The weather was warm and with a very gentle breeze this evening proved to be quite magical for our hot air balloon flight. We decided to launch from Newborborough, adjacent to the city of Peterborough. A big thank to Mr Clarke of Clarke’s Garage for allowing us to use his Paddocks. We inflated the balloon and had a very gentle launch at 6.30 p.m. Although the wind speed was slow at no more than 6 M.P.H. the visibility was unusually crisp and clear with no haze. We started a steady climb and rounded out at 5,400 feet. And what a view! The wash was clear with Hunstanton and Boston in view. Across to Kings Lynn Ely and Cambridge. Out to the west Rutland water and RAF Wittering were clearly defined.
We then started slow descent down to 500 feet and started to look for somewhere to land. We were heading to Whaplode Drove but the wind direction at low altitude had increased slightly and had turned left by 40 degrees. The balloon came to a gentle rest in the parish of Postland.
The crew and family followers soon arrived and we quickly packed the balloon away to watch a stunning sunset. One of our passengers Ben Cousins remarked that he was a little nervous at the thought of being one mile above the earth in a wicker basket before we launched, however said it was a stunning experience.