Have You Ever Ridden in A Hot Air Balloon?

15 years ago

A little festival is going on just east of us 3 or 4 miles and this evening just as we got home from Amber's there were 5 of them that floated over our home. I sat down and watched them. They are giving rides in them. I guess it costs $100 to ride in one. This morning we saw one come down in the field across the way from Amber's. We think it had problems though as it was not too far from where it took off. I have never ridden in one have you? I think I would like to ride in one, would you?

Sue

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (16)

glenda_al
15 years ago
I have and it was amazing.

When on safari to Africa.

Did an early one to see the animals below.

After landing had a champagne breakfast.
glenda_al
15 years ago
My son rode in one, many years ago, locally, and I was one of the chasers. He ended up in the local cemetary. :o) Alive and well!
Related Discussions
Hot Air Balloon Pattern
Q
Comments (1)
Don't know what you want, but here's a site with some patterns. 123stitch.com
...See More
update on me... warning...LONG! all my hot air, you know! lol
Q
Comments (58)
Oh Kat, I wish I could be with you during your chemo. It may sound strange to some, but I have fond memories of my chemo buddies and all the laughs we shared while being infused. Can't think of anyone I'd rather be with. :) I've never forgotten what generous support I received from you and my KT family during my chemo and recovery. You'll always have my hand to hold and shoulder to lean on. It's a plus you are feeling so well at this time so you can charge ahead and defeat this damn cancer. Your KT Army is pulling for you!! Love you Kat, Lana
...See More
Hot Air Ballooning
Q
Comments (28)
Thanks all. A couple of years ago friends in Charlotte, NC, had planned to go ballooning while we were visiting, but the morning they had scheduled it was too windy so the company cancelled. I was relieved at that time. This time I was very nervous as we were getting into the balloon, but after that I was fine. Our balloon was the red, blue and yellow Wild West balloon which held 8 people counting the pilot. The other two in our group the unicorn balloon and the cowboy balloon each held 12 people. I was going to say we were in the Lake Elsinore area, but gyr_falcon's answer is more precise. Sweet_betsy, In the last photo, I'm the one on the left. watchme_lol, my wife does ride, nearly every day. I think I'm opposite from you, I could hike along a precipice with no problem, but to be on a horse or donkey or whatever in the same location would terrify me. I guess I've seen them be frightened by something (or by nothing) and spook and jump to the side often enough that I'd be sure they would do that and plummet with me on top.
...See More
Insulation - Ever heard of Air-krete ?
Q
Comments (22)
Rio DS-I too, have done some research on this subject-Firstly, Al Gore used Air-Krete, not Aircrete. Two different products-way different properties. I liked Air-Krete because it did not have such a negative environmental impact like some other foam products. I read a few stories on how someone finally put their dream house together to realize that the super-insulation that had been blown in was not a healthy choice for some individuals. home.....drag,...Anyhoo, I am a tree hugger, and I was on a mission. I found out that Air-Krete, was magnesium based lightweight foam. In fact, the insulation process needs no protective gear for the person installing it, or the leftover stuff that falls to the ground. It is a natural insecticide. It is also incredibly fireproof, (there is a video on you tube you can watch) and sound proof. One of our biggest hurdles was that we have a 120+ year old house and with balloon construction and no insulation. It is a nice solution for retrofitting older homes. It was difficult to get info about it. They have a decent website Like the gentleman said in the first post, the people who install it have to be trained before they are given the privilege to install the product. The man who helped develop the product, Doug Palmer, who did end up blowing it in for us because there was no one else in my area was very particular about this product and its reputation. I found out more info by looking up a bunch of companies from around the country that installed the product from their FB pages. I admit it is hard to find alot of information on it. By the time we decided to get it installed and Doug came out to install Air-Krete, he seemed like he was a pretty busy guy regardless of the lack of knowledge out there. I did read a little bit about the shrinkage, but as we had "nothing at all" in this drafty house, I was not discouraged. All the other advantages more than compensated for the warmth/cool that our house finally had. It is not cheap, but we also a have a huge house. We only put it in our walls up through the second floor. We do have a 3rd floor, but felt like we were already blocking the air infiltration of the balloon construction, and since heat rises, we were fine. I am glad we got it, and feel really good about the decision that we made. Doug was a genuinely nice guy,..who with another gentleman had about 6/7 long days of installing. He answered all our questions to our satisfaction-Hope this helps anyone out there-
...See More
mary_c_gw
15 years ago
Yes, I have. Great fun - we were chasers for a friend/balloon pilot, and got a ride at the end of the day.

Just a note - the people we picked up were upset that it was "noisy" - well, yes, when they fire up the propane heater to keep the hot air hot - It's NOISY.

But so much fun!
sleeperblues
15 years ago
No, but I would. We went to the balloon fest in Albequerque (can't spell that one) and it was so cool to see all those colorful balloons. They had many shaped liked animals and other stuff. It was really fun.
kathyg_in_mi
15 years ago
Sure did and really enjoyed it! One of my BFF's is a hot air balloon pilot and she took me up. So amazing to fly over where you live. Never realized there were so many pools in our area at the time. She did some contour flying and we went over a lake and could see ourselves and the balloon in the reflection.
Really cool time.
She sold it this year. Kind of rough to fly with the arthritis and her DH has cancer. She was sad to see it leave, but she sure had fun with it.
Kathy G in MI
teresava
15 years ago
Good question! No I haven't. I am not sure I would like it? I am slightly afraid of heights and I would hate to get in there and be terrified? But in a weird way I'd like to try? Does that make any sense? Flying doesn't bother me, but I think the small space might do me in? Who knows maybe one day??

I have also been to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. Small trivia fact-it is the most photographed event in the USA (or at least back in 1999) and was sponsored by Kodak.
bulldinkie
15 years ago
Our employees gave hubby & I a baloon ride I bailed out ha hubby and sons went they loved it.
FlamingO in AR
15 years ago
I did a few years ago in Steamboat Springs, CO. It was flown by our friends' friend and it was so much fun! The basket you ride in is small, but with the wind in your face and your gaze locked on the view, you don't even realize you're in a small basket.

We had so much fun. I actually got to go up twice because my weight worked well with the others, but my husband didn't get to go at all, which was kind of sad for him, but we ran out of good weather and couldn't do a 3rd flight.

The entire process was fun- the inflating of the balloon, the setting it up, taking it down, packaging it, the champagne afterwards, the whole business of it.... I recommend it highly.
cynic
15 years ago
I haven't evnnnner ridden in one but would like to take a ride in one sometime. I don't like heights but if I have something to hold onto, and being in the basket thing, I don't think it'd bother me.

The Farmer's Zeppelin was in town a couple months ago and I really wanted to take a ride in that too. But it was so blasted hot at the time and other things consumed my time so I couldn't do it. Maybe it'll be around again soon.
lazypup
15 years ago
I rode in one at the county fair once when I was a kid, and later when relating the experience to all my kinfolk at the Sunday dinner table at Grandma's my aunt said, thats nothing, your uncle Paul is so full of hot air that he has to wear his work shoes to bed and tie the laces to the bedpost so he don't float off in the night.
chisue
15 years ago
cynic -- Sorry you didn't get the ride in a blimp. I've never tried a balloon ride, but will always remember being in the Goodyear blimp over the South Florida coast. When the pilot turned off the engines it felt like a dream where you're flying. We could see sharks and gamefish in the (then clear) ocean off the east coast. Hmmm...that was 'only' sixty years ago!
Happyladi
15 years ago
I went up in a tethered one once but never in a loose one. I would love to and it's on my bucket list. My parents did it and loved it.
Jasdip
15 years ago
We gave my step-father a gift certificate for a ride for his birthday a few years ago. He loved it! and still talks about it. He couldn't get over how quiet it was. You don't hear the wind or anything just silence.

When they'd fly over the house, they often lit the fire and the whoosh scared the beejerbers out of Mom and SF's cat. Everytime he'd see a balloon in the distance he'd run and hide. :(
arcy_gw
15 years ago
Yes we did, 22 years ago!! It was supposed to be a honeymoon event,we made little hot air balloons for our reception. It took three trips out to the site to find a day that was calm enough for rides. Once we got up it was well worth the trips. Back then the going rate was $50 a ride. DH is 6'4" so he was a tish uncomfortable having his head so close to the burners. It was all his idea, and I think I had a better experience. It is a quiet, smooth ride over all.
liz
15 years ago
no I haven't and it's on my bucket list...I can't wait to go someday!!
cate52
15 years ago
I gave one to my DH for his birthday -- I went along also.. Tricky getting in & out of basket but the ride was amazing!!!!

Have You Ever Ridden in A Hot Air Balloon?

Comments (16)

glenda_al

glenda_al

Related Discussions

mary_c_gw

sleeperblues

kathyg_in_mi

teresava

bulldinkie

FlamingO in AR

cynic

lazypup

chisue

Happyladi

Jasdip

arcy_gw

liz

cate52

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US