Your first time leaves your utterly speechless. It is unlike anything you have ever experienced in your life. It is one of those items you have to put on your Things to Do Before I Die List. What am I talking about? Flying in a hot air balloon.

I had the opportunity to fly in a variety of aircraft. Back in another life, the 80s to be exact, my job took me on every commuter plane and jumbo jet the airlines had to offer including the 747s. The more interesting opportunities were flying in an open cockpit barnstormer biplane, a Lear jet, a Falcon 20 jet and a helicopter. I have been strapped into a roller coaster seat flying 85 miles per hour down a 255 foot drop. But nothing compares to the thrill and awe of a flight in a hot air balloon.

I had many questions on the early morning of my maiden flight in Maryland’s countryside, but wasn’t prepared for the ambiguous answers I was given. “How fast will we go”, I inquired. “As fast as the wind is blowing” answered the pilot. “Where are we going?” I inquired. “Wherever the wind takes us” was his answer. “Ok, well then will it be cold and windy up there? “No”, said my pilot, “since we are moving with the wind, there is no breeze. You could put a tissue on the side of the basket and it wouldn’t blow off”.

As the balloon stood up five stories tall, I hopped into this waist high wicker basket; no seat belts, no safety bars, no gas pedal, no brake, and waited for the golden moment when we would finally become lighter than air.

All of a sudden we were inches above Mother Earth. The crew members were nonchalant at this incredible feat, but I was having an unbelievable experience at just four feet off the ground and rising. The most surreal one-of-a-kind feeling there is; to be quietly rising into the sky with no motor, no propeller, no rope, nothing. Another blast from the burner and we are at 20, 50, 100 feet and beyond.

As I was processing this new sensation, my pilot asks “want to do a little tree-topping?” Just as I begin to wonder what he is talking about, he skims over some big beautiful oak trees and tells me to reach out and pluck a handful of leaves right off the top; nothing like getting a giraffe’s perspective on life and nutrition. Incredible!

We float along about 500 feet above the ground watching the world wake up. We are just high enough to annoy every dog in every back yard along our path. As we wave to the people in their driveways out picking up their morning papers in their bathrobes, slippers and morning hair, we see a herd of cows up ahead and give a blast to the burner to rise up. Poor little things, they just don’t like the balloons. I wonder what they would think if they would have seen Airabelle, the Creamland Cow balloon approaching, “Hey, here comes mom”.

Further on, we come to a river. “Are you ready for a little splash and dash” my pilot playfully asks. As we descend, the basket dips into the river and water rushes in. We quickly lurch our backsides up onto the edges of the gondola so as to try and keep our shoes dry. Up we go and the water rushes out.

Unfortunately, our ride comes to an end somewhere 25 miles away from our starting point and we gently return to earth with a gentle plop. Now comes the dirty work of deflating, rolling up and cramming the balloon back into the tiny laundry bag from whence it came from. The 2006 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta begins tomorrow. Get out there and catch a ride on one of these gentle giants, and cross a hot air balloon ride off your list.

Quote of the Week: “And he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.” – Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw