Up in the air

August 15, 2024

It may seem a bit Mary Poppinsish but the balloon event at Old Buckenham Country Park in Norfolk was nothing at all like that. Real Balloons with qualified pilots and massive colourful canopies.

Of course it was jolly – entertainment for all the family,

but behind that lots of serious planning, organised ground crews and more than half an eye on the prevailing weather conditions.

It was hoped that flights could happen on the Friday evening but there was too much wind. Instead several balloon owners agreed to tether their devices to the ground and light them up at 9.00pm. Even that was quite spectacular, especially if one was positioned at the other side of the park lake.

On Saturday fortunately it was a different story. Although there was some wind it was light enough for the pilots to feel that they would be willing to put their balloons up in to the air.

The preparation was feverish. Ground crews worked really hard to get everything right. Air was blown in to the canopies and eventually as the baskets began to tip upwards, burners were ignited and the show was more in the air than on the road.

Gradually one by one twelve balloons lifted off. One of the pilots, Paul, was kind enough to attach to the outside of the basket my GoPro camera (and you thought it was me inside shooting!) No, the arial shots come from the GoPro as it soared up above the Country Park and out into the Norfolk countryside.