Waaaay back in 2019 I purchased a pair of tickets to go hot air ballooning with Snohomish Balloon Rides. Ever since I was a little girl watching The Wizard of Oz on repeat from the floor of my parents' living room, I dreamt of being lifted aloft in a magical balloon experience.
I booked the last spot of that season, and was looking forward to the majestic views and heart-stopping voyage I had been imaging for decades, but that trip was thwarted by fog. "Come back next year," the owner Bob said, and I had every intention of doing so. But then, 2020.
Determined to get up this year, I emailed Bob early. "Can we still come?" I asked. He rebooked us right away, and this weekend we buzzed up to Snohomish to make the trip happen. I wore a pair of my grandma Brooks' earrings since she was a big balloon fan of any sort, to bring her along for the trip.
In the lessons learned department, during our safety talk, our pilot told us which side of the balloon would be front-facing, and I was hoping to get a spot on that side. However, we didn't hustle quite quickly enough and were placed in the back. I was a bit disappointed, but of course how can you complain when you're about to make a bucket list wish happen?
And naturally, life reminded me yet again that sometimes not getting what you want is exactly what you want, because: a) there's no bad spot on a hot air balloon b) from the back we got panoramic views of Puget Sound and the setting sun.
A few thoughts: did you know: the volume of 225,000 basketballs will fit into a hot air balloon? Piloting a balloon is significantly more difficult than I would have thought - it really is dependent on the wind and skill of the pilot. I believe we reached 2,400 feet, and then dropped into the tall grasses of the marshland (pictured below) before lifting back up and over the Snohomish River.
The challenge in taking photos from a balloon is that you're always moving. Well, that, and I was quite nervous that I would drop my phone. Well, that, and I was quite nervous to be going up at all, especially at the beginning where you go up and up, and keep on going up!
But I sallied forth, it was a perfect evening, and I hope you enjoy this collection of images from our journey.
