This hot air balloon ride flew over Norfolk. We met our passengers at 7.00 a.m. at Mattishall Golf Club. It was a beautiful morning, a shallow layer of mist had covered the ground of which the heat of the sun would quickly burn away. A call to air traffic control at Norwich airport confirmed that conditions were suitable and gave us the go ahead for take off.

We lifted off gently and climbed out to 500 feet. And what a view! Most of Norfolk was bathed in a shallow blanket of mist. The tops of trees and building rose above it all. We ascended to 3,000 feet and started to head north. Flying over the village of East Tuddenham and on to Swanton Morley, which has an excellent family pub called the Darbys and Hunters Hall run by a local friendly land owner Mr John Carrick have a look at their website www.huntershall.com

After half an hour the mist had melted away leaving a morning with un broken skies. We passed over the village of Billingford and landed in a stubble field in the village of Bintree. A big thank you to Paul and David our crew who arrived to collect the balloon any enjoy a glass of Champagne with pilot, passengers and family. That afternoon we received an email from two of the passengers on that flight.

"To Everyone at Breckland Balloons

I wanted to say a BIG thank you for the spectacular flight this morning! I was quite nervous when I got up this morning as normally heights aren't my thing, but the nerves quickly died away when I met the team and could not wait to get up into the air. The view was like nothing I have ever seen before, something I will never forget. Everyone was so friendly it made the experience even better!
I just wish I could go on holiday in a hot air balloon rather than a plane...much more enjoyable!!
Once again Thank you, and you may see us again sometime"

Lauren and Daniel from Norwich

The ‘Indian Summer' which our forecasters had predicted had arrived. September has been a lovely month for flying. Again today the weather was perfect for our balloon flight. The wind was gentle, the air stable with excellent visibility. We launched from our base at Wendling and climbed out to 5,000 feet. The Norfolk coastline was clearly defined. To our north Blakeney point and wells next the sea came into view. To our east the city of Norwich and the Broads beyond and to the west the wash stretched out to the Lincolnshire coastline. After an hour we descended to find the wind down to a lazy 5.m.p.h. The balloon drifted past the village of Tittleshall and gently landed in a stubble field in the parish of Weasenham St Peter.

Spalding Partially Disabled and Able Bodied Club, took to the air with us today. This is a wonderful organisation and has been run by dedicated volunteers for the past 25 years. The current and long serving chairman is Andrew Inkley. Andrew approached us earlier in the year with the view to flying a small group of his club members of which we were able to accommodate.

Two of the club members were blind so we allocated a great deal of time for the introduction and safety brief. So these passengers could feel the basket and equipment, once the brief was concluded we inflated the balloon and launched. The wind was a light south-westerly and we were soon over Newborough. Heading towards Crowland with its medieval abbey and 14th century Trinity Bridge. We were now in Lincolnshire. The wash was clearly visible as was the Norfolk and Lincolnshire coast. We landed gently in the village of Shepeau Stow

We flew from our base at Wendling it was a perfect evening with the wind down to a very gentle south easterly. We climbed out to 2,000 feet with good visibility. We were soon over the disused wartime American airfield at Wendling. This is a large base with most of the runways still intact also the bomb storage area has been completely untouched for over sixty years; there is nothing like that left in East Anglia. It was home of the 392nd Bombardment Group. From August 1943 to June 1945 The group flew 285 combat missions, suffering 1552 casualties including 835 killed in action or line of duty and 184 aircraft lost. They have an excellent website, check it out on www.b24.net it is a fascinating read and very thought provoking.

We then gently drifted over the village of Beeston and onto to Great Dunham. We climbed up to 3,500 feet the wind was a little quicker and we were soon over the village of castle acre looking down on the Medieval castle and 11th century monastery, it's a beautiful village and well worth a visit. We started our descent and landed in the parish of west acre in a stubble field next to the road greeted by our crew and friends and family who were following. The evening was finalised with the usual champagne toast

This hot air balloon ride flew over Stamford and Rutland water. The balloon launched from Werrington Sports Centre Peterborough. We climbed out to 3500 feet and had a magnificent view of the city. Milton Park and Ferry Meadows in clear view. The flight path was taking us to the picturesque market town of Stamford. A radio call to R.A.F. Wittering confirmed they had finished flying for the day, so we had permission to descend and fly through their airspace. We headed up over Helpston and Ufford with Tallington Lakes to our west.

As we approached Stamford we had a wonderful view of Burghley House and the Town of Stamford. To our front Rutland Water was in clear view. Once clear of the town and in open country we descended and started to follow the A606, eventually landing in a stubble field close to Empingham close to the shore of Rutland water. Our passengers were in high spirits when we landed chatting about the sights we had encountered, so we all toasted the flight with glasses held high watching the sun set over the water.

This balloon ride landed in Cambridgeshire and what an adventure we had! Our passengers came from London, Cambridge and Norfolk so Thetford Rugby Club was the logical venue. Once everyone had been briefed the balloon was prepared for flight this took about 45 minutes. We launched and climbed out to 3000 feet. The balloon flew just to north of Brandon then over Weeting which is the venue for the wonderful steam rally held each year. On over Hockwold Cum Wilton and towards Feltwell.

There was an ideal opportunity to land just outside the village of Feltwell, however we had plenty of fuel and daylight so we decided to continue the flight as it such a lovely evening. Once we leave Feltwell and into the start of the Fens this gives our ground retrieve crew a bit of a headache as the road network in that part of the world is rather limited. The pilot radioed the crew at suggested that they drive up to Southery and pick up the A10 down to Ely. This area of Norfolk is quite remote and has wonderful village names such as Prickwillow and Queen Adelaide

We approached the A10 north of Ely with the magnificent cathedral clearly in view. We crossed the river at Brandon Creek brushed over the top of a line of poplar trees and the balloon landed in the first field in Cambridgeshire. The crew had done an excellent job as they were there as we landed.

This was an evening that our forecasters wondered if the wind speed may be a little on ‘ the quick side' for our launch window, however the wind would be calming down nicely close to sunset. From an operational point of view these are always tricky flights to call as you only know if the wind speed is going to be within operation limits once you and your passengers are on site! Therefore there was a chance this evening that the pilot may have to stand the flight down on site, rare but it can happen. We opted to use the launch site at Thetford Rugby club as this sits in a shallow valley protected by surrounding trees, this gives more options than an exposed launch site.

We met our passengers on site at 5.00 p.m. prepared the balloon for flight then briefed the family members who were going to follow the balloon on the ground retrieve.

The all important phone call the R.A.F Lakenheath for their clearance and to check the wind speed was made. The wind had dropped and we had a go. The balloon launched with ease and we were soon climbing out over the forest spotting the first herd of Roe deer. On route we flew over Grimes Graves the Neolithic flints mines hidden within the forest. Once out of the forest we crossed south of Northwold and Brookville. We then picked up the river Wissey and flew over the aqueduct just to the south of Stoke Ferry.

As the balloon approached west Dereham the wind started to ease back markedly. Our weather forecasters had been ‘spot on' we started our approach to land. The balloon came gently to rest at Ryston Park Estates just to the west of Downham Market. The owner Mr Pratt came out to greet the balloon and very kindly gave us permission to retrieve the balloon from his stubble field. What turned out to be a lovely surprise was that the head tractor driver Philip proposed to Joanne now his wife in one of our balloons over three years prior. (Apparently they have only just got married.) Joanne gave the Pilot a big hug. Yes it really was a wonderful end to the day.

We greeted our passengers for their balloon flight at Mattishall Golf Club. It was a beautiful evening with a light breeze coming from the south east, just ideal for the flight. There was quite a number of friends and family in attendance to watch the balloon launch. Everyone was eager to assist in the preparation of the balloon. The balloon launched gently and quickly climbed out to 2,000 feet. What a view all of Norfolk with the north Norfolk coast clearly defined. The flight took us over Clint green and directly over the busy market town of Dereham. Following the A47 and eventually landing in the parish of Wendling. Our ground crew and all family members were waiting at the side of the field and had an excellent view of the balloon landing.

One of our passenger kindly sent a ‘thank you' card a few days later.

Dear Robert -

I would just like to thank you and your team for a wonderful balloon ride on the evening of Friday 29th August. I know I can speak for all my party (Malcolm, Justine & Janet) When I say we had a great time we really enjoyed the whole experience. We were impressed with the organisation of the flight, so much so, my mum (who in the past, has vowed never to do a balloon ride) said you instilled confidence and would consider coming with us on the next flight!"

Sue Palmer