Hot Air Balloon Rides Now available to Everyone!

Just scan down the event column of any newspaper during the summer months and you will see that there are lots of hot air balloon rides advertised both locally and nationally these days. Personally, I have no issues with money or time, but for some reason I still haven’t had one of these magnificent balloons send me off into the warm summer skies. Hey, maybe I’m suffering from Acrophobia and just don’t know it.

Ballooning has always fascinated me despite the fact they have become so common. Hot air balloons are the oldest and most successful human flight expertise ever achieved on the scope of things. Now I’m no historian, but I do know that the first ever hot air balloon ride was in Paris, France way back in November 1783. There are different ways of ballooning too, and some hot air balloons are propelled through the air as opposed to being carried along by the winds. These types of balloons are actually called airships, or thermal ships, is perhaps a more accurate term.

So just what is this attraction and fascination with the hot air balloon and why are balloon rides becoming a common event during the summer months? Well, I would guess (as I have no experience yet, remember?), it has to do with the extraordinary quietness, the floating on air sensation, and panoramic views to die for, and all this hanging outside in a basket. Because the hot air balloon rides go with the flow so to speak, the passengers feel absolutely no wind apart from the climbs and descents into air currents that are or different directions and speeds to that of the balloon.

We had a charity raffle at work last month and 2nd prize was a choice of 2 hot air balloon rides at different times and locations. I didn’t win, I never do, but one of the ladies that did, had absolutely no intention of allowing any of these balloons send her off into the unknown skies above. She heard that I was an armchair balloonist and offered to sell me her ticket at a discounted price. How could I say no? I’ve been boring anyone who would care to listen about my fascination with hot air balloon rides for years now, and to reject this offer would mean my life in the office would become a living hell with the co-workers.

So that’s it. Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon. My very first hot air balloon ride is looming closer with each passing minute. I’ll have a whole new article to write soon about my real life adventure in the gondola, or wicker basket as it’s called, and I can hardly wait for the day. Recent years have seen balloon made in fantastic shapes, such as bananas, rocket, and all sorts of other weird and wonderful designs, but I just want a good old fashioned balloon just like the one I saw passing overhead as a kid.

Hot air balloon rides are accessible to all these days, so please don’t do what I did and let, dare I say it, 'fear' put you off the experience of a life time. Hot air ballooning is here to stay and in a world of rush, rush, rush, what nicer way could there be to spend an hour or two with your loved ones as you float high in the quiet summer sky, with panoramic views of a lonely and fascinating landscape below.