September 6, 2011
COMPLETED!
Thanks to a Groupon, we were able to book a flight in a Hot Air Balloon in Asheville, NC for half price. I scheduled this months ago and thought Labor Day in the mountains was the way to spend a long weekend.
We had to get up super early to meet the group by 6am. There were a good number of other people going up with us; in our balloon there were 8 total and a pilot. The other balloon was smaller, only holding 4 people and a pilot.
There’s a lot more to ballooning that I ever could have imagined! We made our way to a gas station with the pilot continuously checking technical looking equipment and gadgets and calling into aviation centers to get information about the weather, wind, cloud cover, etc. At the gas station they released two helium balloons and after staring at these for a few minutes, decided on a launch site, a church, a few miles away. Two more helium balloons were released but, based on the information of watching these two, it was decided this was not a good launch site. So we loaded up and headed to an alternative launch site, another church.
I guess I had never considered the technical aspects of hot air ballooning; I figured we’d just blow it up and we’d be off!
It took an hour to get the balloon unloaded and filled with air. The men in the group were asked to help and Alex got to assist in holding up the “envelope” (the balloon) opening while a motorized fan began to fill it with air.
Filling up the hot air balloon
After it was rather full, a few bursts of hot air made the balloon begin to rise and the basket, which had been laid on its side during this process, was righted.
Hot air into the envelope
They began filling up our balloon a good 20 minutes before they even started working on the second, smaller balloon and before ours was even done, our sister balloon was already in the air.
We were warned that the ride may take as little as 25 minutes but most take around 45 minutes and that our max altitude would be around 1,500 – 2,000 feet. We took flight, slowly climbing into the air at 500 feet a minute. We managed to hit 3,000 feet in altitude, much to the delight of our pilot.
I don’t know what I expected but I guess I’ve built up a tolerance to any kind of excitement. Perhaps I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie by this point. While the flight was certainly serene, there really wasn’t much to it. Because there was no wind, we really didn’t go anywhere; we could always see our launch site. You feel like you are floating and at no point did I even really feel like we were very high up in the air.
We spent the first 20 minutes getting to max altitude and then spent the next 45 minutes trying to find a place to land. While the pilot began the landing process, we took in the scenery.
We were in a valley with mostly residential areas; our first landing spot led us near a trailer park. Although you would think a balloon ride would be very quiet, the blowers for the hot air are actually quite loud. People came out of their houses to figure out what the noise was and, at least for two small children in their pajamas, I’m sure we made their day as we flew slowly just over their front porch.
Alas, something was wrong with this particular landing attempt and the pilot had to abort and begin again. This time we aimed for another backyard and landed gently with very little bump or noise. The ground crew, who the pilot had been talking to incessantly for the past 45 minutes in trying to figure out a landing site, were instantly on board to act as ballast. After some discussion with the home owners, the van and the trailer were backed into the yard and the team began the process of packing things up.
The whole process had taken five hours with the flight taking just over an hour. After we returned, we celebrated with a champagne toast and were given “flight certificates.” While the flight was certainly nice and I’m glad I said I’ve done it, I guess I expected something a little different. Maybe we should put jet packs on the basket so we can zoom around?
Hot Air Balloon Ride!
They attached a video camera to the outside of the balloon which will hopefully be an elapsed time video of our flight. When (if) this is posted, I’ll be sure to pass it along here.
Not having anything to do with going up in a Hot Air Balloon, I also finally made it to the Biltmore Estate after having lived in North Carolina all my life.
Jessica at the Biltmore Estate
It was nice but after hearing about it all your life, either there was no way it could live up to expectations or I had already heard about it in so much detail, there were few surprises. I did enjoy seeing the basement with all the laundry rooms, pantries and various other rooms that were required for the running of such a large estate.
So…good weekend all in all. Sometimes it’s just good to do things so that you can know for yourself and even if they didn’t meet your expectations, it’s still cool to say that you did it.
Have you ever been in a hot air balloon? What did you think? Ever been to the Biltmore Estate? Are you as gaga over it as everyone else seems to be?
So much fun isn’t it!? It’s peaceful (between the bursts of flame!) to be floating around in the sky. My only complaint is that it had to come to an end!
I felt the same way when I went parasailing, I wanted to go faster or higher or something! I still want to go up in a hot air balloon because I have never been, but jet packs sound like a great idea
Me too with parasailing! I kinda thought it would be more exciting too!
I’d quite like to go in a hot air balloon. there are a few different rides i can book in my area and i’ve never gotten around to it. funny enough i found mu ex father in law has recently done this and loved it, although this is the first adventurous thing he has done. after reading your post i still want to have ago but it’s dropped down the list.
I guess I sound kinda negative. It was fun, I’m glad I did it, and you may have a different experience than me.
When I got to do my flight it was at night in the middle of farming country so I didn’t get to see anything really except for blackness. I think I’d like to do it again during daylight though.
I just looked at the Biltmore Estates though and that looks very cool. Did you go to visit the Tiffany exhibit?
I’m a disgrace to my fellow art historians and actually did not go see the Tiffany exhibit. It was in this other building after getting up at 5am and walking around the grounds of the Estate, I was tired!
The Hearst mansion came up while we were at Biltmore and I was all like “Miranda has been there!”
Congrats! Asheville would be a beautiful place to go up in a hot air balloon. I enjoyed my experience, but the movies romanticize it a little too much. People should be aware of the propane dripping on your head, the overfilled basket and the extremely loud noises. I love the Biltmore! Did you go to the winery?
I’m not a big wine person so I decided to skip the winery. I know a lot of people think that’s the highlight!
Hi Jessica, Love your pictures. It seems like you had a good, relaxing weekend overall. I had no clue a hot air balloon ride was such a long process.
I still have that item untouched on my list. I was going to do that over a desert in Namibia, but it was quite pricey so I opted not to do it. I don’t need the jet packs though, I think the heights will scare me enough.
Yeah, but you really don’t feel like you’re very high up. I really don’t think you’d have a problem with the height.
It looks like you had a great weekend. I haven’t had a chance to ride in a hot air balloon before. I had one chance in Asia, but it was way too early and I was too tired to do it. I’m sure that won’t be my last chance though.
Yeah, it’s one of those things that you can kinda pick and choose where you do it. You can do it in so many places you don’t feel pressured to do in certain place/certain time.
I can’t believe you hadn’t been to the Biltmore before. I love that place! My Nana lives in Hendersonville (right outside of Asheville) so she’s taken us several times. I’ve looked into hot air ballooning while visiting her but I can’t talk any of my cousins into doing it with me.
Sounds like my feelings toward parasailing – faster and/or higher please. It does sound like a very relaxing and interesting way to spend a weekend, though. I’m planning on going in the Adirondacks (spelling?). The pictures you posted are great!!
So, did the pilot have permission to land in that person’s backyard or were the homeowner’s like, “What the crap?” I can’t imagine finding a hot air balloon in my backyard.
The pilot said that there are some landowners that have specifically asked that they not land on their property but in an emergency…not much you can do. These people were totally cool with it; I think I would be if a hot air balloon landed in my backyard-makes for a great story anyway!
Wow that sounds like so much fun! Ride a hot air balloon is on my to do list so I hope to do so one day…preferably somewhere scenic. Was the ride scary at all? I worry about falling out of the basket or the balloon popping.
I went on a road trip with my family from KY to FL and we decided to just drive through NC, missing out Biltmore. I now regret it, but hopefully I’ll get a chance to see it in the future.
No, it wasn’t scary/you didn’t feel like you’d fall out. The basket came up to my arm pits so I could put my arms over and kinda hang out to feel like I was floating/flying. To fall out, someone would have had to help me! And in landing, we WERE concerned about staying away from trees when the balloon was deflating, so I guess there is concern about puncturing it.
The part that you weren’t excited about was the part that gave me the most relief. . . floating serenely in the air at really slow speeds. LOL And I guess attempting multiple landings is par for the course. We ended up landing after the first two locales didn’t pan out. I had a great time; I’m glad you did, too.
Sometimes I just need to appreciate the quiet moments too!
Congratulations! This is an item that will definitely get marked off my list soon. I haven’t been to your blog in a while, the past couple of months have been the busiest EVER! I got married on 9/10/11
I’m glad to see you’re chipping right away at your list. Good for you.
I’m sorry I haven’t been to YOUR blog lately, although it isn’t b/c I’ve been as busy as YOU! Congrats on your marriage-I sincerely hope that it is a very happy union with a lifetime of blessings.