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Published: December 23rd 2007
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I WENT IN A HOT AIR BALLOON... ALL I CAN SAY IS WOOO HOOOOO!!
After 6 weeks of failed attempts we finally floated over Brisbane.
With no phone call by 4am to call it off, I jumped in the car and headed there as 4:30am is leaving time. We glimpsed a beautiful sunrise from the park and were then crammed into a 4WD - 9 of us in the back - and driven north as the winds were blowing south westerly, so we could have maximum time in the balloon. At the park they recurited helpers from our group and we pushed the basket off the back of the trailer, and my brother was asked to hold the balloon while they filled it with cold air, then the hot air. While this was happening the rest of us were taking photos and generally mucking around. It was all so exciting.
We jumped into the balloon - and there was no lady like way to do it, and we waited for the balloon to have enough hot air. At this time we were given instructions how to behave etc - but the most important thing was about landing. The
ground control person was giving us the "Ussume the Position" talk. We needed to hold onto some handles on one side, press our bottoms on the soft pillow side whilst having our knees bent and having a relaxed fluidity about it. He said "Those that dont bend their knees, will have them bent for them on ground impact!" A little bit of humour from the groundsman - HA HA .... we aren't laughing buddy!! The moment the balloon floated just off the ground was such a wonderful feeling. I was having my photo taken by my sister and it all happened so quickly without much notice - we just suddenly had enough air to be taking off and the ground was slipping away, a fluid, flowy motion like being swept away, not even the remotest bit scary.
Who would have thought that a hot air balloon would actually be HOT? I didn't. But every time our driver Ken pulled that gas lever bursting hot flames filled the balloon and the heat floated down to us. I wouldn't have liked to be a tall person, they give you hats if you feel your head getting too hot. Also the dreadful
Getting some HOT air
note my brother helping noise that the gas makes. WHOOSH.... every 5 minutes or so was very loud that it left your ears ringing afterwards... so maybe some earplugs would be good too. OK - so those are my only two complaints.. Oh wait, I just thought of another one - The sky was cloudy/foggy/smog and so there are no photos of the sunrise or the brilliant blue sky Australia is known for. It was a little dissapointing to have waited 6 weeks and the day we go up it still isn't perfect - but I shall use the answer the balloon man gave - there is a weather system coming in (which was true - weather report was saying that storms are all down the australian east coast.
We went up to 1000 ft and looked down at the city below us. We floated from Mitchelton, through Toowong, Indooroopilly, Graceville, Rocklea, Archerfield and we landed in Willawong. I took a lot of photos up there and we went over the Army barracks and Goverment House and a Sewerage Treatment plant. They were all interesting to look at from the sky. The rest of Brisbane looked the same. Square boxes and lots of
roofs. I said funny how they all look the same, even if you are going over an expensive neighbourhood. So people to make you feel better, we are equal when looked upon from above!! It was a magificent feeling floating over Brisbane in the early morning.
Now as you can imagine, depending where the wind is blowing, the landing spot can change. The getting up bit was easy, and not at all daunting (as I thought it would be) BUT what goes up must come down! We were going to land at Archerfield Airport, but it doesnt open early in the morning. The drivers didn't want to wait around. So another field was chosen and we were starting to come in. Then on the walkie talkies the groundspeople are saying, Abort landing, the gates are all locked with chains. This was a government something or rather and was closed for Christmas and New Year. The balloon we were in cost around $100 000, so I assume they wouldn't want to leave it in a paddock for 2 weeks. So as we were coming in the driver had to do some hard cranks on the gas to get us back
up again to land in the next paddock along. "Nevilles. landing at Nevilles" over the walkie talkie. As I am looking down I am slightly concerned about the power lines in our way, we were quite close to them, though the driver didn't appear alarmed at all, so I thought we probably had nothing to worry about. However I could feel myself pushing upwards, urging the balloon to do the same!! Pump the gas a few more times and we are over the power lines and landing in a paddock at Nevilles. " ASSUME THE POSITION" We all bend our legs, bottoms against the side, HOLD THAT POSE and we land with a perfect PLOP on the ground, then go up a couple of feet and PLOP down again. PERFECT LANDING!
We were the first balloon to take off, last to land, and first to leave. We all cram back in the 4WD and drive past Nevilles house and to the driveway when we see an Ambulance. We stop to see what happened and an elderley lady in the other groups balloon had fainted and was out to it for a few mins. She was standing when we saw
As we were lifting
we had been in the basket a while and as my sister took this photo we had that floating feeling - we were not on the ground anymore! her, it was a precautionary visit, but they checked her out and she was fine. We drove through the streets of Brisbane and back to West End to have the gourmet breakfast of croissants, camembert cheese, juice, fruit, ham, olives. We ate our fill, airballooning can make you very hungry!! And headed home a very happy family.
We floated with Balloons over Brisbane. They were very nice and I felt very safe the entire time. There was another group called Fly me to the Moon and they also left and landed at the same spots we did. They had a much nicer new van they drove their customers in, they werent crammed in. So if you are thinking about Ballooning, there are some names for you.
Enjoy the photos, I enjoyed being a 1000 ft up to get them for you!! There are 3 pages of photos so be sure to see them all.
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