There were a couple of comments yesterday about going up in
an hot air balloon, so I thought I might write about my one and only experience
in doing so.
 |
| Me in the Basket |
In 1996 my daughter
and I helped out as volunteers at the local Balloon Festival. We were detailed to be with the crew for a balloon
from Japan, and as a result we were given the opportunity to go up in the
balloon.
My trip was a very short one as we hardly rose up before
coming back down to land. There was some
reason about winds or something, but I no longer remember the exact cause.
 |
| Inflating the balloon with helium |
The two things I remember most were the absolute silence,
except when the gas was released, and the gaps in the floor of the balloon’s
basket.
The silence was incredible.
I think we often don’t realise how noisy our world is – even when we say
it is quiet, there is still noise of wind or birds or insects around us (the
sounds of silence!).
Not being a great lover of heights, being able to see the
ground between the gaps in the floor of the basket was rather unnerving to say
the least. I could look out from the
basket as long as I held onto the edge – a false sense of security as I knew
there was nothing to stop me from falling.
 |
| Mass ascension beside Hamilton Lake |
When the balloon made a ‘proper’ flight, we would chase it
in the van. Once a safe location was
found and the balloon had landed, we would arrive and help to pack everything
up again.
 |
| Masahiko, our pilot, maneuvered the balloon into the trailer prior to deflating it |
Crewing for a hot-air balloon was hard work but a lot of
fun. Not something I could do now
though!
Have you had any experiences with hot-air balloons?
Cheers,
Margaret.
There are many things I have wished to do in life, many of which I have accomplished, but hot air ballooning and sky diving have never been on the list.
ReplyDeleteWith all your love of birds, David, I thought you would have wanted to try and fly like one!
DeleteLOL just teasing :))
One year there was a hot air balloon at the nearby elementary school where my sons attended. The children got to go up in the balloon and come back down. No flying anywhere but it was thrilling to them. Since the balloon was well anchored I would have gone up but parents were not given the option.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame you weren't able to go up, but I am sure the children will always remember doing so.
DeleteThe idea of going up in the air in a small basket sends shudders through me! I would be doing a little more than grasping the walking the basket!
ReplyDeleteHowever..... I can imagine the views would be marvellous and I would love to experience the silence.
Now and it gets so quiet here I can hear the silence. Doesn't happen often ften. As you say, too many insect noises, wind in the trees et all
So many mistakes lol, but I'm sure you get the gist
DeleteYou are not alone with your shudders! A lot of people are the same.
DeleteHello , I would like to see the hot air balloon festival. They are so pretty. I am a wimp though, I could never take a ride in the hot air balloon. Loved the photos. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great week ahead.
ReplyDeleteBalloons have a reasonably good safety record but they are not infallible, so no need to feel like a wimp! Actually I, myself, much prefer to view them from the ground and have no wish to repeat my sole experience of going up in the air.
DeleteDuring a trip to Australia on a tour near Alice Springs, we had the opportunity to ride in a hot air balloon. We both opted out but it is one of my regrets. I would never do it now. Twenty years ago was the window of opportunity!
ReplyDeleteHow unfortunate that you missed your window of opportunity - you would probably have enjoyed it.
DeleteNo experience here, and not sure I could go up in one now. Would not have bothered me in the least when I was younger. I bet it was fun.
ReplyDeleteLikewise. The younger me was a lot more adventurous than the older me!
DeleteI like watching them! Never been up in one I am afraid of heights:)
ReplyDeleteI like the artistic cats on the balloon you went up in. To be able to see the ground through the floor of the basket would be worrisome.
ReplyDeleteI have many wishes on my list, even accomplished some but I never had a chance to go for hot air ballooning and sky diving which I never add on my wishlist. I have acrophobia maybe because of which I never made it. I hope you had an amazing time in the air feeling the silence.�� !!! Stay Blessed.
ReplyDeleteThe hot air balloon was always a topic of discussion for our group while learning to play the guitar at the Music Institute Coimbatore . We were fascinated then, but not as much now. Till date, only one of us has managed to make a trip in a hot air balloon.
ReplyDelete