Up and away they say..

My fantastic hubby had given me the gift of a hot air balloon ride....in May of 2008 for my birthday! After what was to be several cancellations, the event was finally to occur! It was a gorgeous day in late September. We had a long drive from home to Lincolnshire, roughly 2 hours away. Due to a freak traffic jam in the small town we were to arrive just outside of, it may have been a little beyond that! Only in England! Anyway, after a couple of phone calls and missing the balloon prep, that all involved assist with, I 'ran' to the balloon like a child approaching Disneyland. There was no time to get nervous or change my mind. They were saying....get in, this side...Now! I sat down in the huge basket...squeezed in like a sardine, grabbed the straps in front of me...looked around and said hi to my fellow flyers....in a bit of glee and anxiety.

Before I knew it we were airborne. It seemed like seconds. He told us to stand and there we were looking down at our family and a few vehicles, that were getting smaller and smaller.....Soon we were at 3,000 feet. I suddenly felt my hands begin to sweat. I was afraid to move for several minutes. My mind was working overtime. The air was cool, but warm due to the occasional rush of the flames and gas a few feet above my head. Making me jump everytime it happened....thinking that would be the flame that would make the balloon go up in flames...like a mini-Hindenburg. Funny how our minds do that. It was very hazy, making me realize just how high we were. Like being in the clouds. Freaky...yet, so quiet. Completely silent if nobody was speaking. Just the air and swoosh of the flames above us. Meditative.

Once the initial shock wore off, I just took to trying to take pictures and breathe the fresh air. Slowly, if nothing else, to compose my nerves. It worked. The land looked like a patchwork. Sheep dotting the landscape like little white flies. The big buildings. Turning in the basket, like a figurine on a display case. I was intrigued by how the pilot just used the gas and flames to do what he was doing....turning, ascending, descending...incredible. Several of the passengers, well above 50, seemed quite at home. No one seemed distressed or alarmed. At least, like me, they weren't showing it.

We stayed at a great height for what seemed like ages, just hovering, floating. Peaceful.

We made a bit of a descent and he brought down a camera that hovered before us to snap the picture of a lifetime. (Only topped by my little brother's and his fiance's skydiving shots....how'd they do that..? :) All smiling, all blissed out and exhilarated.

The best for me was to come. We traveled for several miles floating above the treetops at about 10mph. The leaves turning, dogs barking, kids calling out to us. A herd of deer raced across a near field, rabbits on the run...even a fox retreated from the sounds of the flames. Matt chased us in the car like some crazed storm chaser. Bless his heart. Capturing my exciting adventure for future reference. It was glorious! Like flying. I could have floated at that height forever and never tired of it.

But, it wasn't to last. The sun was dropping and evening was approaching. We were heading to a large reaped farm field. Apparently, the farmers don't mind as long as it is reaped. I can't help but wonder if they don't stop by the farmer's place and pop a check in the mail slot....hmm. I couldn't see that happening in the USA really. Just plopping down in some farmer's field without hell to pay or a call from some lawyer! Unfortunate. Maybe I just read the news too much....

Pilot tells us....prepare for landing. Ok, I missed that bit, but just do like my neighbors. Sit, grab the straps and look out the little open window next to me. The basket top too high to see above. I see the Earth coming up rather quickly through my little window at my side....bracing for landing. Now....being a balloon, one would expect a soft-as-a-pillow sort of landing, right? WRONG! We hit with a jarring jolt, only to be lifted momentarily to be pulled down to the ground again. We then skidded for what seemed like ages until 2 fellas were instructed to "jump out, grab those ropes and run like hell in the opposite direction.." Yikes. It worked though. We eventually stopped and flopped onto our side. Sitting on the bench, horizontal like someone kicked our chair over. The poor folks on the other side facing down towards the ground inhaling fertilizer and dried weeds. What a ride! I was ecstatic! Like a kid that had just been on the first rollercoaster ride of her life. Cool.

We piled out as instructed and stumbled onto the field. Looking at each other wild-eyed and thrilled. The sun setting, the moon hanging in the sky....it doesn't get much better.

Time to roll up the balloon. Many of us piled on and tried to force the air out....rolling like logs if needed. I put my heart into it having missed the preparation before lift off. It is a process indeed. We all lifted the balloon assembly line formation and helped to put the balloon into the large, gray, motorized cart that it was to be stored in. It wwas 'driven' into the back of the van, the basket was loaded onto the trailer. Matt even helped with the production. Few stood around, most were put to work. The crew was an obnoxious pair of brothers..a fun Cockney pair.

Work aside, we were treated to champagne...in a barren field...out in the English countryside. If someone would have told me 10 years ago that was to happen, I would have laughed heartily. Here I was, 10 years later... laughing heartily...and the champagne doesn't hurt either. As always...life is pretty damn good. *sigh*