HOT AIR BALOON EXPERIENCES

                                     Fun Exciting  Rides

      The hot air balloon ride in Kenya over the Masai Mara was not my first balloon ride but it was certainly an exciting one. We were awakened in what I call the middle of the night for the early morning flight.

     The balloon rose up into the sky just as the sun peeked over the horizon. Floating over the Mara the only noise breaking the incredible silence was the occasional swoosh of the helium being pumped up into the balloon. The swooshing noise did not seem to bother the animals below. We floated right over their heads so the animals were not dwarfed by height. One gets an entirely different perspective in the air than on the ground.  It was wonderful just watching the wild animals doing their thing in the wild.  

     With no roads, the support van could follow the balloon to the landing site shortly after the balloon descended into an open field. In record time the galley appeared and a delightful champagne  brunch, including eggs to order, was enjoyed. What a delightful morning!

     In the Australian Outback the wake up call came at 3:15 AM—again  the middle of the night for most people. We rolled out of bed, dressed quickly and loaded the van for the short ride to the field where our balloon waited  for us, deflated on the ground. This time we all pitched in to pull out and arrange the balloon so it was ready to be inflated. Once it was upright we stepped up into the basket ready for an early morning take off.

     At daybreak we floated over browsing cattle and wild horses running on the plain below, Mobs of kangaroos were hopping everywhere. We were considerably higher on this flight. We floated under a cloudless sky.  Away from civilization the silence is incredible.

     I tried to capture a spectacular sunrise on film but was not successful. As the day lightened we spotted several other balloons in the air.

     All too soon it was time to desend. After a safe landing everyone helped to fold the  big balloon and pack it away in its compact holding case. Instead of a field brunch we headed back to town to a tavern that had opened early just for us. We all enjoyed the traditional champagne brunch  in a nice atmosphere.  We drank and ate as lively conversation flowed. The comfortable patio chairs were conducive to relaxing on the that clear warm morning. What a fun way to start a day!