Description: Several years ago, John and I attended the hot air balloon rally in Statesville. There was a chance at the event to ride in the balloon with the crews…for free. I was so excited but I would have to be gone 3 hours and that would leave John with nothing to do for 3 hours. So I have been waiting to try it for years. When I saw the ad in the visitor’s guide, I decided why not?
I would be doing the sunrise tour. I had to be up at 5:00 am and I was so excited that I was already up and putting on my make up when I received my wake up. I found my way to the Deer Valley Airport and found my group. I was surprised to see about 30 people had shown up. I have no idea why I thought I would be the only person in Phoenix deciding to show up for a balloon ride. After checking in we were divided up and rounded up into three vans. Then we were zipping along the highway headed out to the desert about 10 minutes away. When we arrive the crews are already getting the balloons ready. We were once again divided up and get to meet our captain of the balloon. Our captain, Mark, has 20 years experience, which will make anyone feel good. While he didn’t look like Mike Rowe, he sure sounded like him. Later I would find out he was just as witty.
There would be several balloons going up and we climbed up into our basket getting ready for our flight. Again I was surprised to see more than one balloon. Still having no idea why this was surprising to me. Then it dawned on me that it would give me some awesome pictures with balloons in them. After all I couldn’t get our balloon in the picture. So wooo weee.
Once we were in our basket and all nicely secure, the crew un-tethered us and off we went. Our balloon was soon the first one up in the air. The bird’s eye view will take your breath away. From here the air is calm and you can see for miles. Our balloon starts to slowly turn in the sky giving is views of the north, south, east, and west. And the views…oh my..the views. There are mountain ranges, cities in the distance, and below the Sonora Desert. Then the other balloons start to rise up to greet us and make the skyline even more incredible.
Captain Mark tells us all about this spectacular area below us. The rest of the time our group tends to keep conversions at a minimum and just enjoy the silence. While I am here the words from the Disney song
A Whole New World comes to mind:
Unbelievable sights, indescrible feelings
Soaring, tumble, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky Up 400 feet in the air it is just incredible. Below us the desert shows us her beauty as the desert is often thought of us barren land. There are the saguaros that still enchantment me, cacti, flowering bushes, rabbits, and javelinos. Which we thought were piggies. I am snapping up pictures after picture and occasionally putting down the camera and just taking in all this spectacular beauty around me.
We travel over 3 miles and soon we see the chase cars coming to pick us up and Captain Mark lets us know we need to get ready to land. We have a very gentle landing and the crew comes over to hook us up and pulling is behind the van, kinda like balloon surfing. When we get to the landing spot and crawl back out of the basket. Mark tells us we have a few minutes to wander around the dessert and then they have a surprise for us. I wander around taking more pictures. Then we are called to a table where they have prepared brunch for us. We have quiche, croissants with chocolate, fruit, bacon, and mimosas (or juice for the non drinkers). Captain Mark reads the Balloonist prayers to us. We toast and cheer to new friends and an amazing experience that we just shared. Then sadly it is time to pack up, get back in the van, and head back out to our cars.
Website www.hotairexpeditions.com.
As I sat at the table with my fellow hot air balloon enthusiasts I can’t believe my day. I am sitting here in the gorgeous Senora Desert having brunch. I have just been up 400 feet in the air seeing the most incredible sites I have ever seen. I have checked off a bucket list item. And
this is my job . Talk about surreal. Oooh and it was paid for by my company. Happy dance!!! I thanked God more than once on this trip. If you have always thought abut a hot air balloon trip, quit thinking and just do it!!
VERY highly recommend Close