12th time lucky!

Tags

Adventure Balloons, Balloon flight, Berkshire College of Agriculture, Burchetts Green, Henley, River Thames, Sonning Common

12th time lucky! Two years ago, Barbara was given a voucher for a balloon flight for her birthday. She suggested that her daughter, that is my cousin Teresa, and I join her, and as I had been longing to go up in a balloon all my adult life, I was thrilled to agree, as was Teresa. So for two years we have been making reservations on flights, and 11 times these flights have been cancelled, either for bad weather conditions, or, once, because they had not enough passengers booked for the flight.

This morning, at last, it happened!  It was perfect weather.  Arriving at 5.30 at a field belonging to the Berkshire College of Agriculture, in Burchetts Green, the sun was rising over the horizon, and there was a little mist around which burnt off over the next couple of hours.  After a short briefing with us all actually in the balloon basket, we all clambered out and watched the balloon being inflated. This didn’t take long and we all climbed in again. 

To begin with, just hot (I presume) air is blown into the balloon. (Later edit: I now understand that the balloon is filled with cold air to begin with.)

Then the burner comes into action

Take-off was imperceptible and we were up and away before we knew it.

“It’s actually happening!”

Before long we were at our maximum height of 900 feet plus.  It didn’t feel like it – though how would I know?

We saw animals.

Mostly I didn’t use zoom on my camera, to retain the impression of height, but this is an exception. I loved the early morning shadows of both animals and trees.

 

At last some wild animals – running deer, tiny specks here.

We saw expensive properties (this was the Henley area).

I really was not leaning out of the basket to take this.

Presumably a dressage arena

 

 

We saw fields with patterns.

We three were facing the sun.  I think we got the best of the deal.

 

 

 

Why was this field so exquisitely green, when all around had been affected so badly by the lengthy drought?

Perhaps this aircraft is the clue.

 

A golf course

The greenkeeper?

And of course we saw views. 

 

The Thames with Henley in the distance

 

 

After some 50 minutes it was time to start descending.

I didn’t turn round to look at the views behind me much, for obvious reasons.

 

 

 

We have landed, in a field at Sonning Common.

The ‘plughole’ at the top is opened to let out some air

Once the balloon had deflated sufficiently we were allowed to get out.

83-year-old yoga-loving Barbara didn’t really need help,

but she seemed delighted to accept it.

Teresa and I used the same method as each other.

We were invited/encouraged/cajoled to help push all the remaining air out of the balloon, then to roll it up and put it back in the basket. 

Barbara helped squeeze the air out…

… by rolling in the hay with her young man.

The balloon was tied into sections

All helped lift it towards and then into the basket

It was some time before a minibus arrived to pick us up. The interval was very pleasantly spent sipping champagne and chatting with fellow passengers. It had been worth the two-year wait!  Thanks Geoff for kicking off the whole adventure!  And Adventure Balloons, we’re sorry for all the evil things we said about you every time you cancelled – we really do understand that you couldn’t take the risk.  And you served up perfect weather today.