This time we managed to fly out of the arena. We flew very low across the show and were given lots of waves and hellos. Shortly after leaving the showground we came across a wood near Curridge and enjoyed some low flying over the tops of the trees. It was very slow but enjoyable and with just Dave and I in the basket the balloon flew like a feather. After travelling over a sensitive area, Newbury loomed dead ahead and it was time to land. A good spot appeared ahead and an approach made. Went in a little too fast, arrested and over burned. Blast! Up we rose – used the rip – down we went – lined up again but realised we were rapidly running out of field – the field was sloping down away from us and at the end was a row of houses. It was going to be very tight and we would need to use the rip again.

There was no room for error so we aborted and continued into Newbury. Not too keen on flying all the way across – another green patch appeared in front of us. A low, shallow approach had us descending close to the top of a bungalow and into the field. It was a small odd shaped sports field (Hutton Park) with 2 small goalposts in it. We needed space and wanted to land just within the field. One goal post was right in the way, if we tried to clear it we would probably have to abort – as it was it was a very effective brake. It was made of metal and was undamaged but the basket picked up a little gouge. Dave jumped out, pulled the basket to one side and we dropped it and rolled it over.

 

A couple were walking a dog in the far corner and came up and told us what a fantastic sight it was as we dropped into the field. A man came up who was an airline pilot. He looked at the size of the envelope and said if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes he could never have believed that it could get in that field. Actually at the speed we were travelling there was adequate room to land – apart from that goalpost.

A woman with 2 children came up and said she had never seen such skill and pointed at the basket which was standing about a yard from the upright. Skill? I said. Yes she said, to land so close to the goalpost. Dave was down at the crown end and when I called out what she said, he called back that I should tell her the truth – but I didn’t.

Wendy and Adam were with us within 10 mins and we found we had landed by the busiest roundabout in Newbury – at the junction of the A4 and A339.

Other points

1. This playing field was less than 6 miles from where we landed at Brimpton

2. One person was not happy with us and contacted the local newspaper – who printed a story of high drama.