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July 2nd and Mel's birthday, the family, Kenn, Debbie, Garry and Stella presented him with a truly stimulating present: a balloon flight for two, something neither he nor Joan had ever envisaged doing.
It was booked for July 11th and the weather was set fair. After an overnight stay at a motel at Northam, Joan, Mel and Debbie arrived at the airfield at 6.30am. Deb was along to take photos and be a general support. It was a frosty morning, in fact they had to scrape ice off the car windscreeen, something that took them back to winters in UK. This however bode well for the flight as the sky was clear and the sun was rising promising a beautiful morning.The staff were very efficient at unloading and laying out the balloon and soon had the prospective passengers helping. Mel was helping to hold the balloon open as the two large fans blew air into it. It inflated quickly and the pilot attached it to its basket which was lying on its side. Then the burners were ignited sending the hot air up into the balloon and causing it to rise slowly, and as it did it gently lifted the basket upright, and it was time for the passengers to climb into the basket.
Starting the balloon fill.
Joan thought this would be difficult but found there were footholds in the basket's side and it was quite easy, there were 16 excited passengers in this balloon, the basket having well padded divisions each for 4 people and room for the pilot in the centre. After a few words to explain what was going to happen, there was a burst of hot air as the burner was operated and they slowly, oh so slowly, lifted and moved away from the frosty earth. Debbie looked smaller and smaller as they gently rose, and the feeling was wonderful, when the burner was not in use, the silence was amazing, no one said much, everyone was in wonder at the beauty of the sunrise over the paddocks below.
Looking out over the valley.
Their balloon was the Rainbow Drifter but there was another with them, a smaller one with 8 passengers and it was fascinating looking up at them sometimes and at others looking down. In fact at one time it appeared the smaller balloon was so close to a farm dam it looked as though they might get their feet wet, but they rose away from that in a leisurely manner and the two balloons drifted slowly over the farms below. The ploughing patterns are amazing and Mel and Joan were quite puzzled on one occasion by a large oblong of land divided up into regular shapes. Perhaps a test bed for various seeds, but that was only their guess. As the flight progressed and the sun rose they were aware of the freshness and beauty of the Australian countryside in winter, it equals that of England in Spring and the new lambs running from the roar of the burner added to the similarity. The utter peace and silence is so beautiful, as you move with the wind, there is no feeling of any breeze at all and no chill factor, in fact it is warmer as you get away from the ground. They went over a river and brushed the tree tops as they slowly came back to earth.
The recovery crew await.
The pursuit vehicle was waiting in the paddock chosen by the pilot and the balloon landed oh so gently alongside the trailer. The passengers who can now call themselves balloonists, were asked to stay in the basket and the pilot gently caused the balloon to rise, move slightly to one side and to come down onto the trailer. Such accuracy moving such an enormous object without an engine or rudder seemed quite amazing. The passenges were soon organised to help deflate and pack the balloon back into its bag and they were back onto the bus and being taken to a hotel for a sumptuous champagne breakfast. Debbie had been there with the pursuit vehicle and had been able to take photos from the ground. After breakfast they were presented with a certificate acknowledging they had flown in Rainbow Drifter and had become "at one with the wind" Joan and Mel would like to thank Damien Hays their pilot for a wonderful flight, never at any time did either of them feel in the slightest bit worried, and confidence in the pilot is of first importance. Also they would like to congratulate Windward Balloon Adventures for the excellent organisation of the whole morning, and too, they would like to thank their family for a truly wonderful experience, one neither of them will ever forget.