A High Time! August 14

Patricia and I have been friends pretty much since we first met on Hilton Head about 35 years ago.  We were both small business owners operating in the same shopping plaza.  I suppose that was our shared interest back in those days but our friendship has grown over the years to be one of my most cherished.  Ten years ago we started a tradition.   Our birth years are 10 years apart.  During our 50/60 birthday year, we decided we needed to do something new and exciting and we went skydiving together!

2018/19 was our next decade year and we were determined not to let it slip by without our big event.  When we found that our trips were crossing each other in Canada, we started looking for just the right thing.  Voila!  (that’s nearly my only French, by the way!)  We stumbled onto the Montreal Mongolfier-fest … the Balloon Festival!   We reconvened in Ste Jean sur Richelieu for the big event. 

Rob and I arrived early and got settled in – yup – yet ANOTHER WalMart.  Martin, owner of Montreal Mongolfiere, came to pick Rob and I up and take us to the festival where we enjoyed the afternoon watching kids on the endless rides and enjoying the beautiful day.  As we waited for Pat and Jay to arrive in their shuttle, we stopped at the virtual reality tent where we got a taste of what was to come – virtually! 

Finally the appointed time was upon us.  Martin and partner, Kati, were a total delight to ride with.  Also along were Patricia’s friend Mariana and two gals from Romania – a basket full of great women – and Martin!  What fun we had!  With great care at every step, we got the balloon full, the basket upright and us all loaded. 

It happened so fast.  Only 15 minutes earlier, the field was barely more than a parking lot of trucks and trailers!  When the festival director announced that conditions were safe, the owners wasted no time and 85 balloons were unloaded and prepped for take-off.  What a sight!  Spectacular, colorful creations expanded and took off in a fraction of an hour.

We were up!  With the whoosh of the propane fire and shouts of excitement we rose higher and higher becoming more and more awestruck.  Martin was a thoroughly professional pilot but was not in the least bit short of personality!  An entertainer from minute one, he kept us intrigued with different experiences.  We rose high enough to touch the clouds and low enough to grab leaves from the trees!  We caught different winds at different levels and traveled over farms and rivers and forest. 

We floated for more than an hour before it was time to touch down.  Balloons have no way besides riding currents to determine direction.  Every ride they make is unique with landing being planned via radio to the catch team during the flight.  We set down in a cleared farm field and Martin pulled out a celebratory bottle of champagne which was enjoyed by all.

We hopped in the van for the ride back to the festival and our waiting husbands with a grand experience under our belts.  A fitting end to the decade behind and a great start to the one ahead!