Friday 24th May

Friday 24th May

Today we did not go anywhere in the morning but were able to help Stefania prepare some of the jams and preserves she sells. She makes jam or marmalade from strawberries, figs and cherries and also bottles tomatoes. These are sold at a local products store in Pescara and are in quite some demand so she has to make the marmalade, pack it into small 150 and 250 gram jars, after which we are able to put small paper discs on the lids, secure them with rubber bands and raffia and then attach labels with the contents and the ‘use by’ date. This job is tedious and Stefania does not enjoy doing it so our presence and assistance does, at least, avoid her having to do a job she does not like.

After a nice start to the day, it started to rain at about midday. The good news, though was that Beatrice in her second competition at the horse show in Rome, had managed fourth place in her competition today which must have made up, somewhat, for her disappointment the day before. She has one further competition tomorrow and will, hopefully manage to improve on that placing then.

We had lunch outside and afterwards, had a rest. Stefania complained of a headache and also had a lie down but by the time we got up, she had already been to the supermarket and done shopping!! 

Then, surprise, the phone rang and the man who runs the scenic flights called to say that the weather was OK for our flight over the area.

We hopped in the car and after a bit of trouble found the small airfield where an elderly gentleman was waiting for us. He pointed to this small aircraft called a gyro copper where the pilot was waiting for us. This small craft, barely bigger than an SUV, had a rotor on the rope and a propeller at the rear as well as a small wing. There was a small ‘bubble’ Perspex cabin into which I just fit having to admit my weight to the pilot.

Our gyrocopter

MAC checks out the instruments

I was strapped in to the right hand seat and the pilot made sure that my feet were well away from the controls and fitted me with headphones. He carefully went through the pre-flight check list and we waited for the oil temperature to reach 50 deg C. Then we motored off down the grass taxi-way until we reached the end of the grass runway. 

Then, after a short wait, the pilot ran up the overhead rotor to 400 rpm and we started out on our take-off run and after a few hundred meters we were airborne. The flight was smooth and we soared over the beautiful Abruzzo countryside with the Perspex cabin giving wonderful views over the countryside. Although the pilot did not speak English, he was able to point out all the familiar towns that we have visited on the ground, such as Torre de Passero, Caramanico, San Valentino, Rosciano, Nosciano and even as far as Alanno and Scapa. From our height of about 4,000 meters, we could see all the way past Chieti to Pescara and to the Adriatic beyond. Even though there were clouds, this was the most amazing experience, one of a lifetime. The pilot maneuvered the craft smoothly and there was surprisingly little vibration or sensation of flying. This was some craft!! I must admit that I was so excited that I did not take enough advantage of the opportunity for photographs although I did get quite a good video of some of the flight.

After nearly half an hour, we circled back towards the airfield and made a very smooth landing. MAC had told me she was reluctant to go and that I should advise her not to so she had an ‘out’ after I landed. However, I was so overcome with this amazing experience I encouraged her to go, probably against my better judgement. Reluctantly, she agreed to go and I really did not want her to miss this unique experience and view of the Abruzzo countryside. I was rather apprehensive as she does suffer from motion sickness and this was a small craft to have that happen. However, although her flight was somewhat shorter than mine, she did enjoy it and did not suffer at all so it was worthwhile to take the risk and go. As I sat and awaited her return, we could hear the bells from Nosciano ringing over the fields. This was beyond unreal. A festival and procession was taking place in Nosciano this evening.This is an incredible little aircraft and I would encourage anyone who is in this area to take advantage of this experience. The pilot also offers microlight, hang-gliding, flight instruction and small aircraft flights and tuition. 

The Abruzzo area, beautiful enough from the ground, looks just breath-taking from the air with the peaks of Grand Sasso and Maiella forming the mountainous boundaries of the hilly landscape. The area truly has it all, ‘the sea and the mountains’. It is Italy’s unspoiled secret. This was without doubt a unique way of seeing it. We now have to find a way of repaying Stefania for the flight.

We came back to LFMD and had a ‘light’ dinner before retiring to bed. Stefania was still complaining of a headache and the Advil we had brought (she did ask for Aspirin!!!), did not seem to be working. With a Communion party to cater on Sunday, this is the last thing she really needed. Still we are determined to try to help wherever we can although Stefania is hard to persuade that we can be of use but I think we are gradually wearing her down!! She does have Nadia who works very hard and we do not wish to interfere in their relationship. We will persevere with trying to be of use.

Today was a ‘day to remember’ for a long time to come, one of those events to be endlessly recalled.