We started by helping to unload the basket and the balloon itself:
Next we watched as the balloon was inflated. We were completely stunned by the size of it! You can just see figures at each end for scale.
and there's the pilot - inside the balloon! (He didn't stay there though..)
In the picture above you can see the basket lying on its side. I had to climb in while it was on its side, lie on my back and brace myself against the sides until the balloon was inflated enough to lift the basket to the upright position. Very strange feeling!! Soon we were off!!
We rose quickly to 2,500 feet. I thought if would be cold and had put on several layers of clothing and taken a hat with ear flaps too, just in case. But I was surprised to find that it wasn't cold at all. I guess because we were travelling with the wind, we couldn't feel the wind. The views over Stamford were magnificent. It was strange to be looking down that far with no glass in front of us. A unique experience. The sides of the basket came up to mid chest, well you can see that in the photo above, so we felt quite safe.
Here are some views from up on high. The first few though are views of us from below. I particularly like the one with the moon in the shot.
Stamford Meadows.
Burghley House and Park. (Where they hold the horse trials in September)
As we came down we brushed the tree tops.
All too soon we're back safely on the ground. We hardly felt the landing at all. The pilot was so skilled he was able to raise the ballon and hold it just a few inches off the ground to move us up the field closer to where the vehicles could come to pick us up.
Here's me in front of the deflating balloon just trying to take it all in so that I wouldn't forget anything.
Everybody, including the families of those who had flown, joined in walking along the balloon to flatten it. Like you'd do to an air bed but on a HUGE scale!
You won't believe it but the balloon fits into this crate!
And that was us done!
Oh, did I not mention the champagne??
A glass of bubbly each to celebrate. Rounding off a perfect day.
4 comments:
Fantastic! And thank you for giving us the photograph story of the day.
I love the way your balloon rises into the air, as I scrolled down the page!
Lovely post,thank you, xx
Great photos! We had a balloon trip a few years ago and I also wrapped up nice and warm, thinking it would be very cold up there. That flame gives out a lot of heat
and it never occurred to me that we might feel it!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Fabulous - an unforgettable trip. I saw balloons being inflated at a show once and was amazed at the speed of it all. So glad you enjoyed it - great photos - and many congratulations on your 40th anniversary. A x
PS - word verification is ovens!!
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