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The conditions at Kalmar were VFR, but cloud was forecast for Visby. After Nigel's nagging about VFR v IFR, Yogi and I elected to go VFR with the others. So, off to defrost the 'planes then launch into the air and out over the Baltic, where there was still plenty of sea ice!

I would not have wanted to ditch in the that Baltic at this time of the year! We were at 4,000ft over the sea when the cloud over Gotland became visible and, being determined not to let Nigel and André get one over us, decided to descend below the cloud, which we did at 800ft above the ice! The VFR pilots stayed VFR above broken/scattered cloud and we landed in Visby in freezing conditions.

Again, airport security helped us find a hotel, including negotiating discounts for us poor pilots. This time it was a very fine Best Western, with a sauna! A real bonus! Now I had brought a high visibility jacket and, because it was padded, I decided to wear it when exposed to the cold winds. Very sensible I thought! But the others were not happy walking about with this yellow peril! (all the nice blond maidens thought he was a police man and kept us at arms length!!... Ni) Any way, we rapidly found a warm cellar bar, enjoyed some lunch and explored the town. Again we visited the local church and Nigel was heard to mutter, "Not 2 churches in one day! I can't take it!"

The tourist season had definitely not started in Visby, so it was difficult to find a restaurant open, especially one that came up to Peter's high standard. Finally, we came across the inevitable Italian restaurant, enjoyed the wine, then back to our cellar bar for a nightcap (or two!)

Wednesday dawned, but the sun didn't. Our intent had been to move on to Ronne (EKRN), Bornholm, a Danish island situated off the southern end of Sweden, but the weather had really closed in with low cloud, freezing winds and drifting snow! Definitely no go for VFR limited pilots! Nothing for it but to batten down the hatches, back to the cellar bar and Italian restaurant! Life is tough! Our Hotel not only said they could put us up for another night, but apologized for charging us too much and gave us a further discount! Top marks!

We really wanted to be in Gdansk the following day as a sea captain friend of Nigel's, Captain Wojciech Sobkowiak, had invited us for lunch on board Poland's largest ferry, In order to help expedite this aim, Nigel and I left the softer members of our party and braved the blizzard, returning to the airport to check the 'planes and plan routes. After working out the Swedish instructions on the FAX, we managed to submit flight plans for a direct sea crossing to Gdansk for the following morning. That night, after we'd partaken of another night cap in the hotel bar, Wojciech telephoned Nigel from the bridge of his ship, to say he was, at that moment, passing Visby on route Gdansk and please don't be late reaching Gdansk! We'd now got our orders and there was not going to be any nonsense, not in that mans Navy!