Friday-May 3, 2013
Well, I didn't think this trip could get any better - until this morning!!!!! We had the Big Balloon Ride!!!!! Finally, the weather cooperated! Another early morning - 4:30 am. Left home by about 5:15 am in a daze heading to the parking lot to meet the group, but we were super excited!
Who is this strange man?
Met up with one other couple that was there for the ride too - they were from Kansas on vacation (Sherry & Garth). So at 6:00 am the balloon van pulled up, gave us some instructions and we signed our life away!!
Followed the van to a park nearby where we met James, the pilot. He and one other crew member proceeded to take the basket off a lift on the back of the van.
They got the piece of equipment that blows the propane into the balloon attached to the basket.
Then took the balloon out of the back that was in a big plastic bag.
They unrolled it and "recruited Dennis & Garth" to hold the opening of the balloon. James started the fan and started filling the balloon up. We were just amazed at the whole process!!
After the balloon was filled with air from the fan James started filling the balloon with propane.
After it was filled he asked us to climb in.
Then it was up, up and away in our beautiful balloon (all I could think about was that song). We were taking pictures left & right - took some great videos too - before we knew it we were sailing away!! Flying over trees, fields, homes, the Rio Grande River, highways, hearing dogs bark, horses, pigs and stores!! There were about six other balloons that took off after we did that were traveling behind us. Was absolutely one of the neatest things we've ever done before!! We went as high as 1600 feet and traveled 9.7 miles.
Thats our shadow.
But the best part of the trip was the landing. It was crazy!! As you may know, the pilot only has control of up and down. Everything else depends on the wind. So we had been up almost an hour and he starts to look for a place to land. Not a whole lot of choice, but he did see a big dirt field, next to some alfalfa fields. So we start to go down right over a Walmart roof, lower and lower. We get over the dirt field that has some work trucks in it and down we go for landing. Dennis started the video on the camera about now, so the picture below is the only one we have before we "crash
landed " - you've got to see the video - it's priceless!!!!!
He had asked myself and Sherry to switch places with Dennis and Garth right before we landed. Good thing we did!! We touched down, bumped a little and dragged a bit - then the wind caught the balloon and tipped us right over in the basket. We are just dying laughing - I'm half on top of Dennis and on one of the propane tanks - Sherry landed on top of Garth - James is trying to control the basket and get us out safely while the wind still has the balloon kinda dragging us. Thought we would split our sides laughing!! But I'm sure to James, it wasn't so funny because we were pretty close to one of the work trucks, and he was afraid of damaging the balloon. So we crawled out of the basket one by one and helped get the balloon under control. By then the crew member had arrived with the van to help too. It was quite a ride - thoroughly enjoyed it - even though we did get a little dusty and dirty.
We rode back in the van together to the park where we had started. Walked over to a picnic table and proceeded to have mimosas and honey buns. We also were presented our "Flight Certificate", balloon pins, balloon hats and balloon t-shirts!! Also got to keep the engraved champagne flutes we drank out of. Oh, we paid for it - believe me - but we'd do it again in a heartbeat!!!!
So by about 9:30 we were heading back to Buttercup to pack up. By 11:30 we pulled out and headed west on I-40 towards Arizona. We were starving by then and stopped about 10 miles down the road at the Rt 66 Travel Stop. We had heard about their "Laguna Burgers" and of course just had to try one. Oh yeah, it was good!!!!!!! Then back on the road.
The scenery was spectacular!!!
Got into Holbrook, AZ about 4:00 to the OK RV Park for a couple of nights.
Tomorrow we plan on riding the motorcycle to the Petrified Forest & Painted Desert!! Weather has been great - a little cool, but great for riding! After we set up camp, but before dinner, we rode over to Jim Gray's Petrified Wood store. Had a coupon for a free piece of petrified wood, so we couldn't resist going.
Was amazed at the how much stuff they had. Then it back home, had dinner and watched some TV - resting up for another big day!!! Later.......
Robin & Dennis
No comments:
Post a Comment