It’s not often that you add something to your bucket list, and cross it off two weeks later. But that’s just what my Mom and I did last night when we went on a hot air balloon ride!!!!!!
After seeing those hot air balloons a couple weeks ago, and again last weekend, I knew I had to find a way to ride one. I nervously called the company giving rides at the Indianola Balloon Classic this week and, lucky us, they had two openings for an evening ride last night!!
My Mom – who I get my adventurous streak from – was just the person to take the epic journey with. :)
Where my husband Ben is afraid of heights – my Dad gets nauseous on anything that moves. We’re talking can’t even ride escalators…
He makes an excellent photographer and cheerleader though!
There were 3 passenger balloons, with 10 people to a basket. Out pilot, Andy, was the ringleader of the flights and we were SUPER confident in him.
While we listened to him giving instructions on how to get in, get out, etc., our balloon was rolled out.
It was cool to be on the other side of the action!
Once it was all spread out, the diesel-fueled fans fired up and our balloon filled with air!
Whee!
Nerves might have been kicking in at this point… ;)
As soon as the balloon was inflated,
Andy hopped in the basket, opened up the propane tank,
and let ‘er rip! Fire in the hole!
Before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye to my Dad, hop in the basket and take flight!
Away,
we,
go – wheeeee!!!!
We were up in the air just like that. On the ground one minute and 500 feet in the air the next!!
Bye Dad! (I’m sure he was having a panic attack at this point…) ;)
It’s incredible how fast you rise in a hot air balloon.
Right away you know you are in for some once-in-a-lifetime views.
Our pilot fired up the tanks (omg SO HOT!!!!!)
and we continued to climb.
Breathtaking.
omg, anytime we flew over dogs or cows, they would start barking/moo’ing. It was hysterical.
After awhile we descended over a flooded corn field and saw our reflection in the water.
Hello!
Um, then we kept descending – right over the top of the cornfields!!!!!!
IGE: Detassler for hire. :)
Our pilot told us that in the Fall, they’ll fly over pumpkin fields, have someone hop out, grab a pumpkin and then drop it from 5000 feet up. HA!
Up we went again!
Normally, if the conditions are right, our pilot goes to 5000 feet – 1 mile.
Apparently the conditions were perfect last night, so we said goodbye to 5000 feet,
and hello to…
6000 feet! Over 1 mile high!!
OMG! 8O
Even our pilot was impressed!!
We stayed in the air for about an hour and it was the most quiet, peaceful, blissful experience on earth. Perfectly still, perfectly cool, perfectly calm.
Finally the sun began to set, and we made our final descent – landing in the hay field of a local farmer – HA! He was watching the balloons with his little girls and we shouted from the air – “can we land in your field??” “Sure!” he called. Apparently this is how all balloon landings go. ;)
Safely on the ground!!!!
Take down took 5 minutes.
One minute it’s up,
the next, it’s down!
We said goodbye to the farm and shuttled back to our launch site.
Where we toasted to our very first balloon ride with certificates and champagne!
Wow. Wow is really all I can say. If riding in a hot air balloon isn’t on your must-do list – add it. It’s so crazy to know that in a world full of state of the art technology and what not, that you can see the earth from a mile in the air, simply with fire, cloth and a basket. Absolutely incredible. This experience was once in a lifetime and I’m so glad I got to experience it with my family! (Ben had to work late, but was there in spirit!!)
Still flying high, but it’s back to the real world. To the eye doctor I go!
Have a wonderful Thursday!!
~~~~~
Would you consider yourself adventurous? What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
I forgot to say they weren’t just hills, they were hills with giant rocks and an extremely rugged terrain that went straight down. OMG!
The pictures were amazing! Sounds like you had a great time. What does that cost, if I might ask? I always wondered about that.
Not sure if I am adverturous or not-I typically don’t like things with water (since I am deathly afraid) but I would like to bungee jump. The scariest thing I’ve done was this Road Rally type deal with Jeep, many years ago; I think it was called the “Jeep Jamboree” or something like that. They have this man made obstacle course with giant hills, etc. and you get into a Jeep and “you” drive with a guide person at your side. They want to show you how the Jeep maneuvers so you are going straight down these hills! I was scared to death that I was going to overturn the Jeep (but I didn’t!). Then, they had me drive over these 50 foot logs-there was this giant hole in the ground the size of a massive city swimming hole with “two” logs that lay over this hole much like the tracks you see when you go into a car wash only these are over this giant hole and you are supposed to “drive” the Jeep tires on the logs! I told this guy I had trouble lining my car up in the car wash! He was fearless though and told me I could do it. I wasn’t sure if he was nuts or what but he was totally confident in that role. He made me do it. It was exhilarating to say the least! And what fun when I was done! To top it off, my husband was right behind me in another Jeep so that was extra pressure since I knew he’d be telling the story to whoever would listen when we were done, lol! It was so much fun!
That sounds and looks amazing! I’m jealous! Yep, I consider myself adventurous (not so much when I was a kid though). There are a million things I’d like to do but I haven’t had much opportunity to do most of them. Craziest thing: jumping off a waterfall in Hawaii.
Wowsers looks like an amazing day!! good on you for doing it so soon after talking about it eh! no time like the present and all that!
i’m more of a risk-taker :)
OMG those heights would have me in a panic attack for sure. My heart in the pit of my stomach. It isnt that I am afraid of the height, rather I’m afraid of falling from that height, though it looks amazing. Maybe one day I will be able to work myself up to doing something like that. Congrats on one more check mark on your bucket list.
I’m so jealous! I’ve always wanted to do that!!! Beautiful pictures and a beautiful experience. :)
OMG You’re so brave. I about had a panic attack just looking at the pictures. I would have to be lamaz-ing the entire time just to stay calm.
But I’m glad that you were able to cross something off your bucket list! :)
FUN!! What a great post… and a hot air balloon ride has definitely been added to my list. Awesome!
that is so freaking awesome! i’m so jealous. i’m glad you were able to cross that off your bucket list. i’m sure it was a thrilling experience :)
i’m semi-adventurous, but the grown up in me reminds me of the danger factor. i think the “craziest” thing i’ve done was jump of a rock about 300 feet into the water.
Wowzer!!! That is Phenom!!! That makes for a georgious post! Okay, now that is on my Bucket List for sure, right after Zip Lining…well, whichever comes first.
FANTASTIC!!! ;-)
Those were some amazing views from the balloon. What a great experience!! My husband took my skydiving for my birthday a couple of years. That’s the most adventurous thing I’ve done and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Kim
I knew you were gonna do it! Makes me tempted to try it even though I don’t like heights (I’m ok as long as I feel safe & secure). I even took my daughter tandem parasailing at Disney World this year. That is something you would enjoy if you haven’t tried it yet.