We've been watching the skies for some weeks now.
The weather across the south of England (Berkshire,
Buckinghamshire,
Oxfordshire,
Wiltshire
etc.) has been mild for the time of year. Hours
of daylight are increasing and winds have been relatively
low.
Although the weather has been kind, it is still
too early in the year to expect to see many hot
air balloons in the evening skies. One possible
reason for lack of flights (or few flights) in some
areas is lack of suitable landing locations. This
is because many low-lying fields have been under
water until very recently. River levels remain high,
especially along the River Thames through Oxford,
Abingdon,
Goring,
Reading,
Wallingford,
Henley,
Marlow,
Maidenhead,
and on to London.
Obviously flooded landing sites are a very local
constraint - but still one of the many important
considerations governing when and where to fly.
Although it's not the first hot air balloon flight
we've seen in 2007, the photograph below shows one
of the earliest we've seen this year flying sufficently
low for a good photograph.
Date of this News Page: 14 March
2007.
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