It has certainly taken me long enough to post this. It has been months since my successful flight in a hot air balloon, but I have been dragging my feet in sorting through the pictures. Anyway, I wanted to give you guys some beautiful shots before I take an internet break (for those of you who talk to me through e-mail, I will still check it. I just may be slow in replying).
Every time I say I am going to take a hiatus, people seem to worry, so in advance, let me assure you that everything is fine. The coming month is going to be a busy one, and I need time to read, write, and do odds and ends around the house and with my family. I will probably be gone a month, maybe two.
When I come back, I promise to post pictures of more masks including the ones I am currently working on.
On to ballooning!
Photo by Jubilare
For those who missed out on the first failed ballooning attempt, there are details here. We had one more failed attempt (making, I think, three for my dear friend) but finally, luck was with us! The basket was very large, made to hold at least eight normal-sized people.
Photo by Jubilare
Here is the balloon which was called, if I remember rightly, Spirit of Africa. The first stage of inflation is done with a fan.
Photo by Jubilare
Once the fan has blown up the balloon enough to where the flames won’t burn it, the spurting fire thing is used.
Photo by Jubilare
I found the colors quite beautiful.
Photo by Jubilare
My fear of heights made takeoff a bit nerve-wracking. There was someone on board with a worse fear of heights than I have, though, and that helped calm me down.
Photo by Jubilare
Once I was over how high we were, I found the flight soothing and I enjoyed the patterns I began to see below. Balloon flight is very smooth.
Photo by Jubilare
This is some of the countryside relatively near where I live. There are some farms left, though not many, some large estates owned by people whose wealth is beyond my comprehension, some forest, and encroaching subdivisions.
Photo by Jubilare
On the whole, it is pretty, though it makes me a little sad to see how it is changing.
Photo by Jubilare
One of the real farms! Those red-ant things are cattle. We flew over horses and deer (who really did not like the roar of the balloon’s blowtorch thingy) and a blue heron in flight, but my shots of them did not come out well.
Photo by Jubilare
Looking up into the balloon!
Photo by Jubilare
And my best shot of that lovely flame. It is loud, and close, but really beautiful. I would not recommend a balloon flight in hot weather, though. It was cold when we flew, and that was the only reason I could bear the heat above me.
Photo by Jubilare
We had some beautiful clouds that day.
Photo by Jubilare
Every time we went over water, we saw the balloon’s reflection.
Photo by Jubilare
Even with the blur, I find this shot lovely.
Photo by Jubilare
Sycamores are as dramatic from above as below.
Photo by Jubilare
I think the trees below look almost like moss and lichen. Beautiful.
Photo by Jubilare
Even the horrible subdivisions with their monster houses and boring yards look nice from this height. Great patterns. Notice the interrupted sidewalk.
Photo by Jubilare
The skyline, of course, was gorgeous. All those tree-covered hills fading in the distance to meet the sky, and echoed from above by the clouds.
Photo by Jubilare
Mmmmm
Photo by Jubilare
And so, in failing light, we landed. We landed in enemy territory (people who are hostile to balloons) out of necessity, but fortunately no one was home. The team and our pilot broke down the balloon quickly, and we called it a night.
I am very glad my friend gave me the opportunity to do this. I hope you enjoy the pictures!
Farewell for now. I’ll be back soon.
jubilare 
May 20th, 2013 at 8:37 pm
Great pictures! I’m terrified of heights and it’s encouraging to hear that several people with the same phobia still went up in a balloon. Mind you, I’m also claustrophobic and discovered that when I was stuck in a crowded elevator for 20 minutes, so I may not subject myself to the experience. But maybe.
May 21st, 2013 at 6:04 am
Thank you! I am the opposite of claustrophobic, so I have no idea how that might come into play. If it helps, though, our basket was made for eight and with six of us, there was room to move.
May 21st, 2013 at 7:42 pm
I don’t know where you live, but it’s beautiful! Thank you sharing these pics.
South of me, in the Phoenix area, ballooning is quite big. You can see them over the desert often.
Enjoy your sabbatical. I’ll look forward to your return! God bless.
May 22nd, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Middle Tennessee. I do love my home!
I don’t think Tennessee is the best place for balloons, but we have some anyway, and I am glad we do.
Thanks! He has blessed me very much. May he continue to bless you, too!
May 24th, 2013 at 8:18 pm
This is on my bucket list.
August 31st, 2013 at 5:11 pm
As it should be. It was quite an experience!
June 8th, 2013 at 7:36 am
Gorgeous! Love it! BTW congratulations: you’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award! :) (sorry I have to post this via comment …)
August 31st, 2013 at 5:15 pm
Oh my. I will attend to this soon. Thank you!
June 23rd, 2013 at 10:03 am
Oh these are so beautiful! I’ve always loved balloons, I hope some day to go on a balloon ride. One of my favorite childhood memories was the birthday when two balloons came over our house, they were so beautiful. Your photos are lovely, I like the patterns of the landscape and the clouds. I hope you’re enjoying a good rest from the internets.
August 31st, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Thank you! I enjoyed taking the pictures as much as I enjoyed the flight itself. I hope you get a chance to ride in one, as it is quite an experience!