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Danny report:

This year we decided that we would meet up in EDKV (Dahlemer Binz). A beautiful airfield situated in the enchanting Eiffel area, just across the Belgian border in Germany. Here OO-MAR (Johan & Danny), G-BFOJ (Captain-El-Presidente-Ni), G-BXTT (Peter & Peter ) and N31RB (Paul, Dave & Pauline) met to start the tour.

Wir beschlossen in diesem Jahr uns in EDKV (Dahlemer Binz) zu treffen, einem Flugplatz in der schönen Eifel, dicht an der belgischen Grenze. Wir, das waren zunächst OO-MAR (Johan & Danny), G-BFOJ (Captain-El-Presidente-Ni), G-BXTT (Peter & Peter ) and N31RB (Paul, Dave & Pauline). Wie immer teilte sich die Gruppe zur Nacht in die robusten Camper mit Zelt und die Komfortanhänger die in dem Hotel direkt am Flugplatz „campten".

Some "camped" in the sumptuously furnished local airfield hotel others.….. just camped!
It was nice to see each other again, we had a splendid meal and refilled with the necessary fluids, something that was essential during the whole trip since temperatures were the hottest we ever experienced, being well in the thirties (86°F), outside the cockpit of course!.

Es war schön einander wieder zu sehen, es gab (wie immer) ein hervorragendes Essen, denn Grumpies sind keine Kostverächter. (Ein Grund dafür, daß fast immer ein Platz im Flieger leer bleibt/bleiben muss. ;-)
Natürlich gab es auch wieder die umumgängliche „flüssige" Nahrung. Die war überhaupt auf der ganzen Reise unverzichtbar, denn die ganze Reise sollte die heisseste werden die wir bis dato unternommen hatten: Es waren tagsüber meist über 30 Grad - wohlgemerkt: außerhalb der Cockpits.

Nigel report:

The start off location for the trip was a trifle more difficult to reconcile. On our previous trip to the Southeast we had alighted at the delightful Charleville Meziers in northern France and had started off from there. This time the manager would not agree to us camping overnight (something to do with 9/11 and the added security!!). We could come, pay landing fees, buy fuel and eat at the café - but "Non monsieur vous cannot camp". So we elected to use the German airfield of Dahlemer-Binz (EDKV) instead. And so it was, that most of us joined up there before our invasion of the really foreign bits of Europe. As such, it was ideal. Located 1900ft up in the hills just about 10nm over the border from Belgium and offering on-site camping as well as a hotel (& booze!).
To get there a number of us Brits stopped off at Kortrijk Wevelgem in Belgium, for a very pleasant overnight stay with AYA member Andre & Gilberte Everaert (His wine stock became severely depleted that evening!) - Thank you both.

We all reached Dahlemer-Binz after a beautiful day flying over glorious countryside, with visibility measuring at least 3 million miles. The airport authorities were extremely inviting and gave permission for those who wanted, to set up tents. This house building was somewhat flawed in that no sooner were they carefully erected than we had to move them! Never mind, we soon settled down to watch the gliding activities, wait for the rest of the participants to catch up with us, imbibe of the local produce and of course to chat.