The big draw for the Color the
Skies event is the beautiful array of hot air balloons. These aerial behemoths
are splendid in their silent beauty floating with seemingly effortless ease
above the earth which we mere mortals trod day in and day out oblivious to the
beauty of our surroundings. But on this weekend, if only for a brief time, you
can be lifted up above the mundane and take in a view you have likely not
experienced before.
So, on Friday morning I arose
from my slumber to be down at the launch area while it was still dark. My
daughter, Laura, as an employee of the Chamber, told me they needed some folks
to be willing to go on a ride that morning. Well, let me tell you, she didn’t
need to ask me twice! I wore jeans and my “hoodie” so that I was prepared for possible
cooler air once we were soaring above the fruited fields. It was indeed a cool
morning, but I needn’t have worried about being cool myself with a king-sized
flame thrower a few feet above my head which provided all the hot air needed to
sail away.
Hot air balloons always intrigued
me. Probably my first exposure to these aircraft was when the movie, “Around
the World in 80 Days” came out in 1956, starring David Niven (as Phileas Fogg),
Cantinflas (as Jean Passepartout), and Shirley MacLaine (as Aouda). A wonderful
scene I remember was when Passepartout grabbed the ice bucket and snagged a
bunch of snow off the top of a mountain peak as they sailed too close for
comfort to the craggy tops. But the very British Phileas Fogg must have his
champagne chilled, don’t you know. What a great story! There was even a damsel
in distress (MacLaine, I believe). And all centered on traveling in a hot air
balloon. To my young, impressionable mind it all looked like oodles of fun!
Then when my folks and I migrated
to Los Angeles, California from Wellesley, Massachusetts in 1965 we made the
obligatory pilgrimage to Disneyland soon after arriving in the Golden State.
The amusement park was celebrating its 10th anniversary that year.
One of the venues I enjoyed the most, along with the ride on the Matterhorn,
was the film, “To Fly.” It was a depiction of man’s coming of age in “slipping the
surly bonds of earth,” defying the law of gravity. The part of the film I
particularly enjoyed was a reenactment by a fellow in a hot air balloon set back
in the late 1800s, sailing above the countryside, startling people along the
way as they saw this big balloon sailing over their heads. One poor fellow was
high on a ladder painting the church steeple (probably the pastor). The hot air
balloon passed just over him, startling him so that he spilled his white wash,
and nearly tumbled to the ground, while the pilot of the balloon was apologizing
profusely all the while sailing off into the distance.
Well, none of those things
happened on this Friday morning in Ripon. It was “media day” where various
members of the local news agencies were invited to go for a ride. I was
assigned as a crew member on one of these balloons along with local CPA, Tom
Vermuellen. Laura was assigned to another balloon so we waved to each other and
took pictures of the others balloon in flight. It was all a blast! One of my
responsibilities was to hold the tether line attached at the top of the balloon
as it was being inflated by the flame. As the balloon filled with the hot air
it was my job to hold it as steady as possible while the balloon portion filled
and rose above the basket. While I was so engaged, I heard voices behind me. I
took a quick glance over my shoulder to see who it was. A young lady,
identifying herself as a reporter from the Modesto Bee, asked me for my name. I
told her but couldn’t take the time to chat as the balloon was filling rapidly
and I found myself wrestling with a temperamental gas bag that could hold upwards
of 77,000 basketballs (according to our pilot).
Tom and I carefully slid into
the basket along with the pilot for our morning’s journey. Three men and
several bottles of propane filled all the available space on this craft.
Lifting off is the best part. You just silently rise into the air. During the
ride, besides conversation, the only noise is the firing of the propane flame
to elevate the balloon to your desired height.
We sailed out over the rich
farmland around Ripon. The numerous orchards of walnuts and almonds, plus
identifying local structures, such as Colony Oak, my granddaughter’s elementary
school, was all part of the adventure. We also floated over a part of the
Spring Creek Golf Course where I play several times a week. What really puzzled
me was my inability to recognize the different holes. They look so different
from this lofty position!
Our chase vehicle followed us to
our landing in a farmer’s fallowed field. About six of the balloons landed in
this field. It was there that we went to work packing the balloon and stowing
it in the chase vehicle for the ride back to the park. We were probably in the
air just under an hour altogether. Because the winds pick up about 8:30ish in
the morning, the balloons have to set back down so as not to wind up a tangled
mess somewhere.
I haven’t seen it, but I’m told
my picture was in the Modesto Bee. The reporterette apparently took my picture
from behind me with a view looking on as the balloon
gradually filled with hot air. Attempting to put a good face on this, I’ve told
folks that my backside is on the front side of the newspaper!
It was all great fun, and I look
forward to doing it again someday.
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