Hot Air Ballooning!
By feralwoman
@feralwoman (2199)
Australia
January 10, 2007 11:33am CST
For hubby's 50th I saved for months to be able to afford to take us on a balloon trip. It was the most fantastic experience we've ever had and certainly cured us of our fear of heights. We had to get up at 2.30am to be at the venue for 4.30am. We helped put up the balloon and had to have a mad scramble to get into the basket as the balloon started to get upright. We flew over a local valley full of wineries and the views were fantastic. Landing was great fun too! The basket tipped over backwards and slid along the ground for a while. Cool! It was one of the most relaxing experiences i've had. If you ever have a chance to do this, don't pass it up.
3 people like this
6 responses
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
20 Jan 07
What a truly magnificient experience it sounds feralwoman and I am so glad that you overcame your fear of heights to do this. So what it is was an early morning for you because I am sure that it was all worth it and the fact that you helped put the balloon up would have added to the experience. I hope you managed to take lots of nice photos while you were aloft high above the Yarra Valley. One thing, are you going to be busily saving your money to go up again?
1 person likes this
@feralwoman (2199)
• Australia
20 Jan 07
Hello Ossie, yes I got heaps of great photos (hobby of mine) which i'm hoping to sell. I'd love to go & do it again, but i'm all for trying new things - so I might save up and treat myself to a skydive! lol
@SingingPsycho (343)
• United States
17 Jan 07
That sounds great. I've always wanted to do that, but never really searched out a place that was giving the rides. A few years back I heard they were giving rides at the county fair, but I didn't make it.
1 person likes this
@feralwoman (2199)
• Australia
18 Jan 07
Howdy SP! If you ever get the chance again, don't miss it. It's so cool!
@nancygibson (3736)
• France
10 Jan 07
I went for my sixteenth birthday, oh, about a million years ago now. It was huge fun, though I think it would have been more fun if I had had a friend with me to talk to about everything we saw. I loved being able to get really close to herds of deer and other wildlife as we floated over their heads. I definately recommend it as an experience not to be missed!
1 person likes this
@feralwoman (2199)
• Australia
10 Jan 07
Yes, it would have been good to go with a friend nancygibson. There were 12 of us in the balloon basket and it was a bit crowded. We floated over horses and cattle mainly, oh and the occasional flock of sheep. It was so cool.
@greengal (4286)
• United States
10 Jan 07
Wow!! That sounds superb, I've always wanted to go in a hot air balloon but never got a chance. Where did you go and how much did it cost? I will take your word on this and make sure I go on a hot air balloon ride atleast once in my lifetime..:)
1 person likes this
@feralwoman (2199)
• Australia
10 Jan 07
We live in Australia, in some hills called The Dandenong ranges. On the other side of these hills is a place called The Yarra Valley, which is full of wineries. We flew over the wineries and surrounding countryside which is very picturesque. Unfortunately we woke up a farmer at 6.30am and he used some very eloquent language which hubby caught on vidcam! That did make us laugh when we replayed it lol. It took me a few months to save up as it was rather expensive at over AU$500. But to see the look of enjoyment on hubby's face was reward enough.
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
17 Jan 07
What a wonderful gift! Your description was great, and you must take the time to write it all down on paper to pass the experience on to others.~donna
1 person likes this
@feralwoman (2199)
• Australia
17 Jan 07
Hello Kitchenwitchoftupper (love the name!). Thanks for the compliment - I love to write and perhaps i'll do that. Thanks for responding :)
@feralwoman (2199)
• Australia
17 Jan 07
Hi there WebMann. I have only been in big planes, but my sense of adventure would love me to go in a helicopter. I find them fascinating! I would seriously recommend a trip in a balloon if you ever get the chance! lol
