Summertime Weather

What a fantastic few days....Thursday night(7th) and a North West wind from Pandy in clear skies landing near Mitchell Troy with little drama and a happy farmer.... .... Friday morning from Raglan and the crew were hit with 'Gremlins!' as senior moments set in and the balloon bag was left un-noticed on the trailer!!!....the parachute had a knot in the lines....and Chris lost the 'plot' :-D.......but most importantly the passengers had a delightful and danger free flight ! Friday lunch followed by an hours drive back across the boarder to Cheltenham and a 'siesta' before launching from the racecourse in unusually light winds and landing at 'Freds' estate south of the town to be welcomed by very excited kids and locals! Flight de-brief took place at TGI Fridays with Stella and nibbles!! Speedy upper winds meant a sleep in Saturday morning before returning to base via the AV8 cafe at Kemble for brekky. Bathed my beautiful mini bus after lunch before heading to Alice park in Bath for a dramatic launch from a small area with loads of onlookers who gave a round of applause on launch. The landing was not without excitement as Bristol ATC told the pilot(who had been given permission to fly up to 1500ft) to land immediately as Ryan Air were about to take off......basket in one field...envelope in the next field....luckily no damage or holes!!! Sunday was back to back flights from RVP in the morning and the Maze field in the evening. The AM flight was pretty standard with the exception of a farmers wife who was convinced that I was going to run over her ducks(I love ducks!)....that the field the pilot landed in was ruined ... she would lose her livelyhood (short grass field) .... when she realised 2 other balloons had landed in other parts of the farm, it took the diplomatic efforts of myself and 2 pilots to smooth things out......we failed. That particular farm is now classed as a 'sensitive area' which means that unless it's an emergency no more landing there. The PM flight by contrast was the exact opposite......Very still air meant a launch to 5000ft and very little else for an hour before gently landing half a mile from the launch site on friendly farm land!! That is now 18 flights in the first month of the season....bloody brilliant.!!!