I looked for a ballooning forum, but didn't find anything. Somebody here probably knows about this.
I just read a book "The Last Lecture" about a professor dying of cancer, and his lecture about everything in life.
He says he hired a hot air balloon to take him away from his wedding in Pittsburgh. The wedding lasted longer than expected, so they got a later start than expected. There was no wind, so they just hung over Pittsburgh and it was getting dark. The pilot spotted a large opening and headed for it, only to find there was a train track down the middle, and a train coming. The pilot was terrified that the balloon would get snared in the train and they would be dragged to their death; but he had no choice and went for it. They managed to land and avoid the train. At the end, the pilot grabs a bottle of champagne out of the chase truck and gives it to the author.
I know nothing about ballooning, but it seems to me:
1) The contract would require departure by a safe time regardless of whether the author was ready or not.
2) If there was no wind, and wouldn't be able to reach a safe landing place, they wouldn't do it.
3) There had to be a better option than landing next to a train.
4) The champagne is supposed to be drunk in the balloon, so it wouldn't be in the truck.
No?
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Lecture-...e+last+lecture