My wish list - the balloon flight

Many years ago I compiled a list of things I wanted to do in my life and the three outstanding trips I wanted to make were to visit Venice, to see the Grand Canyon and to ride in a hot air balloon. Venice has now been visited more than once as we've been lucky enough to see Italy with the camper van; in 2009, we planned a trip to USA and went to the Grand Canyon and this year Malc treated me to a balloon trip for my birthday. That sounds quite simple to arrange but each time I booked - at least once a month from April, the trip was cancelled . One evening in June we even got as far as Bakewell ready for an evening flight but at 8pm it was once again cancelled due to gusting wind, however at least I had touched the balloon. Finally, on the eighth attempt , the flight took place. By now it was 12th October - just a couple of weeks before the end of the flying season.

The van finally arrived at Bakewell Showground and the canopy was spread out. When the basket was turned on its side I began to wonder if I would have time to climb into one of the small areas before it left the ground but got a bit more confident that I would manage it when I watched others clambering into the balloon that left before ours.

At last the balloon was inflated , we were invited to climb aboard, Roger the pilot got the  map out and we were off. So far, so good.

The weather, even though it was October, was perfect. The balloon we had watched taking off had soon disappeared into the mist, but we weren't too high which made flying over Bakewell quite amazing. People waved from their gardens and everywhere was so still and quiet apart from the occasional sound from the burners.

With Roger concentrating on the map-reading we were soon leaving Bakewell and heading out over the Peak District.

As we flew on sheep ran out of the way, the Derbyshire dry stone walls were like a patchwork and we watched a cattle round-up by tractor.

Flying over Lathkill Dale was spectacular as I've walked it many times. At one stage we saw our driver and trailer but it wasn't time to land, so we waved goodbye to him and drifted on.

By now the flight was coming to an end. The traffic had to grind to a halt as we skimmed over the main road and we landed as the sun was setting.

All that remained to be done was to fold up the balloon, return it to its bag, load it on the trailer

-----  and celebrate the most amazing experience with a glass of champagne.