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And Then There Were Seven
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Sep 8, 2019 00:30:13   #
vicksart Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country
 
We checked one off the bucket list today - a hot-air balloon ride. My husband's birthday is on Tuesday, and I decided to surprise him with a unique adventure. It was amazing.

Apparently many other people also had this experience in mind. As we looked back at the other balloons, we realized we were the first launch of seven balloons. Most carried 12-14 passengers plus a pilot.

Air is first blown into the opening of the balloons with large fans. Flames then heat the air in the balloon to make it rise and right the gondola. We climb aboard using holes in the sides of the gondola as steps. The ground crew works to release the balloon as we slowly rise. To control altitude, the pilot intermittently activates the flames. He is also able to control direction slightly by catching the breeze with a flap of fabric on the bottom of the balloon much like a sailor catches the wind in a sail on a sailboat. When it's time to land, the pilot quits activating the flames, and the balloon descends. The ride is incredibly smooth and very relaxing. Landing is a different story. As the balloon touches down, members of the ground crew, who have been in communication with the pilot via a walkie-talkie, and who have been following us in vans, run over to grab the side of the gondola to keep it from tipping over. Once it's stabilized, we climb out and head to the vans for our ride back and a light but lovely champagne brunch.

Stage 1 - inflation
Stage 1 - inflation...
(Download)

A truck for scale
A truck for scale...
(Download)

Heat for lift
Heat for lift...
(Download)

Additional rides
Additional rides...
(Download)

Mechanical aspects
Mechanical aspects...
(Download)

A few of the others getting ready to launch
A few of the others getting ready to launch...
(Download)

The lineup of 5
The lineup of 5...
(Download)

Looking north
Looking north...
(Download)

Staying well above power lines
Staying well above power lines...
(Download)

Looking back as we land
Looking back as we land...
(Download)

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Sep 8, 2019 02:38:53   #
foggypreacher Loc: Dickinson, Texas
 
Wow. I have always wanted to take an hot air balloon ride. My wife is afraid of heights so I would probably have to go without her. The photos are breath taking and the color of the balloons are not as varied as I have seen in other photos. However, the yellows are extremely vivid and are very nice. Thank you for sharing them.

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Sep 8, 2019 04:04:28   #
DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia
 
Sounds like a real hoot, Vicki--lovely shots.

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Sep 8, 2019 05:37:55   #
J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio
 
vicksart wrote:
We checked one off the bucket list today - a hot-air balloon ride. My husband's birthday is on Tuesday, and I decided to surprise him with a unique adventure. It was amazing.

Apparently many other people also had this experience in mind. As we looked back at the other balloons, we realized we were the first launch of seven balloons. Most carried 12-14 passengers plus a pilot.

Air is first blown into the opening of the balloons with large fans. Flames then heat the air in the balloon to make it rise and right the gondola. We climb aboard using holes in the sides of the gondola as steps. The ground crew works to release the balloon as we slowly rise. To control altitude, the pilot intermittently activates the flames. He is also able to control direction slightly by catching the breeze with a flap of fabric on the bottom of the balloon much like a sailor catches the wind in a sail on a sailboat. When it's time to land, the pilot quits activating the flames, and the balloon descends. The ride is incredibly smooth and very relaxing. Landing is a different story. As the balloon touches down, members of the ground crew, who have been in communication with the pilot via a walkie-talkie, and who have been following us in vans, run over to grab the side of the gondola to keep it from tipping over. Once it's stabilized, we climb out and head to the vans for our ride back and a light but lovely champagne brunch.
We checked one off the bucket list today - a hot-a... (show quote)

Nice set Vicki. Looks like you enjoyed your time in the sky

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Sep 8, 2019 05:45:30   #
lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA
 
vicksart wrote:
We checked one off the bucket list today - a hot-air balloon ride. My husband's birthday is on Tuesday, and I decided to surprise him with a unique adventure. It was amazing.

Apparently many other people also had this experience in mind. As we looked back at the other balloons, we realized we were the first launch of seven balloons. Most carried 12-14 passengers plus a pilot.

Air is first blown into the opening of the balloons with large fans. Flames then heat the air in the balloon to make it rise and right the gondola. We climb aboard using holes in the sides of the gondola as steps. The ground crew works to release the balloon as we slowly rise. To control altitude, the pilot intermittently activates the flames. He is also able to control direction slightly by catching the breeze with a flap of fabric on the bottom of the balloon much like a sailor catches the wind in a sail on a sailboat. When it's time to land, the pilot quits activating the flames, and the balloon descends. The ride is incredibly smooth and very relaxing. Landing is a different story. As the balloon touches down, members of the ground crew, who have been in communication with the pilot via a walkie-talkie, and who have been following us in vans, run over to grab the side of the gondola to keep it from tipping over. Once it's stabilized, we climb out and head to the vans for our ride back and a light but lovely champagne brunch.
We checked one off the bucket list today - a hot-a... (show quote)


Great photo essay. We have Balloon rides not to far from us as well in Temecula, CA, also a grape growing area. I'm not good with heights, though I've been in small private planes (with the doors closed).

Odd you would say, however true, Earthquake County and not Wine Country. Living my entire life thus far Just South of the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Andreas Fault I am quite aware of the constant threat of Earthquakes. Wild fires too are a problem as you know in many parts of California. We are just beginning yet another fire season now. Luckily where I live is in a build up suburban area and far enough away from wilderness. Stay safe.

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Sep 8, 2019 05:49:17   #
Plieku69 Loc: The Gopher State, south end
 
Great series and very informative. Thanks for posting this.

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Sep 8, 2019 06:41:55   #
Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England
 
Excellent shots of what looked like a great experience Vicki.

Reply
 
 
Sep 8, 2019 08:24:07   #
photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA
 
vicksart wrote:
We checked one off the bucket list today - a hot-air balloon ride. My husband's birthday is on Tuesday, and I decided to surprise him with a unique adventure. It was amazing.

Apparently many other people also had this experience in mind. As we looked back at the other balloons, we realized we were the first launch of seven balloons. Most carried 12-14 passengers plus a pilot.

Air is first blown into the opening of the balloons with large fans. Flames then heat the air in the balloon to make it rise and right the gondola. We climb aboard using holes in the sides of the gondola as steps. The ground crew works to release the balloon as we slowly rise. To control altitude, the pilot intermittently activates the flames. He is also able to control direction slightly by catching the breeze with a flap of fabric on the bottom of the balloon much like a sailor catches the wind in a sail on a sailboat. When it's time to land, the pilot quits activating the flames, and the balloon descends. The ride is incredibly smooth and very relaxing. Landing is a different story. As the balloon touches down, members of the ground crew, who have been in communication with the pilot via a walkie-talkie, and who have been following us in vans, run over to grab the side of the gondola to keep it from tipping over. Once it's stabilized, we climb out and head to the vans for our ride back and a light but lovely champagne brunch.
We checked one off the bucket list today - a hot-a... (show quote)


That looks like a unique experience.

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Sep 8, 2019 08:47:45   #
Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida
 
Vicki, it must have been a beautiful experience. Disney World had a ride that simulated a balloon ride and Napa Valley was one of the areas it went over . It was a very large screen and the views were magnificent.

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Sep 8, 2019 10:35:38   #
blue-ultra Loc: New Hampshire
 
Beautiful shots Vicki. This is on my bucket list as well...

A little note of critique, you may want to take a little of the noise out, otherwise beautiful photographs.

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Sep 8, 2019 10:39:53   #
kpmac Loc: Ragley, La
 
What a wonderful gift, Vicki. Very nice set of images to remember it by.

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Sep 8, 2019 12:02:05   #
UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT
 
What a great tour, Vicki! Thanks for taking us along.

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Sep 8, 2019 13:19:43   #
napabob Loc: Napa CA
 
nice gift....... nice shots, we are often greeted early mornings by the roar of the flames as they float overhead.........

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Sep 8, 2019 14:16:29   #
Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.
 
I too always wanted to go up in one of those till I lost a good photographer friend and his son when they hit power lines and were killed back in the 50s.

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Sep 9, 2019 05:29:37   #
AzShooter1 Loc: Surprise, Az.
 
Very nice set. Love the balloon races out here too.

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