Hot Air Balloon Ride

On Friday, (June 15th), Dave and I took an adventure that neither one of us that ever done before, but both wanted to try.  We did an early morning Hot Air Balloon Ride.

Our pilot, (Kimberly), and her partner from the Morning Star Balloon Company met us at the historic Park City Hotel at 6:00am.  There Dave and I, along with a father and daughter, road in their company van over to "PC Hill"

Once there the basket and balloon was unloaded and everything hooked up and the balloon unrolled.  A large fan was used to initially fill up the balloon.

WOW - LOOK OUT !!  The jets are then turned on and the air is heated in the balloon as it is laying on it's side to completely inflate the large balloon.

Once the balloon is completely inflated, the basket is set upright and the tethers are all checked out.  That is one BIG BALLOON !!

We all climbed in.  I sure hope there's enough hot air to lift this thing off the ground, cause there's a lot of weight in this little wicker basket.  Are you sure this basket is safe for this many people.  Is the bottom going to hold this much weight???  So many questions, and no time left to change our minds.

OK - We're starting to get a little lift off of the ground.  Gonna' need a lot more hot air to get this baby up!!

OK now we're starting to get some more lift, we're about 100 feet off the ground now, but if we're going to clear that mountain, we need a LOT MORE HOT AIR!!

WOW, look how small our van looks from up here!!

The view of the valley is spectacular!!  And the sun is now up over the mountain and so are we.  The air is not to cold and it is so peaceful up here, (except for the occasional burst of fire into the balloon, for more hot air to lift us into the jet stream).  It's like para-sailing.

Dave and I, up in the clouds

Look at this guys ranch !!   He must think he's a Ewing and this is Southfork.  For those of you who are too young to remember, that was a TV show in the 80s.

What can I say, but WOW, so beautiful and peaceful.  Everything looks so different up here.

Another view

 We are now over in Kimball Junction, and the winds have died down, so it's time for us to land.  There's a field, but maybe we can get closer to the road for the van to pick us up.  I would sure hate to walk that far over to get to the road. 

OK now we're getting closer to the road, the grass is greener, and looks like it won't be too much of a hike.  I see houses around us, so we are in the middle of civilization.

HEY LOOK AT THIS LANDING - right on the sidewalk next to the road !!  Is Kimberly a good pilot or what??  The local residents are all out in their yards watching, kids come out on their bicycles to see the balloons.  We are the highlight of their Friday morning.  And our van is parked right there on the street waiting for us.

 Time to get the air out of the balloon and roll it all up.

All the air is out and it's time to roll up the balloon and put it back in the canvas bag.  The neighbors can see the thrill is over and start heading home for breakfast.

As all balloon pilots do upon a safe landing, Kimberly opens a bottle of Champagne to celebrate our victory.  She then tells us the history of hot air ballooning and before sending us on our merry way, she leaves us with the "Balloonist's Prayer": The winds have welcomed you with softness.  The sun has touched you with his warm hands.  You have flown so high and so well, that God has joined you in your laughter, and set you gently back into the loving arms of mother earth.    

We were then each given a "Certificate of Ascension" that declared us an adventurous soul, dated and signed by our pilot Kimberly Whiteman.

Dave walked away with a large grin on his face.  He finally got his balloon ride.

We then went to a hearty breakfast and came home to finish our sleep.  It was a good morning adventure that we will truly remember.