Here goes

SWMBO and I are just back from a weeks' holiday in Italy which consists of getting up at 4:30 in the morning, getting down to the launch field, having a morning flight, land by 7:30 / 8, get to Fiore where we refuel and then have breakfast. After that, get back to our wonderful villa where we chillout / sleep a bit more and then have an al fresco lunch outside before deciding what to do with the afternoon. Nice, really

We've been doing it for the last few years with LSUHABC (Loughbourough Student's Union Hot-air Balloon Club) and it's just a great chillout / workout / teambuilding / fun time. Still want to do it next year, and maybe even do the meet in Metz in France (which is only every 2 years).

Anyway, enough of the chitchat, here are some photos. They're all a bit random as I haven't been bothered to fully sort them, but gives you an idea

Getting ready for a BBQ feast :yummy:

Timbo doing an inflation

Sunflowers. Certainly not short of sun out there

Packing away after the flight. The basket at this stage is not as heavy as at the start because we've burnt 100-200 litres of propane. But still, always a nice struggle

This is what hot-air ballooning does to you. Makes you all smiley and happy - but I've been clobbered over the head for taking the photo

No, it's not Moretti beer, it's a rather nice Latte which is always welcome at breakky

Craig doing an inverted dive into the pool back at the villa. Not too bad for an old retired chap. Unfortunately, he cracked his head as he hit the bottom, but a short beer soon sorted that one out

Edited 27 July, 200817 yr by tfboy

The obligatory afternoon watersports at the pool. Although water was around 27 degrees, it was hard getting in as the outside temp is around 35! Diving in and then pooling about was the order of the day

One evening we went to Perugia where every summer, they hold a jazz festival. Fantastic free open-air concerts as well as more private venues (REM and Alicia Keys were performing this year).

Ball of fire

This was also the first time I had the opportinuty to try out a new lens I bought a couple of weeks ago. Rather pleased with it, especially for portrait stuff.

Bethany wondering what flavour her cornetto (croissant) will be

Di grinning after a fantastic flight

Béa in front of the Colosseum when we did the night glow

Night Glow at the Colosseum

Group photo of the team

Edited 27 July, 200817 yr by tfboy

Following morning inflation from inside the balloon. Was rather apprehensive taking this as I thought I was going to get cooked! I was standing in a turning vent (slits on the side of the balloon to help rotate when in the air) and as the balloon rose, I escaped through the opening of the vent. Phew!

Todi cathedral. Very pretty inside too. Oh and it's a long walk up to the steeple.

View of the main town square, with Burley in the background

Todi town again

Jen doing some navigating. Yellow arrow marks the spot!

"Hmmm. We can't land there..."

Normally, splash-and-dashes are great fun, but we decided the water was a bit too green for it to be healthy!

Light looks a bit cold here as the sun just went down. But it's one of the only group shots with our pilots - Timbo and Jamie.

Edited 27 July, 200817 yr by tfboy

Orvieto cathedral

A couple of old fiats lurking in the side streets

Todi town square, this time from the ground

Arty shot of Land Rover to the rescue of stranded people up the mountain

Morning mist over the town

Balloons in various stages of launch

Sunrise behind the clouds, but almost looke like an atomic mushroom cloud :eek:

Todi town seeing the first rays of the morning sun

A balloon solar eclipse!

A few shots of flames

Edited 27 July, 200817 yr by tfboy

A few more

You have to love the smiley chute on the team Reynolds balloon

As the ballooning festival has been going on in Todi for the last 20 years, I think there are a few fans or two

Chute of Jubilee seen from inside the basket. The two acrylic windows are somewhat useful to see if you have another balloon right above you - mid-air collisions are not recommended :eek:

Love this one. Timid's arm seems rather long

Edited 27 July, 200817 yr by tfboy

Looking for extra volunteers next year this is something i would love to do.

Looks like a good time had by all!

Very good photos

Excelent photos. I love the last one of the flame

Very nice Xav.

Beautiful photos:thumbup:

Jealous now

Very nice indeed!!

Added a few more in post 4 above

It was great to get to meet some other balloonists too. Although it's a fairly welcoming community, I'm still a newbie as far as knowing people. The Reynolds balloon team were great, and apart from the smiley, of the balloon, the girls were even nicer (I have other photos but they're not really "safe" :naughty: )

Awesome pictures.

I love your night time balloon pics, I remember you posted some before. I'd love to have a go in a balloon!

Absolutely cracking photos.

Must do the ballooning thing!

I've been toying with the idea of getting my P1 (first balloonist's pilot licence) for some time now.

I just need to get my finger out of my bottom and get round to it. A couple of weeks full time work would be enough.

But then of course, I don't have a balloon of my own nor the accompanying equipment you need (4x4 / SUV, balloon trailer, various bits of ancilliary balloon equipment, etc).

Hmm what about a Briskoda balloon?