[wordup] Man lives every kids dream

[Adam Shand]

Finally ... something on the lighter side :)  Be sure to check the web
page for the picture!

Via: The Eristocracy <Eristocracy at merrymeet.com>
From: http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,47965,00.html

Loony Balloonist Sets Record
Wired News Report
11:30 a.m. Oct. 29, 2001 PST

An eccentric Englishman has set a new record for the highest-ever flight
powered by ordinary toy balloons.

Ian Ashpole, 46, filled 600 toy balloons with helium and sailed gracefully
to a new world record of 11,000 feet.

As he reached 11,000 feet and the balloons started popping, he cut himself
free with a knife and parachuted to the ground.

Ashpole broke his own previous record of 10,000 feet, which he set five
years ago. He set the new record on Sunday, Oct. 28, near the town of
Chatteris in Cambridgeshire, England.

"It's a childhood dream," Ashpole told the Daily Telegraph. "I saw a film
called The Red Balloon, in which a boy floats off on balloons, when I was
a child and ever since I've wanted to do it."

Ashpole's had supporters working for 10 hours filling the balloons with
helium.

As he approached 11,000 feet, he began to spin "quite dramatically."

"It got to a point where a lot of balloons were starting to burst, it was
like machine guns, and I cut myself free without any problem," he told the
Telegraph.

He landed about 10 miles away.

As well as ballooning, Ashpole holds records for tightrope walking between
balloons, bungee jumping and rappelling.