Up, up and away!

Up at 6.15 this morning and headed for the park to see if any balloons would go off... and two did! Got lots of shots, and initially chose one from that early morning session...
However, this morning I was offered the chance to go up in one, if enough balloons flew... all weather permitting. As only 2 went up, and there were people ahead of me in the queue, I didn't get to go up but I was told there was a good chance I'd get up in the evening. Again, weather permitting...
Headed down at 6pm and found the park full of life in the sunshine... A lovely 5 piece band was playing, people were relaxing and eating picnics and ice creams while sitting on the grass and it was just a lovely atmosphere...
Then I was summonsed and told that I was on for a flight and introduced to my fellow flyers! Mark was the pilot in charge, but Tim, who is training for his licence, did most of the flying, (under Mark's careful eye...) and very good he was too! At the beginning, it was all hands on deck... I got to be part of the crew... unwrapping the envelope (the correct name for the "balloon bit"), then holding the mouth open while first cold air, then hot air, then a 6 foot flame was shot into it! My upper arms will ache tomorrow! It was as good as a workout that bit! Then it was into the basket and before we knew it we were away!
It was a beautiful sunny calm evening, and being in the balloon was just so serene and peaceful... a truly elegant way to travel! I loved every minute of it! This is a shot of Strathaven war memorial and cemetary... not the most cheerful subject perhaps, but I liked the lay out of the shot and the mountains in the distance...
(At one point we could see out to Goatfell on Arran the evening was so clear!)
At sunset we landed in a farmer's field out past Stonehouse... We had to find the farmer to get his permission to drive the pick up vehicle onto his field to collect all the equipment, and we ended up doing that in reverse order... we got the stuff out then went and made contact with the farmer and gave him a bottle of whisky!
Then we headed back to Strathaven and arrived back just in time to watch the "glow" where ballooons are lit up with the flames to music! It was wonderful!!

There were so many shots I could have blipped today, but I hope you like this one...
Sincere thanks to Mark, Tim, Richard and Nicola, who drove the "rescue" vehicle that came to pick us up from wherever we landed and take us back to base.
It has been a wonderful day...
Apologies to anyone who preferred the original photo... I just couldn't resist the impulse to update my Blip!