Hot Air Balloon Ride

We finally got to go on out hot air balloon ride! After trying to schedule it like 500 billion times and it being cancelled due to weather, conflicting schedules, two moves, morning sickness, and a new born all got in the way. It literally took us a year and a half after purchasing the flight to actually go up.

It was perfect though. To be able to go our very last week in Bloomington was like the ultimate send-off. Everything about the experience was so, so perfect. It really was one of the coolest things I've ever done.

We met up at the Bloomington airport. Parked right next to our hot air balloon was the Bloomington corner's truck. Not exactly a good omen for the whole thing... but out guide was really knowledgeable about the whole process and put me at ease. He has been flying hot air balloons since high school and actually manufactures the balloons and weaves the baskets. Pretty impressive. 

Then my confidence was shattered again when he hopped in the shuttle and asked if, "anyone could gps how to fly a hot air balloon on their smartphone." Really? GPS it? Aye aye aye. 

We actually learned a lot about the whole hot air balloon process during our ride.  Like, did you know that all of the steering for a hot air balloon is done beforehand on the ground? You can't steer it in the air, you just kind of have to hope that the wind blows you in a good direction. Kind of scary. 

So, the crew shuttled us around to several different launch points, released a regular helium balloon, watched it fly away, and determined if that would be a good place to launch depending on the wind. 

We drove to a couple of locations and ended up at a launch site half a mile from our apartment. We were really excited because we knew we would be flying over our house.

They unloaded the hot air balloon, and filled it with cold air. Then, they loaded us all into the basket like sardines, and turned on the burners. Man, oh mighty was it hot! At one point, I told Gordy that I thought my hairspray might catch on fire! I think Gordy was just as excited as I was. Look how cute he looks, like a kid on Christmas morning....

When the whole things was stretched out. it was like 13 stories tall (I think that's what he said anyway). 

After we launched, we called Erin, who was babysitting for us, and had her bring the boys outside. We were able to yell to them from up above. Erin said that Jack got a confused look on his face when he heard Gordy's voice and he asked if that was Daddy up in the balloon. 

Heather and Dan and their group of cub scouts saw us and waved to us too. We were also spotted by some of Gordy's friends from law school. That made the trip extra fun.

We got to fly over our neighborhood, campus, downtown, the stadiums,  the forest and some quarries. 

Our hot air balloon pilot (I'm not sure if that's what he's even called) lowered us down so far that we brushed against the tops of the trees, and we were able go grab some leaves off of the branches as we flew by. The first time he did that, it made my heart pound a little.

Here we are. sweating to death., but we got to watch the sunset from the air, and that was worth it. 

 The landing was a little bumpy, but that made it kind of fun. We were glad to have our feet safely on the ground again. I married such a nice guy. He even helped load the balloon back up into the trailer.

The crew then shuttled us back to the air port. They had champagne and strawberries, and a little party waiting for us, but I had to get back home to the babies and Gordy had to drive straight to Indy to pick up Stevey and his parents from the airport. 

If anyone ever has the opportunity to go on a hot air balloon, I would highly recommend it, because it was awesome. Bucket list item checked off. Thanks, hon!