BUCKET LISTER: Hot Air Balloon Ride
March 24, 2019: As you likely know, a bucket list, by definition, is a number of experiences, achievements, or things that one hopes to accomplish during their lifetime. The term gained popularity after a movie starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson named none other than “The Bucket List” was released where the two characters, both dying of cancer, created and then accomplished their own bucket lists. Obviously, the term has been around much longer than that movie released in 2007. However, there is a bit of discrepancy over the exact origins, some of which are a bit graphic such as a method of execution used in the Middle Ages of standing on a bucket. Others are more playful like a children’s game where they would kick a ball around randomly placed buckets and if they hit the bucket, they lost the game. The common link of the term is its association with death and making a list of things to accomplish prior to “kicking the bucket.”
For both Russ and I, a hot air balloon ride was one of those bucket list items. Before we even arrived in Albuquerque, we had decided that a hot air balloon ride was a “must-do” during our time there. After all, Albuquerque is known as the Hot Air Balloon Capital of the World, so what better place to hop into a bucket tied to a big balloon for the first time. In late January, we had the chance to visit the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum where we learned some history we had never heard about, read more about that here. This also gave us a view of Balloon Fiesta Park which is home to the largest balloon festival in the world, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in the month of October. This also got us really excited about cashing in our Christmas gift of a Hot Air Balloon ride.
Once the weather warmed a bit and our Groupon deal neared its expiration, we reached out to Pilot Art of Air Carriage, LLC via email and within a few hours he had replied with the best way to schedule our maiden balloon voyage. After a quick call to his wife, we were listed as passengers on an upcoming flight the very next day with the only thing standing between us and the lift-off was a liability waiver. Because you know in this day and age - no waiver, no flight! This process was also super easy, as we were able to sign the document electronically and submit prior to our departure. Jennifer provided us with both a detailed email and detailed text with some tips for the trip as well as all the logistics of where and when to meet the following day.
If you know anything about me, I’m not a big fan of mornings. However, even I was excited with a 4:45 AM wake up call. With multiple layers, camera packed and GoPro mounted, we headed toward our meeting point on the Northwest side of Albuquerque. Based on the time of day, lucky for us that special spot was Starbucks with an opportunity to insert a jolt of caffeine. We got to meet the other three riders from our group as well as Pilot Art and his crew. He made a call to the wind & weather gods and reported it was going to be a great day for a balloon flight. We had to take his word for it because to us it sounded like the weather guy on the other end of the line was speaking a foreign language. We all loaded into a 15-passenger van with a trailer behind which was pulling the precious cargo of the basket, balloon and burners. We drove to our launch spot which was a big gravel lot behind a bank just in time to admire the beautiful sunrise over the Sandia Mountains.
The crew did most of the work getting the balloon (aka - envelope) laid out, but they did ask for some volunteers to help get the balloon inflated with air. As I stood back and watched, I snapped some photos of Russ hanging on tight to the massive balloon. It was impressive how large the dirigible was.
Before long it was time for us to load into the basket. Pilot Art said the basket could hold up to 16 people plus him, but we were glad to only have 5 passengers, Pilot Art and two of his crew members. It made for a much more comfortable and relaxed ride. As the balloon began to rise and straighten out above the basket, the help of a few bursts of gas from the high-powered propane burners, we started to get some lift. It also gave us good perspective of another balloon that was getting ready to launch.
From this very first lift, we were big fans. What a cool feeling to be soaring above the terrain of New Mexico. All of our other experiences of aerial views we have had included some sort of motor in an airplane or helicopter and with that is lots of noise. It was incredibly quiet and peaceful as we floated through the open sky. It was an absolutely lovely day and Pilot Art was full of the perfect combination of interesting information and corny jokes.
Pilot Art of Air Carriage, LLC
Not knowing exactly what to expect and only a basic understanding of the logistics of how a hot air balloon actually moves, we were shocked with how much Pilot Art was able to control our movements. With precision he took us right over the tops of trees looking for porcupines before nearly dipping the basket in the Rio Grande River before soaring back up to nearly 1500 feet.
The flight was about an hour before he started scouting out a place to land. It was fun watching the chase crew from above trying to guess which turns to make to anticipate our landing. As we soared over a high school baseball stadium, Pilot Art joked about landing us on one of the only patches of green grass in the desert landscape of Albuquerque. However knowing he would tear up the grass, he opted not to do so as he knew a bill would show up in his mailbox for repairs!! We continued over a road while he eyed up a big field of scrub bush which was home to a few skiddish jackrabbits! He warned us that the landing could be rough, but as he had demonstrated the entire time he was in complete control and executed a smooth landing. If our eyes would have been closed, we wouldn’t have even known we had hit the ground. From there, it was a little bumpy as the crew and Art’s handiwork got us a little closer to an area it would be easier to load up the balloon.
We all climbed out of the basket in what I would like to say was a graceful manner, but I’m glad there are no photos or video evidence to overturn my statement! Once the crew got the balloon all laid out on the ground, it was time for us to help. We had to fold up the balloon and get it into the carrying cart for it. It’s like trying to get a sleeping bag into its original packaging, except this sleeping bag was both huge and heavy! We eventually succeeded. We all got back in the van for a ride back to where we started. Snacks were had and stories shared before we parted ways.
While the landing meant our hot air balloon ride was over (sad face), it was a great experience from beginning to end. Definitely something we were thrilled to be able to enjoy while in Albuquerque. It may have been our first ride, but we certainly hope it won’t be our last. The views were spectacular and seeing the other balloons in the air was fantastic. I can’t imagine what the sky must look like when hundreds or even thousands of balloons launch during the Balloon Fiesta. Since we crossed one thing off our bucket list, I think we just might add attending the Balloon Fiesta one year in its place.
Before signing off with a fun video of the burner firing up in the balloon, we highly recommend Air Carriage, LLC to anyone looking to delight in a hot air balloon ride in Albuquerque. Art is a FAA-certified pilot and is extremely knowledgeable about piloting as well as the landscape he is soaring above. He and his crew clearly know what they are doing. This paired with his calming and cunning humor makes his operation one of the best in Albuquerque.
