Up, up and away

As mentioned earlier one of my birthday surprises was a ballon flight for two.  After two cancellations due to weather conditions we finally drove over to Malmesbury (nr. Preston) in Lancashire for an evening flight.

We arrived at the launch site in good time but nothing to be seen but one or two other couples sitting in cars.  It was a relief when the landrover pulling the rig arrived.

 

A view of the interior which takes up to twelve people and the pilot.  You sit down for take off and landing.

Alistair helping to pull the basket upright so that the burners could be tested.

Inflating the balloon took quite some time............

Finally we take off and the launch site grows smaller and smaller.

The camera is attached to the rope in the centre to get this shot.

A close up in the glow from the burner.

I am rather pleased with the photo below as I took it as we passed over a river and the reflection of the sky and balloon in the river came out well.


View downwards over the edge of the basket

Pendle Hill in the last rays of the setting sun.

Soon after this we landed very smoothly in a field and began the task of rolling up the balloon fabric up to stuff back in its sack and sliding the basket back on the trailer.  Then we were driven back in the gathering darkness to the launch site for champagne.

It was certainly a surprising present.  I had not realised how much preparation time would be needed before the flight.  Once in the air I loved the whole experience especially floating in the silence but the burners were very noisy when they were used to gain height or change direction.  It was also quite hot when the burners lit up and Alistair and the other tall people had  to protect their heads from the heat. 
At times we were low enough to shout at people walking and cycling in the country lanes below us  and hear replies.  At one point the balloon floated over a very expensive housing development  and it was great fun looking at what people were doing in their back gardens and how they had landscaped their individual properties. 

Thank you Nicholas, Philip and Kate for a most imaginative and enjoyable present.