This morning turned out to be one of those perfect sunrise balloon flights over Norfolk On this balloon flight we had the pleasure in flying a family party from north Norfolk. We met everyone at 5.30 a.m. This wind was a very gentle flow from the southwest, making the inflation and launch a very easy and gentle affair. Once aloft the visibility was very good in fact at 3,000 feet pretty much all of Norfolk was in view. To the south the wind turbines at North Pickenham were bathed in a shallow layer of mist. The coast to our north was clearly defined. We drifted over the market town of Dereham then onto North Tuddenham. To our south was the 700 acre dairy farm owned by the Dann family. The farm produces high quality ice cream from the diary herd, which is can be purchased from the farm shop. Well worth a family treat.
From a pilots point of view this morning was on of those flights that’s quite easy and very relaxing to do. As the overall speed was never above 7 m.p.h. Enabling the pilot to chat and point out the location of towns and villages in greater detail than normal. After an hour we were approaching the village of Lyng. A low approach over fields with standing crop for two miles and to our front was a track, just ideal to put the balloon down. Our crew were already there and helped us move the basket to a gateway enabling us deflate the canopy. With glasses raised we toasted our morning adventure.
‘Thank you again for a fantastic balloon trip, it was most certainly worth the wait. An experience I will never forget’.
David Goodman