For my 30th birthday, my wonderful girlfriend Karen took us on an early
morning balloon flight...
Click on thumbnails for larger versions (800x600).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arriving at the launch site |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unfolding the balloon envelope |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I hope they know what they're doing! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Looking down the partially inflated envelope, from the top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The balloon is first partially inflated with a fan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The RE/Max balloon getting ready to go alongside us |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Then they get some heat into it |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In the basket now, looking up inside the envelope |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Brisbane River from above Fairfield |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RE/Max will be up here with us soon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hey that's the University of Queensland where I work! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Early morning rowers on the river |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It feels like we're very high |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It was a misty, foggy morning, but we were very lucky to get the flight in between drizzle and showers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heading south west from Fairfield it doesn't take long to get into semi-rural areas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Early morning Ibis, flying along the river |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another housing development |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our reflection in the river as we descend slowly towards landing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here comes RE/Max to join us in this random field we've landed in. I hope the farmer doesn't mind... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The partially deflated envelope looks kind of strange.. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That was great, can we go again?! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|