Up Up and Away

For my 60th I received a voucher for a hot air balloon trip in and around the Lothians.  Some 18 months later - on my 6th attempt at trying - I managed to get a flight. For one or two others on the trip, it was their 11th or 13th attempt and one couple had travelled 120 miles from North East England.

So it was a special day and hugely enjoyable, notwithstanding the bumpy landing when the basket ended on its side - a "tippy-over" landing.  Throughout the day in the office, in between meetings,  I kept checking the weather forecast to check the flight would be on. It has been known that even at the launch site the flight has been cancelled if the wind picks up.

We flew from West Linton to Howgate near Penicuik, travelling at up to 14 miles per hour.  When the burners were switched off it was a wonderful experience to float along in silence over forests, sheep and lambs, fields and ponds.

Lots of work to get the balloon ready - and to pack it up.  But well worth it.  the size of the envelope on the ground was huge.

some extras of the views. The first shows the scale (our pilot is in the distance); the second a selfie (I'm the on the left); a general view; a tippy over landing; and a deflating whale.

Back to reality - hopefully with not too much of  a bump - tomorrow.