Close Encounter

When I saw a hot air balloon coming toward me I went for my camera. I selected the various settings as I walked outside, but had to hurriedly pull the zoom in to the minimum 70mm to fit the balloon into the frame. The trees are in my garden. The almost-in-focus poplar on the right is next to the greenhouse. They couldn’t get much closer.

There were four tourists in the basket. See extra shot. Considering the bitterly cold wind the lightly clad pilot must be a hardy bloke.

In contrast to the Met Service’s prediction of rain and snow down to my level, today was sunny and warm out of the southerly breeze.

Late addition: the moon rising into cloud at the level crossing, also in extras.