The key phrase is "original point of departure" and as far as I know that's
never been defined. The 14 CFR FAQ used to have a discussion in there about
not deliberately changing the original point of departure to make something
a cross-country that it might not have been, but it's all a bit hazy.

It has to pass the smell test - if it smells like a cross-country it is, and
if smells like bulls*(t then it probably isn't a cross country.

Mat

--
Matthew Waugh
Comm. SEL MEL, CFI-AI
http://home.nc.rr.com/mwaugh/learn2fly/index.htm

"Arden Prinz" wrote in message
om...
Suppose that I fly from airport "a" to airport "b" and then from
airport "b" to airport "c". The straight-line distance from "a" to
"b" is less than 50 nautical miles and the straight-line distance from
"b" to "c" is less than nautical miles. However, the straight-line
distance from "a" to "c" is more than 50 nautical miles. How much
time can I spend at airport "b" and still count this flying as
cross-country time for the purpose of meeting the aeronautical
experience requirements for an instrument rating?

Thank-you!
Arden