Finally got home Sunday night but not without a couple more dramas to finish the touring holiday off.
I finally got the OK on Saturday from the Spanish cops to take off out the field I had done the precautionary landing in 4 days earlier, I arrived early and the Maule was covered in frost so I waited till the sun had melted it, unfortunately it made the field to soft and boggy for take off so I had to use the rough, stoney and rutted tractor track which was exciting to say the least. Once in the air it was a 4h15m flight to Jersey to refuel, my calculations were the 2 hour flight from Malaga to the Field then the 4h15m for that days flight make for a total of 6h15m total which would leave me a 1 hour reserve. As I coasted out from France for Jersey I noticed the gauges were lower than I expected but as I rely on my calcs first and the gauges as a back up I was not worried. Upon landing in Jersey I noticed large blue streaks down one side of the plane, it was Avgas leaking from the gasculator ! I guess on takeoff the tundra tyres where throwing around all kinds of mud and stones one must have hit and pushed up the sump drain and it had not sprung back fully. I cringed as the fuel guy give me the total delivery, it was 9 litres short of the maximum capacity.
I got the problem solved and filed a flight plan and GAR for Blackpool as I did not think I would make it back up to Scotland before dark. I skirted round West of Liverpool over the sea and radioed up Blackpool to be told they were about to close in 15 seconds as they have a mandatory 30 minute closure at 6pm, and I could hold offshore till they opened back up. I said I will push on to Carlisle, The clouds on the way up had been consistent with a broken layer between 4000 and 6000 and I decided to go over the top instead of under as I did not want to be scud running thru the Lake District. North of Blackpool it was overcast and I stupidly assumed the tops would be about the same height as they had been to the south, I entered the base at 3000 and did not get clear till 9500 and well above the freezing level ( I know, stupid) . There was another overcast layer 3000 above at about 12000, as I pondered my options I thought there's not point going all the way back down thru that for Carlisle I may as well just keep going and get the ILS at Leuchars and be home. Unfortunately the 2 layers came together over the Lake District and I thought bugger this I'll just go back to Blackpool. Landed, parked up and got a hotel.
Next morning I was awakened by a phone call from the border agency, they wanted to meet, upon my arrival I was meet by 4 very serious looking cops and a drug dog. I was taken to a room where I was informed I was being questioned under some anti terrorist statute and that the legislation dictates that if this interview ran for more than 2 hours they would either release me, or if if they had more questions, arrest me which would allow them more time to finish the interview. The questions were scripted and after about an hour of my entire life story, names addresses dates if birth of my sister, brothers, father, ex wives and son they asked to see my mobile phone , I handed it to one of the officers and he asked for the passcode which I gave them. He then left and the guy asking the questions informed me my phoned was being downloaded onto their computer. Then we went thru my 2 passports and questions were asked about each and every stamp. Then they asked me to give them a full description of my journey and whereabouts on a day by day basis since leaving Scotland 2 weeks earlier, and to provide the names of the friends I had met in Spain. After all this it was out to the Maule and they put the dog thru the entire plane, they seemed very suspicious about the Tundra Tyres, then I realised they were thinking they could be loaded up with drugs. I suppose they are looking at everything but I got the feeling the prime focus of the interview based on the questions was terrorism.
Finally after a few hours they said they had some more question but we're out of time and would I be willing to terminate the interview and just chat casually or they could detain me, I went for the casual chat option, then soon after I was free to fly back home.
Never a dull moment !!
As
Last edited by piperboy84; 5th Apr 2016 at 22:06.