Up, up and awaaaayaaaay....

Hi all.
Well Ive had a stinking couple of days, but I don't want to talk about it. Lets focus on the positives. I got up in my hot air balloon today. Up at 4.30am waiting for a call either way, then sitting in my hotel reception waiting for my pick up for an hour. Eventually they turned up, and I was on my way to the Royal Park for setup, and preparation!
It was still dark as the balloons were inflated, and I was told as everyone else was in groups I would ride with the pilot in his little section at the side. With the gas bottles. And all the electrical equipment. And no way to get in or out. You see, round the rest of the basket were hand and foot holes to aid entry. On the pilots section there is nothing, so I was handed a little step ladder, which was fine until I stepped on the edge of the basket, it moved and I crotched myself on the rim of a wicker basket. It hurt lots. I shall say no more, but I think Ive got a big ass bruise on my right buttock.
As you can see from the piccies (yes you get pics today), its the best way to see a sunrise, and the city of Melbourne. I'm sorry about the quality of the picture looking down, but I was a bit shaky. That was taken at 4000 feet (honestly, I was looking at the GPS), so I'm sure you understand why I didn't want to lean over too much! When we landed, it was even better being with the pilot. I'm not sure if you are aware how you land a hot air balloon, but if you're not here goes. You use the ground to stop it. You don't slow down, decelerate or use a guide rope. You hit the ground. Hard. Now, in a normal compartment you are told to lean against the back of your alloted compartment, as when you do hit the ground, the basket tips over. I asked as we were coming down what I was supposed to do. I got the reply "Just hold on to something". I thought to myself "This is how I am going to die". Glad I was wearing clean underpants ("was" being the appropriate word), but I survived to tell the tale. It was genuinely the scariest thing Ive done this trip, despite it looking so serene. Glad I did it though.
Ive spent the rest of my day trying to sort out my case. Whats dirty, whats clean, whats dirty but could pass as clean??? I popped to the launderette ($15 for the hotel to do it!! You must be joking), but they were closed, so I'm doing that in the morning. Tomorrow afternoon? Why, I'm doing what every person in their right mind should do when visiting Melbourne. Im going on a little tour. I'm not saying where, but if you think hard enough I'm sure you will guess!!
Ill tell you all about it tomorrow
Matt