When I arrived to my flying club Tuesday morning, the airfield and the area around were covered in snow.
It was so beautiful that I spent some time walking around and taking pictures.
I couldn’t open the hangar gate alone, and while waiting for someone to come by, began to clean up the apron of snow. I called several people who potentially could help me to open the hangar and to pull the aeroplane out, but none of them was available. I couldn’t close the hangar gate either – but that wasn’t an option, anyway. To miss a flying opportunity – I didn’t even consider that.
Time was passing by, and the apron was cleaned up of snow. I drove our runway and taxiway several times back and forth, in order to test the snowy surface, and to make them visible and prepared.
I began to feel desperate. Suddenly I saw a car driving to Kildedalevent, our neighbour. I immediately threw my spade away, and ran after that car across the airfield. The car stopped. I was doing a true off-road sprint, waving to the driver trying to get his attention. The man saw me. He waved back, and … drove away!
I couldn’t believe my eyes… and was standing there for a while watching my hope leaving.
Can you imagine, you seat in your luxury car, stopped near a runway. A young and beautiful woman dressed like an ultralight (with no cabin heat) aircraft pilot is running up to you across the airfield covered in white sparkling in the sunshine snow. She makes signs of deep interest. You are cool. You start the engine, politely wave back, and drive away. Would you do that???
There wasn’t much else to do than wait and be patient. Soon Carsten came by and saved my day. He helped me to open the hangar and to pull the aircraft out.
Finally airborne, after a couple of hours killing time! And what a magnificent view awaited me:
I was simply stunned by all those endless showy and icy landscapes:
Over the Roskilde Fjord (photo below). Holbæk city is in the upper right corner:
The VFR was marginal, and my original plan was practising landings on our RWY09. But I new there would be a “window” over the Northern Zealand. When in the air, I saw it would be possible to make it to Holbæk, and headed there.
In Holbæk flying club, I enjoyed my lunch in the garden. I was fairly tired after those endless attempts to open the hangar… It was so delightful to seat in the sun and relax!
I flew a bit around, in deep appreciation of the privilege we pilots have – to see our planet from the skies:
Lammefjord:
I continued to Holbæk fjord, as I wanted to explore the marvellous ice formations I noticed in its westernmost part:
Then I spotted a ferry on its way from the island of Orø to Holbæk, and did a round over it. The fearless icebreaker:
The island of Orø and its harbour:
The ferry connection to the island of Eskilsø was also alive:
The mist was quite dense at times, and I couldn’t fly much further away.
When I returned home, the snow was almost gone:
The water was still frozen, and I cleaned the aeroplane with snow. I made a snowman of the remaining snow, and left it on the apron. Probably the last showman this spring… I had a feeling of deep gratitude for being able to appreciate this beautiful day from air, and this feeling stayed with me the following days.
