I had a big birthday coming up and being of a certain age, I wanted to step out of my comfort
zone. So, what could be better than stepping into a wicker basket with a flimsy balloon attached and floating out of control a mile above the ground?
When they started to fill the balloon, my heart was racing, and I wondered if I could climb into the basket, but I did. I didn’t anticipate the noise as the flame readied us for
our take off, but I closed my eyes, and we were off the ground.
The pilot joked, plucked a twig from a tree as we went by, and told us that the ground crew would follow us because he wasn’t sure where we would land.
We watched the sunrise as we traveled quietly over fields, rivers, and parks. You could see homes, animals, and people. The silence was amazing; there wasn’t a sound other than an occasional burst of flame that kept us in the air. It was breathtaking and serene.
But what goes up, well, must come down. The pilot prepared us for landing as we skimmed the tops of trees and came down in a grassy area with a somewhat soft landing. I must say it was exhilarating.
They met us on the ground with champagne and congratulations. And then we did what anyone does on a morning adventure. We went straight to the nearest Waffle House!
Would I do it again? You bet I would!