Our final Saturday in France brought us the ultimate adventure of our vacation. David was able to fly us around France! He worked hard before our trip to make the right connections and get everything set up so we could rent both a plane and a french pilot. What a great experience for him, in particular, but also for me to just take in the sights!
Tristan, our french pilot, was kind enough to pick us up from our apartment to head out to the airport in Toussus-le-Noble. There are many flight schools at this airport and Tristan is an instructor at one of them. After the drive out, he and David got to work reviewing the weather, pre-flighting the plane, and mapping out the direction we would go so that our turn-around point would be Omaha Beach.
Once we were ready to go we had to wait for some other planes and helicopters before we were able to take off. Not unlike our experiences in Renton, but very different to hear so much of it going down in French! David did as much of the communication as he could with the tower and Tristan filled in a few gaps and then we were off. Just after we took off and were flying in the pattern to exit the airport area and low and behold, the Eiffel Tower was in view! There are restrictions about flying around Paris proper so we wouldn't be able to do that, but to see the Eiffel Tower right after we were in the air was incredible!
We flew North-West and David had to follow Tristan's guidance to not fly over certain towns that restricted flying but much of what we flew over was farm land. There were some large equestrian training areas, quarry's and also some grand looking chateau's along the way. As we got closer to Caen, we were then also close to the ocean and Omaha Beach war memorial. We flew West along the coastline and saw the amazing memorial on our left, continued down the coast a bit and turned around to see it again as well as more of the coast. The water was beautiful and had me wishing we could stop the plane for a while and play in the water!
Continuing East now for a short bit we saw the memorial again as well as some other war remnants and an area of oyster farming. Then it was time to head back to the airport where we again some similar farm land and also a Canadian cemetary.
After navigating back to the airport, it was rather entertaining to have Tristan telling David for a period of time to just "head toward the Eiffel Tower" which would line us up well for the airport. We just don't hear that at home much! What a great experience we had and we are so thankful for the opportunity!
After a train ride back from Versailles area, we ended the night with a wonderful dinner at O Chateau. A day we will not forget for a long time!!!
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