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Hey, this is the archive section. Pick a year, pick a month, have a nosey.Shortie
Full of hot air
21-06-2010No not me actually. But rather our mode of transport on Saturday. In case you haven't already guessed, it was our hot air balloon ride.
A lovely present from the other half's Mummy/Mam we booked it a few weeks ago, hoped for nice weather and began counting down the days. At the time we booked it when we had a weekend free. We knew it would be an early morning start so we figured it was best to just have an early morning start with a balloon ride, that’s plenty for one weekend. Fast forward four weeks and add on a comedy competition we had to attend on the Friday night and a birthday celebration for a friend on the Saturday night. So it was as usual, all go for us.
As early starts go, I am not a fan. At all. Never mind a 4am early start after getting in from a night out at 1am. So I was kinda looking like the walking dead by the time we got to Navan. Was it worth it? Without a doubt.
Not a bad sight for an early morning
There were three other couples with us on the morning and we all had to pitch in, help unload the balloon and inflate it. This involved us holding the base of the balloon open while cold air was blown into it. Sounds easy right? Try telling that to the other half who got swept away when it inflated a little bit too much and a gust of wind caught him. Did I laugh? A little. Okay a lot. Fine, fine, I may have pointed, laughed and doubled over in hysterics.
After inflating the balloon with cold air, it was pumped with hot air (from the profane - is that even how to spell that?) - nothing makes you feel as safe as knowing you are about to climb into a basket of wicker propelled by fire. Once it was ready and barely being held down it was time to rush, run, hoist your leg and jump in the basket as quickly as possible before the balloon floated of. Cue more giggling as you can imagine.
Almost there
The ride itself was nothing like I imagined. Those who know me know that I am a bit nervous when it comes to heights; however once up in the air it was really surreal. It was as if we were not moving in the balloon but the ground below us was being moved. It was so still, not even a breeze. The views were spectacular and that’s putting it mildly. We got great weather and you could see for miles.
What's that?!
The landing was, well an experience. Mainly because we landed in a field of fresh hay ready to be cut, before the balloon tipped over and we were dragged through the grass. Nothing about this is scary, it's all very slow motion, and you gently tip over so there is barely a bump, we were warned before hand that this is the norm so at least we were ready for it. The crap part was that I have really bad hay fever and even though I had taken my prescribed stuff only that morning, I climbed out of the basket covered in pollen and instantly the eyes, nose and throat were playing up. I am still recovering now.
Would I do it again even with the landing in a pollen overload? Hell yeah!! If anyone feels this might tickle their fancy they should check out www.balloonflights.ie - a very romantic Christmas or birthday present for the ladies or a bit of an adventure for the boys.
Tags: shortie news meanderings
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