These trips are very much at the vagaries of the weather of course. A little to much wind, or rain and they are called off. But I was lucky and the only problem was that the site was changed to a field just before Bath.
Photos of the trip can be found on my Facebook page, or on my Flickr account here.
I will put just a couple on here and if you are interested, just look at the album. If you have been on one of these you will know just how great they are. If you have not and have thought of it, then go for it. The peace and quiet up there is just surreal. Just gently floating and looking over our lovely countryside, getting a view that few ever see is a wonderful thing.
Getting the balloon ready in the early mist.
Are there any downsides? Well if you have a problem with heights, then that of course if obvious but apart from that just a couple. The first is getting in the bloody cage in the first place. It is about four feet high and to access it there are feet holes in the basket and you have to climb in. No problem for the nimble, but I gave up climbing many years ago, and I had a struggle.
Ready to fly
But when you are up and away, the view makes it all worth while. But then of course you have to get out! And that means climbing out of the thing you had a problem getting into! But I got out in the end, and I believe the photos were worth the effort.
Fire the hot air!
Up looking over the countryside.
And just the one more thing. This is an experience you are expected to join in with and that means helping to put the balloon by and folding it up with all the rest on board. The fact that the pilot landed in a field full of cow shit did not help either!
And finally down again, with the balloon collapsing.
But overall I had a great day and I am glad I went for it.
