h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yesterday a had a totally new experience, I was a passenger in a hot air balloon.
It was a birthday from my kids and their partners, and a few weeks ago I had reserved yesterday as THE day.
Around midday I got the phonecall that all was well, and where we should start (as it is very weather dependent, there is always the chance it will be cancelled, for instance because off way too much wind or thunderstorm danger).

So around 20.00 we all looked how the giant balloons were rolled out and the baskets prepared. With a large fan the balloon was filled with cold air first and then with a meters long flame the temperature was raised to 80-90C and we climbed into the basket.
After a last check the helpers let go and we were in the air.

In the beginning it was a bit frightening, to see so much nothing below you, so I held on tight.
Soon I relaxed and enjoyed the flight. The other three balloons that took off from the same field were nearby, sometimes lower, sometimes higher, as we couls steer a bit by changing height.
A few kilometers away I could clearly see the city where I grew up, and hazy beyond it our current homeor at least some landmarks of it.
Slowly we passed the rivers Rhine and Waal, and wondered about the number of houses with trampoilines or swimmingpools (or both).
You only could hear dogs barking at us, and the loud rumble of the bursts of burning gas.
Much too soon the sun was almost down, and we had to find a landing place. After a few bumps the basket stood still and the process of emptying the balloon started. The cars that had followed us took aboard the taken apart balloon and we were baptised for our first flight of one hour 25 minutes with .

Only my family had followed also, so I thanked the pilot and the helpers, and we went home, while the others first went back to the starting place to be collected by their family.

It was a great experience and if anyone ever gets the chance, grab it with both hands.

Traveller in Time (well it should work)
"Wow, great experience !

We look out every evening before chlidren bedtime to see some hotair balloons. It sounds like a truely great experience.

NB, have a look at < U1201043 > flying low over the boards "

flying Dutchman...glad you like it...may be start of a new hobby?

Nice!

()

I would like it indeed to make it a habit, but alas it is very expensive.
It may differ between compagnies, but my flight cost standard 160 euro, 140 if you chance a "last minute".

Come to think, there should be an air-balloon festval in my hometown in august... I should sneak in, w*rkwise.

Try to become an official "in the air" reporter.

The basket is an impossible place for a stowaway.

Traveller in Time on top of the balloon
"There must be space enough to dangle underneath "

That's the plan.
I don't think I could hide myself in any place whatsoever.

actually TiT mentioned a possible place: on top of the balloon. It is quite flat there. You only have to cope with a hot surface of about 90C and the landing might get a bit rough, as they let out the air through a big hole in the top.

Dangling underneath? Everyone on the ground can see you going up, and you must have strong arms to hang on for at least an hour. With bad luck the whole basket lands on top of you

reporting from the top
""

Traveller sitting on a swing
"All he can see is clouds, and I have no idea where we are "