At around 6:00 am on a clear day with fair winds in the open field across the street from our apartment complex, you might notice an interesting gathering of people. At first glance, you might think it is an overnight camping group packing up from a sleepover under the stars. Upon closer inspection, though, you realize that the people are actually unloading, not loading.
This particular open field is the launching pad for several local hot air balloon companies. Just as the sun is coming up, they arrive in 15-passenger vans with yellow-shirted employees and sleepy-eyed customers and lay out their baskets and colorful balloons.
This morning when I went out to watch, there were five balloons being filled for take-off. The balloons move amazingly fast from half-filled to full and upright. Passengers climb inside the wicker basket, ropes are removed, pictures are taken...
...And lift-off!The balloons are all up in the air by no later than 7:15 am, each following just one or two minutes behind the previous one traveling wherever the wind may take them.
And the going rate for this unique form of flight technology?Monday-Friday, $245 per adult, $195 per child
(slightly more on the weekends)
1 comments:
How exciting and interesting! Can you go over and look around even if you don't fly with them?
I was in New Mexico once during the hot air balloon festival and it was amazing.
Post a Comment