| Ten years ago it was all very different in | | | | balloon ride will just disappear into a |
| the world of ballooning. You could expect to | | | | constitutionally guaranteed grey sky, where |
| travel some considerable distance to find a | | | | the best sight from our basket will be a |
| balloon ride operator to take you into the | | | | steaming cup of tea. But the truth is rather |
| air for a hot air balloon ride. You might | | | | brighter. Most flights take place early in |
| even have to leave your own country. If you | | | | the morning, when the weather is calmer, and |
| were lucky, there would be a small number of | | | | if you get up into the air, it's because the |
| balloon ride operators somewhere near you, | | | | conditions are right for flight, and so you |
| and if you were unlucky, there would be none. | | | | will get a great view. I have been taking |
| | | | photographs from way up there for ten years, |
| The good news is that all that has changed in | | | | and my photo albums speak of the ballooning |
| the balloon ride business. These days a | | | | beauty that is Great Britain. |
| balloon ride can be had pretty much wherever | | | | |
| you wish: Brazil, Russia, Chile, Surrey, | | | | Of course the weather can disappoint. Too |
| South Africa, Spain, Gloucestershire, | | | | much wind, or the wrong type of wind, will |
| Namibia, Costa Rica, Kenya, Hertfordshire | | | | keep you on the ground, ruining your day. But |
| and, let us not forget, little old Australia | | | | there is usually another one following it, so |
| and the United States of America. | | | | there is time to try again. |
| | | | |
| That I am able to throw a few counties in | | | | There are over a hundred commercial balloon |
| England into my list of exciting ballooning | | | | ride operators in the United Kingdom just |
| locations from around the world is a sign of | | | | waiting to get you into the air. The |
| high times for the balloon ride business in | | | | statistics are impressive: there were around |
| the United Kingdom. It's good news for any | | | | 80,000 balloon ride passengers in the United |
| one like me who loves the idea of taking a | | | | Kingdom last year. And if you don't trust the |
| balloon ride in Kenya, but is too poor of | | | | statistics, trust the pilots. Many of our |
| time and money to book the flight out there. | | | | pilots are highly experienced Australian and |
| | | | American pilots, and if the flying or the |
| Australians and Americans, blessed as they | | | | business were poor, they would not be here. |
| are in their respective countries with | | | | |
| numerous stunning locations that are ideal | | | | So why not make yourself one of the 80,000? |
| for balloon rides, might legitimately say | | | | Bring your friends, the family, who ever you |
| that the United Kingdom is not blessed with | | | | want. It really is jaw-droppingly beautiful |
| the most ideal of flying conditions for a | | | | up there. It's another world and you just do |
| balloon ride. We Brits might sigh and agree | | | | not want to come down. But with business the |
| that (even if we do get up in the air) our | | | | way it is, you don't have to for long. |