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Cool mornings are best. Not
for Floridians but for Hot Air Ballooning.
Sunday morning, November 18 at 6:00 am, my wife Dorith and I were
picked up by our Hot Air Balloon pilot Dave Fuller.
We met Dave while riding our bicycles through the community of
World Golf Village. Dave had
recently moved into the King and Bear as we had. He told us of his
ballooning business and moving from Orlando to the St Augustine area.
Without my knowing it, Dorith booked a ballooning trip with Dave
as an anniversary gift. Our
30th anniversary.
Some weeks later, this was to be the day of our adventure!
We were a little
nervous. We had hardly ever
seen hot air balloons but when we
did, often wondered what it would be like to go aloft and view the sites
while floating high in the air.
This was something that you watched others do on the Discovery
Channel but not something you did yourself.
Am I right?
Are you with me here? |
I must admit, the flames had me a little
concerned |
|
Balloon filled and ready to go! |
Our Pilot Dave picked us up at the swim and tennis
center. We hopped in his van and
drove over to the new fire house next to Murabella.
He was looking at this vacant lot for our landing site.
This was our target. After sending a couple of small helium
balloons aloft to check wind direction, we headed out to find a suitable
launching spot. A new soccer
field on CR 210 looked like a good spot but after sending another sample
balloon into the air, it appeared that launching from this location
might float us too far to the west.
That would have us landing in the St John’s River.
Not a good thing. So…further
east we went, to a small clearing just east of I-95 on CR 210.
In no time at all, Dave and his assistant filled the huge balloon
with hot air and off we went. .. Up, Up… and away!! |
