has fairly obvious aversion to the creatures, and I find it fascinating exploring the limits of his mind- and feet!
No further, he enthusiastically suggests.
We float around, slowing down, both very tired after heavy day flying and early start. Totally dark now, even though only about 6.30 pm. Waded ashore to find water licking at base of my stick; retrieve clothes, and sit on nearby tables on edge of beach to order food, talking to Australian family nearby with baby Jackson (18 months- walking around, continually hitting his head on table tops; lovely family, enjoying last few days of Australian school holidays.Head for bed, after hearing from Jon Cook he is flying in early in the morning, and will join me on the flight to Cupang whilst Richard flies the fuel-less leg.
Relatively early night, no e-mail comms. and fall into bed after putting kit onto charge.
Thought for the Day: “He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not, but rejoices in what he has.”
Epictetus (55-135 AD) Greek Philosopher