My Hot Air Balloon Ride

"An Experience of a Lifetime"

by: Luis Rasgado

Bungee jump? What a joke! Riding a roller coaster? You have to be kidding me! Even though all these activities have their own adrenaline merits, it can not be compared to the adrenaline rush of soaring into the sky, in a hot air balloon.

Friday morning, I was ready to take off and soar into the skies. Unfortunately, the weather didn't permit us to do so, but fortunately for me, I had the opportunity for the first time to "tandem." And, even though we were only thirty feet off the ground, it was still a pretty neat experience. Now I was ready for the real thing!

Once again Saturday morning I woke up bright (really not so bright, as it was 4:00 a.m.) and early and headed to  the pilots briefing to check if flying was possible that morning. Again my hopes went down. I was tired of waking up early and getting nothing in return, but then Saturday afternoon, I experienced a whole new type of adrenaline.

Only four balloons departed that hot and windy afternoon from Shannon Oak Church. I was one of the lucky ones to fly off!

Once in the basket, I asked myself " what was I thinking? " There was no backing out! As we lifted off, we slowly started to gain altitude. I was scared to look down, but I didn't have any other option. I had to do my job, which was to take pictures.

As we glided through the sky I saw a new perspective of Sulphur Springs. I saw a town that slowly, but steadily is growing.

" This is a beautiful town, with nice people and beautiful landscapes," joyfully exclaimed Michael Celentano, the balloon pilot.

From up high I could see familiar sights and some that I wasn't so sure about. After a few minutes of flying, I was so elated with the sight seeing that I had no idea where we

were . At that point I truly didn't care, I was just praying that once we landed the chase crew could find us.

" I was having the time of my life! " but just like the good old saying " Nothing good can last forever, " that's exactly what happened. It seemed like the wind was not in our favor, so rapidly we had to land. Mr. Celentano pointed to a green and nice looking pasture. He looked at me and said, " Here comes the fun part! " and he wasn't joking. Bounce after bounce we hit the ground hard. There were a couple of times where I could have bet that the short, Italian pilot would have bounced out of the basket and that could have been the end of him. Where would that have left me? I knew nothing about piloting a balloon.

Thankfully, we finally came to a stop.

The balloon gently started to deflate, spreading itself on the grass, showing off It's brilliant colors. According to Mr. Celentano, it was a beautiful landing. I can only imagine what a not so good landing could look like!

Even though I had to pass through two days of little sleep, it was all worth it. That Saturday afternoon will be a day to never forget!

Other balloons started landing all around us and it gave the perfect opportunity to watch them land,
just as we had minutes before.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

David and Pam Black,

My Balloon Flight Crew
And
Pilot - Michael Celentano
For this wonderful experience!

A perfect ending to an absolutely wonderful experience, when God blessed us with this
glorious sunset!!!

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