The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Something different happened tonight

While I was working on the front suspension of my '63 Chev, (this being the truck reference) my wife comes running into the shop and tells me to hurry outside. When I get out there, I see a hotair balloon landing in my hayfield. Within minutes about six chase vehicle and my dad come screaming down my driveway. We show them how to get to the balloon and watch them tear it down. My son even got to help some. He was grinning from ear to ear, asking a million questions which they answered. The pilot gave us her card and asked if we would be interested in a flight. Man I would, but my wife was having a panic attack just thinking about it. It's a good thing we just got that hay baled yesterday, or this situation wouldn't have been so cool.
Scott

That's cool, Scott! We had a blimp fly low over the farm tonight, too. Blimps and balloons are pretty cool and you just don't see them everyday, either.

John

The Truth is Out There (And you what will be landing next) popcorn

Hey 48BigTrucks, that is just great! The same thing happened to me a few years ago. Only I had two balloons and no hay field. They put them down right on my lawn.

The other difference was that I knew the balloonist secret. It is a tradition that the balloonist flies with a bottle of champagne to offer to the property owner in exchange for landing rights. When the first pilot asked for permission to land, I replied that I would do anything for champagne. He just laughed and told the other pilot that I knew the secret.

He was a party animal kind of guy, as well as a knowledgeable pilot. The chase trucks arrived, the neighbors came over, the pilot broke out the bottle of champagne, we all had a sip, and everyone helped pack up the balloons.

It was quite an experience.

Did it make a crop circle??

I remember when the goodyear blimp was the only one around. I live near Norton AFB which is now the San Bernardino Airport. They have some sort of Blimp test/mechanic/storage thing. I see blimps close to every day. They are very strange. Metlife, Monster.com cellular people all have blimps.

I want to ride one. Hot air balloons? How do you steer? scary.

Interesting..this brought up a memory and a discussion with my elderly ma last night.

As a child..she distinctly remembers one day in her village along the coast - she saw something coming over a far hill at low altitude...it soon began to literally fill the sky over the town...the whole village turned out to stare..

It was the Hindenburg. .huge and shiny with big swastikas and all..she said it was so low you could almost see the folks in the gondola..it followed the Nova Scotia coast down to NY as part of the route.

Scared the heck out of them and her. Up to that point they had never even a plane before.

They did have champagne to celebrate their safe voyage but didn't offer any to me. I probably would have turned it down anyway. It was enough of a spectical just to watch. It gave the kids something to talk about in school today.
Scott

We didn't have any balloons land in our yard this morning.... Although they have in the past. This weekend is the Adirondack Balloon Festival and its right up the road from my house. Over 100 balloons were scheduled to take off this morning at 6 am... maybe too windy. I've been up in a balloon several times and nothing beats the serenity and view, although all that stands between you and 10,000 ft of air is a bit of wicker We usually go, but we are going to the ATHS truck and Tractor show instead...

Andy

If you ever get a chance GO!
I took my parents up about 15 years ago and it was a blast. Up in colorado in the mountains.
Its expensive now days but its one of those things you should do.
Oh and to keep this truck related. I'm getting ready to paint in about a week :-)