Lifetime ambition to be fulfilled today, as we're treating my elderly parents to a balloon flight (Mum's birthday treat). Weather's looking promising for a 6PM launch - can't wait.
The thing you will find strange is that in the basket there is no wind!
It's a fantastic experience, and I was lucky that a client is in the business, and returned a favour...
The thing you will find strange is that in the basket there is no wind!It's a fantastic experience, and I was lucky that a client is in the business, and returned a favour...
I asked about ballooning in Cumbria about 20 years ago. Iirc I was quoted £100 for an hour. The hoss I had backed in the Ebor didn't run the way it was supposed to, and that was the end of that trip.
I asked about ballooning in Cumbria about 20 years ago. Iirc I was quoted £100 for an hour. The hoss I had backed in the Ebor didn't run the way it was supposed to, and that was the end of that trip.
Did this a few years ago over Henley on Thames. Fantastic experience. Nowhere near as frightening as some might imagine - serene, peaceful and very different.
As Facts says, landings can be bumpy. Ours was very hairy, hitting some tree canopies on the way down and landing in a field where some gypsies came over swigging beer and we were willing the recovery vehicles to get to us quickly. All good though in the end.
How was it Stevie, and where?Did this a few years ago over Henley on Thames. Fantastic experience. Nowhere near as frightening as some might imagine - serene, peaceful and very different.As Facts says, landings can be bumpy. Ours was very hairy, hitt
Never been up in one,but i live about 3 miles from a hot air balloon business and they regularly crash land in the fields around my house.When one came down in one of my fields the pilot offered me a free go cos i kicked up a stink about letting the recovery vehicle on my property to retrieve the trespassing balloon.Hardly an advert for the pilots skills.
Never been up in one,but i live about 3 miles from a hot air balloon business and they regularly crash land in the fields around my house.When one came down in one of my fields the pilot offered me a free go cos i kicked up a stink about letting the
Pilot? Doesn't he pretty much choose "Up" or "Down", in that sense a lift attendant is a pilot, or a kid playing "Flappy Bird".
*disclosure: I've never tried it and I'm sure it's really difficult, especially if there's no wind, more so if there is.
Pilot? Doesn't he pretty much choose "Up" or "Down", in that sense a lift attendant is a pilot, or a kid playing "Flappy Bird".*disclosure: I've never tried it and I'm sure it's really difficult, especially if there's no wind, more so if there is.
They give you some crap about finding the right 'thermals' to fly in to help change direction but essentially the 'pilot' is just trying to get you up and down smoothly and trying to come down around the allotted end time in a field which doesn't contain bulls. Or gypsies.
They give you some crap about finding the right 'thermals' to fly in to help change direction but essentially the 'pilot' is just trying to get you up and down smoothly and trying to come down around the allotted end time in a field which doesn't con
call me a taxi 03 Aug 14 22:24 Joined: 02 Oct 03 | Topic/replies: 3,418 | Blogger: call me a taxi's blog I asked about ballooning in Cumbria about 20 years ago. Iirc I was quoted £100 for an hour. The hoss I had backed in the Ebor didn't run the way it was supposed to, and that was the end of that trip.
At least you tried
call me a taxi03 Aug 14 22:24Joined:02 Oct 03| Topic/replies: 3,418 | Blogger: call me a taxi's blogI asked about ballooning in Cumbria about 20 years ago.Iirc I was quoted £100 for an hour.The hoss I had backed in the Ebor didn't run the way it was
1. ballooning When an uncircumsised man, whilst urinating, pinches his foreskin closed, thereby inflating his touque like a balloon (but with urine rather that air) My girlfriend won't give me head since she caught me ballooning in the bathroom.
1.ballooningWhen an uncircumsised man, whilst urinating, pinches his foreskin closed, thereby inflating his touque like a balloon (but with urine rather that air)My girlfriend won't give me head since she caught me ballooning in the bathroom.
Why are you sad Facts - no girlfriend to try it on or have you been circumcised?
And back to the original point of the thead, still no sign of Stevie since he went up in the balloon. Do you think he's made it to South America like the kid in Up?
Why are you sad Facts - no girlfriend to try it on or have you been circumcised?And back to the original point of the thead, still no sign of Stevie since he went up in the balloon. Do you think he's made it to South America like the kid in Up?
When I first switched on the BBC news this morning they were doing a piece about ballooning - and I immediately wondered if it was Stevie related!
Have you landed yet Mr Strikes?!
When I first switched on the BBC news this morning they were doing a piece about ballooning - and I immediately wondered if it was Stevie related!Have you landed yet Mr Strikes?!
Most likely the balloon came down somewhere off the beaten track and Mr Strikes is in a world where Deliverance meets Run Of The Arrow.Dueling Banjos territory now .
Most likely the balloon came down somewhere off the beaten track and Mr Strikes is in a world where Deliverance meets Run Of The Arrow.Dueling Banjos territory now .
Brilliant experience! Everything I'd hoped it would be.
On balance, I'd prefer take my chances standing in a wicker basket strung from a bag of hot air than hurtling through the upper atmosphere in a metal tube attached to 100 tons of aviation fuel.
Brilliant experience! Everything I'd hoped it would be.On balance, I'd prefer take my chances standing in a wicker basket strung from a bag of hot air than hurtling through the upper atmosphere in a metal tube attached to 100 tons of aviation fuel.