. Jalbum 8.5 December 2008. Sometimes you get lucky, and you win a free ride in a balloon. On a sunny winter day we headed to Amersfoort and helped preparing for take-off. I can tell you, ballooning is a unique experience. slides/081207-130754-001.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Transport. Transport. slides/081207-130754-001.jpg slides/081207-130848-002.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Fixing the basket. Fixing the basket. slides/081207-130848-002.jpg slides/081207-130856-003.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Burners on top of the basket frame. Burners on top of the basket frame. slides/081207-130856-003.jpg slides/081207-130914-004.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Fuel. Fuel. slides/081207-130914-004.jpg slides/081207-130926-005.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Balloon in its sack. Balloon in its sack. slides/081207-130926-005.jpg slides/081207-130932-006.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 It must be pulled out of its sack. It must be pulled out of its sack. slides/081207-130932-006.jpg slides/081207-130942-007.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Hope the ropes do not get tied together. Hope the ropes do not get tied together. slides/081207-130942-007.jpg slides/081207-131428-010.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Corner hooks for mounting the balloon. Corner hooks for mounting the balloon. slides/081207-131428-010.jpg slides/081207-131856-011.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Els helps unfolding the balloon. Els helps unfolding the balloon. slides/081207-131856-011.jpg slides/081207-131950-014.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Blowing a bit of (cold) air to give the balloon some volume. Blowing a bit of (cold) air to give the balloon some volume. slides/081207-131950-014.jpg slides/081207-132032-018.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Its sign becomes visible. Its sign becomes visible. slides/081207-132032-018.jpg slides/081207-132052-019.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Els keeps an eye on the unfolding. Els keeps an eye on the unfolding. slides/081207-132052-019.jpg slides/081207-132422-022.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Growing bigger. Growing bigger. slides/081207-132422-022.jpg slides/081207-132522-024.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Martin holds the balloon open. Martin holds the balloon open. slides/081207-132522-024.jpg slides/081207-133022-026.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 It is a small basket compared to the balloon. It is a small basket compared to the balloon. slides/081207-133022-026.jpg slides/081207-134110-028.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Els has to go in first. This is done before the basket gets in an upright position. Els has to go in first. This is done before the basket gets in an upright position. slides/081207-134110-028.jpg slides/081207-134138-029.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Now the pilot is warming up the air. Now the pilot is warming up the air. slides/081207-134138-029.jpg slides/081207-134158-031.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 It goes pretty fast. It goes pretty fast. slides/081207-134158-031.jpg slides/081207-134628-034.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Peter and I have also jumped in, and we take off quickly. Peter and I have also jumped in, and we take off quickly. slides/081207-134628-034.jpg slides/081207-134716-035.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 On the inside. On the inside. slides/081207-134716-035.jpg slides/081207-134810-041.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 A nice view on Amersfoort. A nice view on Amersfoort. slides/081207-134810-041.jpg slides/081207-135008-046.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 The flame can be as high a tall man. The flame can be as high a tall man. slides/081207-135008-046.jpg slides/081207-135620-053.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 On cruising altitude. On cruising altitude. slides/081207-135620-053.jpg slides/081207-140310-059.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 More of Amersfoort. More of Amersfoort. slides/081207-140310-059.jpg slides/081207-140746-068.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 The Pilot, Peter Barlo. The Pilot, Peter Barlo. slides/081207-140746-068.jpg slides/081207-141032-075.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Yes, this is a deer. Yes, this is a deer. slides/081207-141032-075.jpg slides/081207-141326-081.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 The shadow clearly revails the shape of the balloon, which is a (ice) hat. The shadow clearly revails the shape of the balloon, which is a (ice) hat. slides/081207-141326-081.jpg slides/081207-141530-082.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 The pilot checks direction and altitude. The pilot checks direction and altitude. slides/081207-141530-082.jpg slides/081207-143222-093.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 The sheep don't seem to care. The sheep don't seem to care. slides/081207-143222-093.jpg slides/081207-143508-097.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Pretty low altitude. Just above the trees. Pretty low altitude. Just above the trees. slides/081207-143508-097.jpg slides/081207-143812-103.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 We are being followed. We are being followed. slides/081207-143812-103.jpg slides/081207-143818-104.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 The Crew (Gerda en Piet Pool) needs to know where we are, and try to stay in the neighbourhood. The Crew (Gerda en Piet Pool) needs to know where we are, and try to stay in the neighbourhood. slides/081207-143818-104.jpg slides/081207-143844-105.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Nice view on the crew Jeep. Nice view on the crew Jeep. slides/081207-143844-105.jpg slides/081207-143850-106.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 They see us come in for the landing. They see us come in for the landing. slides/081207-143850-106.jpg slides/081207-144430-107.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 This is going to be the landing spot. This is going to be the landing spot. slides/081207-144430-107.jpg slides/081207-145028-108.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Touch down. Touch down. slides/081207-145028-108.jpg slides/081207-145040-110.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Pulled open at the top it quickly deflates. Pulled open at the top it quickly deflates. slides/081207-145040-110.jpg slides/081207-145110-111.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Peter looks happy because we landed safely. Peter looks happy because we landed safely. slides/081207-145110-111.jpg slides/081207-145548-116.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 In the middle of a meadow. In the middle of a meadow. slides/081207-145548-116.jpg slides/081207-145626-118.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Martin and Els look happy too. Martin and Els look happy too. slides/081207-145626-118.jpg slides/081207-145632-119.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 We did it! We did it! slides/081207-145632-119.jpg slides/081207-150334-120.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Now we must help with clearing up. Now we must help with clearing up. slides/081207-150334-120.jpg slides/081207-150354-121.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Yes ... we have landed ... getting the crew in. Yes ... we have landed ... getting the crew in. slides/081207-150354-121.jpg slides/081207-150444-123.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Hard work. Hard work. slides/081207-150444-123.jpg slides/081207-150632-127.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 All must be put back into the sack. All must be put back into the sack. slides/081207-150632-127.jpg slides/081207-150654-128.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Almost done. Almost done. slides/081207-150654-128.jpg slides/081207-150726-129.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Lets take a nap ... Lets take a nap ... slides/081207-150726-129.jpg slides/081207-150752-133.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Are you sure this is required (laying on the sack to loose volume)? Are you sure this is required (laying on the sack to loose volume)? slides/081207-150752-133.jpg slides/081207-150836-134.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Dismantling of the basket. Dismantling of the basket. slides/081207-150836-134.jpg slides/081207-152348-138.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Peter is explaining about a traditional ceremony. Peter is explaining about a traditional ceremony. slides/081207-152348-138.jpg slides/081207-152756-140.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Whenever you fly in a balloon you get a title ... and the ritual is that you put a piece of the land (grass) on your head ... Whenever you fly in a balloon you get a title ... and the ritual is that you put a piece of the land (grass) on your head ... slides/081207-152756-140.jpg slides/081207-152810-142.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 ... poor some champagne over it ... and lit the alcohol. ... poor some champagne over it ... and lit the alcohol. slides/081207-152810-142.jpg slides/081207-152840-143.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 And now we officially are baron and baroness of the airspace from Amersfoort to Barneveld. And now we officially are baron and baroness of the airspace from Amersfoort to Barneveld. slides/081207-152840-143.jpg slides/081207-153118-144.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 It was good champagne. It was good champagne. slides/081207-153118-144.jpg slides/081207-153218-145.html# Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:50:50 +0200 Balloon registration number PH-UNX 033 4779779. Balloon registration number PH-UNX 033 4779779. slides/081207-153218-145.jpg