We left Paradise airfield at about 9 am after waiting since 4 am for the low cloud to lift, got news from Johan at Uitenhage that we would get through under the cloud there and we where on our way.
Once past Swartkops river it was clear skies all the way.
We had a nice smooth scenic flight coast-wise all the way to East London.
I landed at Wings Park and was surprised by a well kept and organized airfield. Andrew sold us some gas and after a friendly chat we where off to Margate.
By now we where already running late by 4 hours as I had booked a room for the night at Emoyeni and wanted to overnight there.
What was supposed to be a 2.5 hr flight became a 3 hr 15 min flight as we encountered strong NE winds halfway from Wings Park to Margate. There was no ways it was going to be a scenic flight that I had hoped for. Low down the N E was starting to show its colors and we had to stay high to evade the headwind and turbulence. After 2 hrs out of Wings Park I had to make the call on another fuel stop or not. Although there was enough airfields on the way,I had not made any arrangements for fuel in the Transkei and was not going to sit somewhere in Transkei for the night. So after calculating our fuel and distance and headwind situation I reckoned that I would make it with my 10 L reserve and economic RPM setting of 5250 and 75 knots IAS on the 582 I was cruising at.
We had to stay high to get away from the headwind as it was pumping with the sea full of white horses and rolling waves from the N E wind blowing .
The headwind got stronger and the fuel gage stared to flicker in the red about 20 nm from Margate and our ground speed had dropped to 35 mph
.I knew we had a good reserve as I was the one who calibrated the Stratomaster`s fuel setup to show empty with a 10 L reserve, but still unnerving when you see red on the fuel gage and the airfield is taking forever to get closer.
With the recent Cessna accident on the South coast still fresh in my mind, I started looking out for possible landing areas but could only see lots of green bush and trees and narrow overgrown roads with electric lines all over with the occasional overgrown Golf green. By now we where descending for Margate, the cars where overtaking us when we looked down by now. I asked for a straight in approach because of our fuel situation and hectic turbulence as we descended. In contact with the tower all the time for the last hour or so and getting good advice from the control man.
I was so relieved when I got the airfield visual, but another danger was waiting for me on finals as I was warned in advance by the control tower about the hectic turbulence I could expect on finals coming over the trees.
By now the N Easter was 30 gusting 35 to 40 pumping knots
And turbulence was hectic coming in on long finals, the worst I have encountered in my flying career . So much so that it felt like the Jora was going to flip over from time to time
With hands and feet working overtime and my guardian
guiding us in we made it over the fence. I had to fly the Jora more than halfway down the runway at about 20 ft agl before I got a little break in the turbulence to put her down, now with feet and hands shaking 
Well, the people that know Margate apparently know how hectic the turbulence can get landing into a strong N Easterly wind
lets just say it was an interesting landing 
.I had to hold the wing while filling fuel at the fuel bouzer as it felt like the Jora was not done flying for the day
We got sorted out with fuel, by the way, we still had 9 Litersof fuel left in the tank. That could have lasted another 45 minutes.
After an ice cold beer where after the second beer
I had stopped shaking , we had a lovely steak from the canteen. There was no way we would be sleeping at Emoyeni tonight, so we slept at a B&B within walking distance from Margate Airfield, very handy overnight stop.
Next morning we where at the plane at 3:30 am, wishful thinking as it only got light at 4:30.am.
I had arranged with Morne, a fellow foremite for fuel at Vryheid, thank you again Morne
I owe you one.As we flew inland and passed PMB we saw a neat tarmac airfield at Greytown and decided to land and see if we could get some fuel there, by now you should follow my drift--way of thinking---- low fuel---NOT again will I fly with marginal fuel.
We where pleasantly surprised to see the setup at Greytown, what a organized establishment ! We got treated with coffee and another friendly chat with the guys there and they sold us some fuel, we only took on 30 Liters.
We arrived at Vryheid, also a very nice tarmac airfield, a little while later and met up with Morne who very kindly brought us some fuel to fill-up. Guys like Morne make me proud to belong to this forum, always prepared to help someone you never met before
.It was now about 11 am and it was starting to warm up nicely by this time . I was getting worried about thunder storms over the mountains further up north, so we said our goodbye`s to Morne and headed for Pyramid.
The small blue and black
s of clouds started to gather and the turbulence was starting to shake us around a bit.We climbed to 8500 ft and the cloud base was about 10,000 ft, here we found a nice smooth layer to sit in and as long as you keep about 1,500 under those cloud you are fine, get to high and close to them and they want to suck you up with a lot of turbulence .We stayed in that smooth layer right up to the last mountains before the Barberton valley.
Descending through the gap in the mountains was a bit turbulent but we soon had Pyramid in sight and landed at Brian`s well kept airfield and greeted my long lost brother with a nice cup of coffee.
Thank you for always making us feel welcome Brian
Of course the reason for this trip to Barberton was to deliver the Jora we sold to Deon as he lives close to Brian at Pyramid.-----Well, by the look on his face with a smile as wide a Barbrton valley, Deon and his son took delivery of their new baby and was at the same time assured that they had bought a GEM , unseen, paid the money into my account, me being a complete stranger to him
. This is what I like about forums.And the fact that the Jora flew from Jeffreys Bay to Barberton without a missing a beat.
It was now time to take the new owners for their first ride and to see if the Jora will fit into Deon`s airfield which he flies his trike out of. Never the less, a few precautionary and touch and goes later we managed and Deon was satisfied that he would not have to lengthen his 450 meter Runway
So-- congratulations with your newly acquired Jora Deon, may you have many blessed
and safe hours of joy flying in her .
