Monday, April 28, 2003

Report on the European Comanche Tribe Fly-In, Macon, France, courtesy of Omri Talmon, with photography by Karl Hipp

This fly-in, the official pretext for Karl and John's crossing, took place between April 18 and April 21, although several participants stayed for another day.

The town of Macon with 35,000 inhabitants, (80,000 including the immediate surrounding communities) is located about 35 miles north of Lyon and the Beaujolait area, at the Southern end of Burgundy.  Sounds like a wine list? Well, it is.  The area, part of the French gastronomic belt, is renowned for its wines and food, both about to be consumed in abundance by the participants.

On Friday the 18th, Comanches started to land at the uncontrolled Macon airport.  Just off the tarmac, the occupants, 42 in total, were invited to a buffet lunch with wines to match.

                            
                            Comancheros, grass and food at the Macon airport

Obviously, the lunch was just an appetizer for the evening meal.

Saturday was a Macon day: The town hall, the market, the streets and squares and the coffee places. 

Judy in the Town Square

Coffee and beer in a Macon cafe

In the evening: a trip by coach to the Chateau du Pierreclos for wine tasting, gourmet gala dinner, and dancing in that order.   Around 23:00 the Chief of the fly-in, Peter Fox, started to gather the flock back to the bus, a heroic task taking into account that several folks could not find the door, and the castle lady owner was yelling that the night is still young.

Jenny Buttle and John Vaghatsi seem to have a good time

Next day: A thorough visit to the Abbey of Cluny, or rather what is left of it.  You can visit yourself at http://perso.wanado.fr/richez/Burgundy?Clunye.htm.

Door at the Abbey

From there, but not before savoring a hefty lunch plus wines (or wines plus lunch), it was a visit to the Blanot Caves, Lugny Cellar--for wine tasting, of course--and on to the "Hill of Solutre".   As everybody was terribly hungry--and especially thirsty--dinner was served, obviously with free wine. 

Next morning the Comanches started to depart.  Farewell, friends, see you next time.

Prior to leaving Macon, Barbara, Judy, Friedrich and Monica Rehkopf, and John van Bladeren pose in front of the Rehkopf's PA-39 (Monica is the European Tribe Chief)

The Buttles on the roll at Macon