Being new to the microlighting game I find any "long distance" flight a bit daunting, ditto over water and off airfield landings. However I had bought my Rans S4 the previous summer and only flown short trips during the few days I could fly. You know the story - weather good - aircraft unserviceable or no permit or son needs picked up from party etc. Sometimes, however, the gods work with you and everything seems to gel on a perfect day.

The day of the Fly-in was one of those perfect days, with all the domestic gods (and goddesses) favourable. The wind was even light from the east, at Cumbernauld, anyway.

Off I went in my car, arriving at Cumbernauld at 9 o'clock. Flight planning all done, a two hour flight to Cara, an island near Gigha, with a fuel stop at Tayinloan, on the mainland opposite Gigha. Two trips to the petrol station would be required since the Rans can take 35 litres but my jerrican only takes 10 litres.

The flight across to Tayinloan, across the Firth of Clyde was stunning, the weather improving all the time and I arrived overhead my selected field expecting a gentle east wind. A southerly breeze resulted in an interesting landing but only my pride dented. We won't make that mistake again, shall we? Unfortunately the petrol station was shut so a walk and a landing were wasted.

A quick hop over to Cara at 500' and an into-wind landing on a piece of land that I had walked three years previously in the hope that one day I could fly there. I ate an apple and admired the perfect day - by now it was quite warm. Next I met an American tourist who had been ferried across by a Gigha boatman. We chatted for a few minutes and then went our separate ways. The boatman, who I didn't meet, thought it all very suspicious and reported the meeting to the coastguard but it was a month or so before this got back to me.

By this stage I still had about an hour of petrol and I headed back to the mainland, not trusting my ability to get petrol on a Sunday on Gigha. I landed in a field at Clachan after shooing away the sheep with the Rans. Sheep I can cope with but I learned a long time ago that cows will not get out of your way and usually come back to chew your fabric. No petrol in the station tanks and the locals said Tarbert was the next town with fuel. Groan, nowhere to land at Tarbert, so on, on to Tighnabruich which would have to be my last stop until the unleaded was bought.

Passing motorists stopped to give the unwelcome news that the petrol station was shut but the owner might be coerced out of his day off. Not so, not only was the owner present at the petrol station but he was not, under any circumstances, going to spoil his day by helping me get to the Fly-in. At the hotel opposite the owner phoned up a couple of his mates to find me some fuel but they were on the golf course. He did offer me his car to go and get some fuel at Stachur, some 24 miles away. I had to turn this down since I already had a lift to Dunoon from a previously hi-jacked couple.

Two hours and three lifts later I was back at the field talking to the farmer whose field I was parked on. Oh, I could have given you petrol….By the siphoning method….He did say I was welcome back, anytime so if you are ever overhead Kames, near Tighnabruich, look for a BIG field at the bend in the road.

Amazed by the kindness of these strangers I filled up and flew off, with me flying about one thousand feet above the plane!

By now quite blasé about off airfield landings I touched down at Rothesay to put in another 10 litres. Piece of cake this, swing can, stop motorist, lift there and back. Time on ground thirty minutes.

Unfortunately, by now, it was too late to get to Stonehouse for the Fly-in. The flight back across the Firth was even more stunning as the early evening improved.

When I got back home and I explained what I had done to my wife, I must have overdone it because she said that it must be better than having an affair since you can come home and talk about it….How did she know??

So apologies to the organisers of the Fly-in, maybe I'll make the next one. Did you know the Isle of Man is only about 14 miles from the Scottish mainland. Now that has got me thinking….