As I said yesterday, the oft-postponed balloon flight happened at last, and having been really quite nervous about it it was a relief to find it was actually very enjoyable - I did feel 'vulnerable' at times when I thought about being 3,000 feet up in an open basket with only a thin canopy filled with hot air (and of course the expertise of the pilot, Peter) keeping us there, but I'm sure we were very safe and so I concentrated on making the most of it, but yes I was glad to get back down to earth!
What was wonderful though, apart from just being out in the stillness of the early morning, was seeing the landscape from above and the features that perspective brings out, e.g. the earthworks (below), which you might not detect from ground level.
We took off from just outside West Linton and flew ten or eleven miles west over farmland and sporting estates on the edge of the Pentland Hills (for the literary connection look here) eventually touching down again in a field near Carnwath.
The weather over the course of the hour we were in the air was mostly beautifully clear but for a sudden bank of cloud which engulfed us - disconcertingly - for a moment or two until we rose above it.
As we landed and packed up the balloon prior to having a celebratory glass of champagne - in a field at 8 am - so the very smart University of Edinburgh balloon which took off from the same spot just after us made its descent and landed a short way beyond us.
Would I do it again? Yes, I would, and I'd recommend Alba Ballooning who fly from Perthshire, Lothian, the Borders and Northumberland. It's a marvellous way to see the country, a unique experience, and I've lived to tell the tale. My thanks again to the very generous friend whose gift to us this was.
oh I've often wanted to go up in a balloon, but vertigo puts me off....
Looks like you had a lovely time, such beautiful views!
Posted by: craftygreenpoet | 21 May 2012 at 10:25 AM
I was very unsure about it, really worried that I'd be so uncomfortable that I'd want to come down after only a few seconds in the air, and I didn't sleep the night before as a result, but it was much better than I expected so I would do it again.
If you really would like to do it, maybe you could speak to Peter at Alba Ballooning because I'm sure he'd talk you through it in advance and allay your fears.
Posted by: Cornflower | 21 May 2012 at 10:32 AM
This looks fabulous. I've always been too nervous to try a balloon ride though as suffer from fear of heights if I have to stand near the edge of anything - such a pity as can tell from your pics it gives a wonderful perspective of the countryside!
Posted by: Donna | 21 May 2012 at 01:41 PM
Oh Karen, you were so brave! I would have been breathing into a paper bag for at least the first half of the ride but what a reward, the scenery is stunning!
Posted by: Darlene | 21 May 2012 at 04:26 PM
What amazing pictures and views you got from the balloon!
We had a friend who ran a ballooning company nearby, here in North Yorkshire, back in the 90's and were supposed to go up with him on four separate occasions but the weather turned against us each time so we never actually made it into the air!
I'm still not sure how much relief was lurking in the midst of my disappointment!
Posted by: Liz F | 22 May 2012 at 02:42 PM