Settling into camp life is always simple.

Amazing how that works it seems that you have never been away.

This week we had a reminder of those that came before in the shape of the first balloon pilot to fly at Governors he was also the man that built the house in which I now sit.

Ballooning in Africa first caught popular imagination in 1862. The publishing of  Jules Verne’s Five Weeks in a Balloon set many wondering how such a feat could be accomplished.

On the 100^th anniversary of the publishing date in 1963, Anthony Smith, Douglas Botting and Alan Root set out to recreate that fictional adventure and film African big game from the air.

From there Alan went on to start the first hot air balloon company in the Masai Mara with Governors Camp following shortly afterwards.

Now over 40 years later here I sit!!

The numbers of elephants around the camp and along the Mara River has been quite extraordinary.

Down on Eluai plain a cheetah family enjoys daily attentions, mum dad and five cubs.

Lions are fairly thin on the ground but also down on Eluai plain a lioness also travels with a cub.

Rhino are also being seen on that side.

Oh and on the weight front I feel that the scales must be broken as they seem to indicate a very slight rise. Very disapointing!

G

I have started re reading, Through Out Two Hands by Anthony Smith.

First published in 1963 the book follows a gas balloon safari across the Serengeti. It marked the start of ballooning in the Mara although the hot air balloons that we now fly over the reserve did not arrive until the early 70’s.

Anthony Smith was pilot, and the adventure was filmed by Alan Root and Douglas Botting.

I don’t think there can be many hot air balloon pilots around that have not read this book.

I have had the privilege of meeting both Anthony Smith and Alan Root over the last couple of years.

Two sections have already caught my eye. I particularly like the instructions sent to Anthony Smith before his first gas balloon flight from Birmingham.

It was six pages of the official invitation to join the flight, and was headed:”TO UNKNOWN DESTINATION”.

Thereafter followed much information, including many hints for passengers. I read them diligently

.”Although our balloonists have an experience of more than 300 flights, they are never ‘uppish’ about it, and only try and give you an opportunity to have an experience full of pleasant surprises, so that you will be in a position to ‘sail on the clouds’.

Even if the sky is overcast, or if it is raining in your place of residence, have no fear and go to the balloon ascent, for the ascent will take place even if it is raining. The balloonist has only to throw some ballast overboard to rise above the dull weather to put the tune’You are my sunshine’. In this way you really will be ‘away from the world’ and also figuratively with your ‘head in the clouds’.

We wish you a pleasant experience in the balloon car.”

Maybe I will incorporate some of this in my own passenger information for my South African balloon ride operation.

The other thing that caught the eye.

“I entirely agree with you about air balloons. I am tir’d of reading about them in the papers”

The Rt. Hon. Frederick Montagu in a letter to Mrs Delany, October 22, 1784

I am inserting this entry by email as the msn spaces blog page will not let me in.

Wonder if its anything to do with the sat connection.

Well I’m back in the Mara and joy of joys the camp now has an always on satellite connection.

It went in two days ago and the technicians are still here working on it.

So all things being equal I ought to be able to keep the blog up to date and add new podcasts as we go along.

Perhaps weekly updates of the Wildebeest Migration 2006!

Another source of joy is that Dr Richard Estes will once again be staying with us as the camp naturalist even more abuse from the chap.

I arrived in Nairobi on Sunday and spent Monday getting my medical renewed and visiting the KCAA to get my pilots licence renewed.

Tuesday saw me hoping onto a Safari Link flight in the morning and arriving in the Masai Mara just before lunch.

It is amazing to realise that I will not see a big shop or traffic jam for four months.

Things have really changed out in the Mara for balloon pilots these days.

There is satellite TV, cell phones and now even always on internet.

Its not quick, only 64kbs, but its better than nothing.

Should you be coming to Governors Camp it’s also freely available via wireless. I wouldn’t try and send big photos home though.

The house in which I stay is right by and I mean right by the Mara River as I write a hippo swims upstream and baby baboons fall out of trees on the opposite bank.

I will attach a couple of pictures.

This morning I had my check flight with the chief pilot, Steve, which of course always has to happen and now I’m ready to get to work.

Let’s hope I can actually add this after supper with Elly my friend and fellow pilot. If it works I will be so excited!