Early morning flight from Bath.......Bit of mist while setting up, but it soon cleared for launch. Had a new crew member join us, Andy, who also got to go up !.....Good flight but landing proved abit awkward because of a little mist appearing and landowner not over pleased. The lady of the manor was happy for us to retrieve the balloon, providing we did not take any vehicle or trailer on to the field!!!!! The pilot explained that the basket and balloon weighed about the same as a Landrover but she claimed that was OUR problem!....The gamekeeper appeared soon after, and put his neck on the block to help us out by unlocking the gate.......then the Lady of the Manor re-appeared!!!!.....spitting glass!!!.....the gamekeeper played diplomat and eventually the rig was recovered. Pilot gave said gamekeeper price of a few drinks for his kindness under such pressure from his employer!.......lets hope he still has a job! It should be mentioned that the landing site, although quite close to some stables, was a normal grass field with no livestock or crops growing, and the basket had landed very gently in light winds.
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