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The 2007 F.O.R. San Bernard River Raiser
fundraiser will be on Sunday, October 28.
Because the third item on the raffle ticket
is a hot air balloon ride for two, Connie
has asked me to write on the subject. In the
future, I’ll be more careful about revealing
personal experiences to her.......Bill Cone
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Hot Air Balloon Ride
If clear skies, gentle winds and soft
landings is the balloonatic’s most
fervent prayer, then on that chilly October
morning, the balloon gods were certainly
smiling down on us. It was the third day of
the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
and a perfect one for flying. But first
there was work to do.
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The huge, heavy envelope was spread out on
the ground and attached to the basket
struts. Then two of us held the mouth open
so the motorized fan could begin the
inflation process. When enough air is forced
into the envelope to keep it partially open,
it’s time for some heat. So, the relative
quiet of the morning was shattered by the
roar of the large burner; its flame blinding
in the dawn light. From his perch on the
overturned basket, Tom, the pilot, directed
the huge flame into the balloon, which
immediately began to swell. Minutes later it
was fully inflated, its fabric taut, and it
began a slow rise from its horizontal
position on the ground to a vertical one,
thereby lifting the basket to an upright
position. Four crew members held down on the
basket to keep it grounded while the burners
continued to heat the air inside the
balloon.
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On Tom’s signal, I and two other riders
climbed over the side and into the basket.
With three passengers, the pilot and two
large propane tanks aboard, the four by four
basket was crowded. No place for Howie
Mandel. The four crew members continued
holding onto the basket as Tom fired both
burners. When keeping the balloon grounded
became a considerable effort for the crew
members, they were instructed to let go. The
sudden load shed caused the balloon to rise
more rapidly than I expected.
Initially, the balloon seemed to rise as
fast as a fugitive toy balloon, but then
seemed to slow as objects on the ground grew
steadily smaller. In fact, everything seemed
to slow way down: Our ascent, the speed at
which the ground scrolled beneath us, the
balloon’s forward travel. Even the world
appeared to take a pause. I think the slow
pace is what makes it so cool. And speaking
of cool, I was glad I brought a jacket.
Soon we were a thousand feet above ground.
The sudden blast of silence that occurred
when Tom shut off the burners was both
unexpected and somewhat startling. Like the
first moments after a power failure.
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If one closes one’s eyes, there is no sense
of movement. Not a breath of air to indicate
travel. A balloon travels at the exact same
speed as the breeze pushing it, so you feel
nary a whisper. And other than the sound of
one’s own breathing and the occasional burn
to maintain altitude, there is total
silence.
From a thousand feet, the view from the
basket is breathtaking. It’s like ascending
eighty stories in the bottom half of an
elevator with no building around it. The
view is three hundred and sixty unobstructed
degrees. The world is seen with a whole
‘nuther perspective. Streets, structures and
terrain aren’t laid out quite as imagined.
Forty-five minutes aloft seemed like ten.
Too soon Tom was radioing the chase vehicle
to apprise them of his intended target – a
field across the highway from the RV park.
He had already decreased altitude via little
tugs on the ripcord that releases air
through the top of the balloon. The descent
was slow and meticulous. The chase vehicle
was already in position in the field and we
appeared to be on a perfect trajectory to
land right beside it. But we must have been
coming down a little fast because Tom popped
the burner on for a couple of seconds. Then
again and again, until our descent was
gradual.
The closer we got to the ground, the faster
it seemed to rise toward us. Crew members
were out of the chase vehicle and ready.
Though we were traveling only a few miles
per hour, the ground appeared to be moving
faster and faster. Then the edge of the
basket bumped the ground, skipped a couple
of times and tilted in the direction of
travel. The instant the basket touched down,
Tom ripped the top vent open to release hot
air. One crewman grabbed the crown rope and
held the balloon against the wind. We were
planted on the ground and secure. Piece of
cake!
My first hot air balloon ride was one of the
most exciting, most enjoyable things I’ve
ever experienced. I highly recommend it. The
knowledge that I was flying with a long-time
friend and an excellent pilot was a bonus.
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F.O.R. SAN
BERNARD'S 2007 RIVER RAISER
SUNDAY
OCTOBER 28
12 P.M. - 3
P.M.
K.C. HALL -
HWY 36 - BRAZORIA
FOOD - FUN -
FESTIVITIES
GET YOUR
DINNER - RAFFLE TICKETS
FOR ALL DETAILS
CLICK HERE
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One of F.O.R.'s
primary functions is to educate the public
regarding the issues concerning the San Bernard
River and it's Communities. Contact Pat Webb
pat@sanbernardriver.com to schedule a
guest speaker for your group or special event.
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FOR San Bernard
Post Office Box 93
Brazoria, TX 77422 |
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here to post a comment in the San Bernard River Discussion Forum
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