take a hot air balloon ride

i plan to take a slow flight over the Magaliesberg, www.balloonsoverafrica.co.za – or 013 737 6950

This could fall under my other goal about air travel with no engine, but… This one is to be enjoyed leisurely with the someone(s) with whom I want to enjoy it, while we soak in the view through our eyes and the drink through our mouths, with good conversation interspersed with thoughtful silences as we soak in the view and the drinks.

I’m feeling a little bit better than I did this AM, so I’m thinking that this is a good time to do a little research for my first goal. I found a hot air balloon ride in richmond:

http://www.richmondhotairballoons.com/richmond_balloon_pricing.html

$329 for my husband and me. I’m not crazy about the site, which is a dumb reason not to be interested, so I kept looking and found this site:

http://www.balloonrideus.com/virg.htm

$350 for my husband and me. This site is WORSE than the first one. lol. That’s my bit of research. Now I know how much I need to save for the trip and I have something to look forward to. I hope to accomplish this goal by the end of February or early March when the weather is nicer.

two weeks ago i brought john along for a hot air balloon ride. we were originally scheduled to fly over napa but conditions relocated us to vacaville. the experience was interesting but i think it would have been better with more appealing terrain.

we were slotted for the second ride of the morning so we arrived to takeoff site only to wait around. we took pictures and stood in general awe of the size of the balloons. it was such a sight to see! the actual flight was so odd because it didn’t feel like anything. you move with the wind, so you don’t feel the wind at all. it was ultimately not the exciting experience i was anticipating but a genuinely serene experience, one i’m glad i took a chance on.

when we landed we were met by a balloon chaser. he was dressed like a cowboy and had the cutest jack russell terrier i’ve ever seen. turns out he is opening a winery. he opened up the back of his truck and offered us free cups of wine. we left with a bottle of delicious cabernet for only $10.

we rounded out the day with a trip to mum and chimney rock. when we arrived at mum, we found a gallery of original ansel adams prints on loan from his son. i hate to admit it, but i think this excited me more than the balloon ride.

waiting for our turn…

why are you taking my picture!? it’s too bright & early out here!

i developed the magical ability to sprout balloons from my head.

first flight…

second [our] flight…

afterwards…

jess james vineyards makes some good wine

at mum…

champagne and ansel adams makes jenn a happy girl.

oh ansel, i do love you so.

There is a balloon outfir in Jackson (actually Teton Village) WY, that takes people up for 275 each and last about an hour. Might have to be either a solo trip or anyone who wants to pay for themselves can go.

the ball is in motion. i have a reservation for a one hour balloon ride over napa valley for next saturday. the company makes a whole morning of it, with pastries beforehand and champagne afterwards. john wanted to come, so we’re going to make a whole day of it. we’ll see the valley from the sky, then taste the wine it produces.

i’ve read that since there is no real propulsion system, once you’re in the air, it feels like floating. it makes me think back to my experience parasailing. which has me even more excited for it.

i better make sure my camera has batteries.

this was the best experience of my life. when in the air in a balloon it is very peaceful and calm. I would recommend that anyone thinking of doing it make it happen. It is a wonderful, beautiful, experience.

a couple of weeks ago i started checking some places online to make this happen. i asked mia for a recommendation because she posted pictures from her hot air balloon ride that were unbelievably gorgeous. however she is young and heartbroken and busy so i never received an answer back.

i’ve been busy with work and weightloss so i haven’t given my list much effort lately. i came back and saw this one and i thought to myself, “hey, the weather’s nice now, you should just pick a company and a day and book it!”

then i realized. my checking account is so very sad. march 5 was my four year anniversary. march 14 was steak and bj day. march 23 is john’s birthday. meaning? my poor little checking account is looking at my wallet saying “i have nothing to give you.”

and as i look over my list, i realize that most of the things on it cost money. that’s why get a job was the number one item on my list. so i think that my list shall sit in stagnation for a month, until april 15 rolls around and i have cash to spare again.

I did this when I was 18 or 19 and absolutely penniless! I paid something like $20 to take a class through Austin Community College. We met at Reagan High School (I took a bus there and back) and first talked about air currents and navigation, then the next class we unrolled the balloon out on the football field and all the people in the class got to take turns going up in it. It was tethered to the instructors truck, but it was still thrilling!

It’s like the dreams where you fly—just rise effortlessly & smoothly from the ground. No big noise like airplane travel. The smell of the gas for the baloon is a bit of a surprise.

After the class, the instructors told us we could meet them at Zilker park any morning at 4, help unroll the balloon silk, and go for a ride. Unfortunately, the city buses didn’t run early enough for me to do that. But it always gave my heart a little lift when I’d be up early in the morning for work, or whatever, and see their balloon in the light of sunrise.

I want to take a hot air balloon ride-someplace gorgeous like Asheville NC or Woodstock NY where I plan to vacation next year