We said goodbye to our lovely hosts at the Cokkinos Seaside Hotel and made our way to the Megara airport. We had been thinking about Pedro and wondering how he was making out with his Travel Air's engine transplant. We got word that it had actually happened and he was in Corfu! We didn't know much else. But we hoped he'd be able to make it to Crete in time.
The weather was great and the forecast looked good for navigating over the Aegean Sea to Crete. The pre-flight went well and everyone in our Megara group was getting themselves ready -- three Tiger Moths, two Bushcats, the Cessna Grand Caravan, and the two Travel Airs. Oh! Make that three! As I sat in the cockpit getting the iPad mounted, I heard that wonderful sound of a Continental 220 HP radial engine. I looked over my shoulder and saw with great delight Pedro landing. We were all so happy that we had to keep ourselves from running out on the runway.
Admiring Pedro's new engine on Megara ramp.
Father/daughter team from Botswana, Brett and Sarah ("Pixie") taxiing out for trip to Crete in one of three Tiger Moths.
South African, Mark, in his beautiful Tiger Moth.
Englishman, J.B. in his Tiger Moth.
Our Sky Demon navigation program on my iPad which is mounted on the wooden panel in front of me. The magenta line is route of travel, white circles - way points. This shows our departure form Megara out towards Aegean Sea. Color shaded areas are control zones and restricted air spaces.
The view from my seat over the engine cowl at the beautiful Aegean and some islands on way to Crete.
After everyone's safe arrival on Crete, pilots congregated to greet one another. From left to right:
J.B., Pedro, Keith, Colin, and Pixie.
Some vintage cars came to transport us to our hotel. 
Colin found his favorite spot in the hotel lobby - at the piano.
Another hotel guest came by and seized his moment in the spotlight by copying Colin after Colin joined others for some libation in the lounge.
to Greek folk dancing. I'm not a very accomplished photographer so this is a bit blurry. I'll just say that there was nothing sedate about this dance -- they were dancing REALLY fast.
November 11
Keith and others at first pre-rally briefing the night of our arrival in Crete. Briefings would become an important and frequent part of our travels to cover flight planning, fueling, weather, customs, upcoming tourist highlights etc.
November 12
Finally! After months of preparing for this adventure, we were at the starting line. Day 1 - Vintage Air Rally Crete2Cape.
The weather was perfect and everyone was ready to get going. By prior arrangement, I was making the long flight over the Mediterranean in the Cessna Caravan. Nick did not want me in the Travel Air during 3 hours over open water in a single engine vintage aircraft -- "just in case". He had a raft and life vests, of course, but still felt better if I was in a turbo prop, fast, high flying aircraft. So Rohi, a photo journalist who wanted to cover the beginning of our rally accompanied Nick.
The ramp was busy with teams getting their aircraft loaded and thoroughly pre-flighted. There was much laughing and wishing everyone a safe journey over the water to Egypt. But before they could do all this, we all had to get through customs and that took nearly an hour and a half as we were a large single entity and each one of us had to fill out multiple forms and have our passports photocopied along with all those forms. With forty people, it was no walk in the park.
The last thing before take-off for those who did not refuel the day before was to get to the pumps. I was on the Caravan when I saw Nick taxi out to a refueling area. We began our taxi before he got back to pick up his passenger Rohi. I was sad that I didn't have a chance to give Nick a send-off hug and kiss before his long flight over the sea.
In Sitia terminal. A lot of hurry up and wait as multiple forms had to be filled out. Our rally leader, Sam, is in foreground in his rally uniform of khaki pants and white shirt.
Caravan pilot Steve going over some flight plan details with Max, our flight planning coordinator.
Caravan and some of the vintage aircraft getting ready for big crossing.
German pilot, Ingo on right, and his passenger, Bob from Australia. Their aircraft is a Bucker (pronounced 'Boo-ker') and though quite a bit smaller than the Travel Air, is a mean competitor. It has never had a tough time keeping up. These two gentlemen are childhood friends. Their fathers fought against each other during WWII, and after the war became best friends.
One of the two Bushcats getting ready.
Team Frog and Kiwi ( Cedric and Alexandra) with team coordinator Lino going over some flight details involving the Go-Pros before the launch.
Team Alaska getting ready. Max watching Colin turn the prop through. Colin has been a big help when he has a little break time from his crewing duties.
The Pipistrael. I'd never seen one of these before. It is equipped with a parachute.
Pipistrael German pilot Wolf and his lovely daughter Emily.
The two helicopters getting ready.
Boris and his wife Ulia fly the one in the foreground. Paddy and wife Sarah from the UK pilot the other one. (This rally is their honeymoon💗💕)
Nick checking over radios and his Air Nav Pro program for the flight.
Photo journalist, Rohi. He's a current pilot so was a good co-pilot for Nick. He was quite excited to be able to fly in the Travel Air. He was concerned he'd be on a "boring Cessna".
Steve going over loading details in prep for flight. This Cessna Grand Caravan has the cargo pod underneath so it is able to carry quite a bit of cargo. Yet, weight and balance considerations are never taken lightly. Steve is very thorough.
Cedric and Alexandra -- they look like they're ready to go somewhere.
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| Pixie and dad Brett with his Tiger Moth |
Brett and Pixie made sure before leaving Botswana for start of rally that their friends knew what they were up to.
Nick taxiing over to fueling station. I didn't see him again until we all got to Egypt.
The hills and mountains of Crete impressed us a lot. Thinking of the ancient Minoan civilization that prospered way before the Greeks laid the foundations of their great societies made me realize that civilizations rise and fall, but the mountains hang in there forever.
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| Caravan pilot Steve and co-pilot Pascuale. Sam's wife, Beatrice. Rally staff members Estelle and Jeremy. We're all suited up for extended over water flight. |
About to leave the Cretan coast. Goodbye, Greece. Goodbye, Europe.
Out over the Mediterranean, I thought of Nick and Rohi, Colin and Keith flying at a much lower altitude and much slower speed than we and sent happy thoughts to those Continental engines carrying my loved ones.
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| Hello, Egyptian coast. Hello, Africa!! Hello, Mersa Matrouh. |
Just two of the many official greeters who welcomed us warmly. The man on the left told me he was the airport manager. He was very excited about the airplanes. Behind him is the Waco which was one of the first aircraft to arrive in Egypt after we got there.
It was quite a sight to see all the rally aircraft entering the right downwind for landing. They entered the pattern in about four minute intervals. Seeing Team Alaska and Team Barnstormers enter was a great and happy relief.
The refueling process was handled very efficiently here. Very different from other places further down the trail.
So happy to see Nick arrive and with the report that the plane ran beautifully as it had been since the beginning of our travels and switched fuel tanks and managing fuel consumption went without any glitches. We were quite surprised to see this little parakeet appear out of nowhere seemingly happy to greet Nick.
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