I again still respectfully disagree. I am VMC on top. How would I know
that the weather is worsening BELOW the overcast??? I am plodding along,
dumb and happy, enjoying the view a couple thousand feet above the
overcast.

ATIS. It's an error. Granted, it's one borne of inexperience, but
experience is how we become better pilots - it goes without saying that
prior to experience, we were worse pilots.

I followed the VFR rules to a tee when the wheels
went up.

Rules aren't sufficient, as you learned.

Jose
--
Money: what you need when you run out of brains.
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