Day 6- Up Through the Atmosphere, Up Where the Air is Clear

"When you send it flying up there, 

All at once, you're lighter than air.

You can dance on the breeze

Over houses and trees.

With your fist holding tight to the string of your kite.

Oh let's go fly a kite

Up to the highest heights

Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring.

Up through the atmosphere

Up where the air is clear

Oh let's go fly a kite."

-Mary Poppins.

So I know that song isn't about riding in a hot air balloon, but it's the song that played through my mind as I was soaring above the Arches National Park in Utah.  This was one of my favorite songs as a child and I used to sing it when I would swing on the swings at the playground.  

A couple from Arkansas, 2 men from Israel, and 1 man from Paris, and I all met up at 5:30am for the balloon ride.  As the balloon was being set up, I talked with the Arkansas couple.  The man was very excited to hear that I lived near New Haven, CT- supposedly there are a bunch of guns manufactured there.  Direct quote (said in a deep southern accent), "I wish that I could live close to there.  I could drive down and get me a gun anytime that I please.  Do you own a Colt?"  I apologized that I, in fact, did not own a gun.  The man seemed very disappointed.  When we got into the balloon, he then asked the Captain if he had ever shot down deer from the balloon.  

The Captain also informed us that he was really unable to steer the balloon and that our destination would be based on where the winds would take us.  Surprisingly, this was the first flight this year where the winds brought us directly over the Arches!  He said that this only happens 1-2 times a year and that it was a very very special occasion.  The Captain even took out his camera to capture this rare event!

My morning shadow against the balloon.  "Crawl up the mountain to reach where the eagles fly... And if you put it all together, you won't have to look around. You know you cast a long shadow on the ground." Joe Strummer

Preparing the balloon for flight.

Inflating

Looking up into the balloon.  Gorgeous colors! 

6am Moon over the Utah Desert.

It reminds me of the elephant-inside-snake picture from Le Petite Prince.

Devil's Garden- Arches National Park

Balloon Shadow

Our landing site.  This is the only time that I got butterflies in my stomach.  It was the first time that I looked down.  I was solid after that!

Ready to fly! 

The ground from the basket.

Landscape Arch 

I'm a bird!  I'm flying!

Moon over the desert.

We landed!  Basically, you have to curl up in the fetal position at the bottom of the basket and hang onto the straps.  You land on your back with you feet up in the air (the basket is on its side).  Crazy fun!  It was like being in a super exhilarating bumpy rollercoaster.

There was sparkling wine waiting for us when we landed to toast a stellar flight!!!

One last picture of the ground.



More adventures to come later today!



So today was mainly a rest-up day.  I stayed in Moab, UT and walked around town with a new friend that I made.  On my way back from the balloon ride, I gave a man from Paris a ride to town.  He knew just enough English and I knew just enough French to have a semi-descent Franglish conversation.  My favorite part of traveling- meeting new people!  Over lunch, we discussed the difference in politics between France and the US and how the government and jobs stiff us out of a decent holiday break (He gets 5 weeks of paid vacation every year!).


Tomorrow will be my last day in the desert.  I'm headed toward the Rockies and Colorado!