Up Up & Away...
In My Beautiful, My Beautiful Balloon.....
I'd never given much thought to going on a balloon ride, but early a.m July 31st, I, along with 5 others and the pilot, Martial, climbed into the wicker cane basket under a 70-foot inflated balloon for the flight of a lifetime!
Soon we were gliding above the trees and viewed our town from an awesome angle. It looked very picturesque and manicured.
Details such as sprayer tracks, cultivated fields, sloughs, creeks, roads, farmsteads, the golf course etc were so defined.
Judy checks out the process a couple of rides in advance of hers
Photo by Doreen Buydens
Pilot Mound
Although we were all very familiar with this area, from this viewpoint it was confusing for a time until we recognized certain landmarks, then it was really neat picking out special places.
Luck was with me as that day we "flew" just south of our farm, and Martial even turned the balloon so I could get a better photo.
Seven hundred feet above the ground was very quiet and serene with the silence broken only by conversation and the abrupt blast from the propane tanks.
Landing was pretty smooth - only a couple of bumps and too quickly our ride was over!
Another first was to roll up this huge balloon and stuff it into a small container. (Bum pressure had to be called upon !?!)
We were rewarded with a goblet (to keep) of champagne and orange juice to toast our safe successful flight.
As we proceeded to drive back to the main road, we fully realized just how smooth the flight had been as most of us had never hit such deep ruts as were in that hay field!
I was apprehensive when for my birthday gift daughter Tracey and her husband Greg bought a balloon ride ticket, but now would not hesitate to climb aboard again.
Thank-you... it was a BLAST!
Judy Morrow
In My Beautiful, My Beautiful Balloon.....
I'd never given much thought to going on a balloon ride, but early a.m July 31st, I, along with 5 others and the pilot, Martial, climbed into the wicker cane basket under a 70-foot inflated balloon for the flight of a lifetime!
Soon we were gliding above the trees and viewed our town from an awesome angle. It looked very picturesque and manicured.
Details such as sprayer tracks, cultivated fields, sloughs, creeks, roads, farmsteads, the golf course etc were so defined.
Judy checks out the process a couple of rides in advance of hersPhoto by Doreen Buydens
Pilot Mound
Luck was with me as that day we "flew" just south of our farm, and Martial even turned the balloon so I could get a better photo.
Seven hundred feet above the ground was very quiet and serene with the silence broken only by conversation and the abrupt blast from the propane tanks.
Landing was pretty smooth - only a couple of bumps and too quickly our ride was over!
Another first was to roll up this huge balloon and stuff it into a small container. (Bum pressure had to be called upon !?!)
We were rewarded with a goblet (to keep) of champagne and orange juice to toast our safe successful flight.
As we proceeded to drive back to the main road, we fully realized just how smooth the flight had been as most of us had never hit such deep ruts as were in that hay field!
I was apprehensive when for my birthday gift daughter Tracey and her husband Greg bought a balloon ride ticket, but now would not hesitate to climb aboard again.
Thank-you... it was a BLAST!
Judy Morrow
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Copyright 2006 - 2007 Pilot Mound Balloon Festival / Site design by: Village WebDesign / Maps by Gardiner Signs
