I’ve always been in awe of the gracefulness and colors of hot air balloons. I love the huge swaths of fabric sewn together to create bulbous rainbows. I love the moment when the balloons go from laying on their sides to standing straight up in the air. I love how, even though all the hot air balloons are basically floating in the same place, they all manage to capture their own piece of space and move at different speeds and in different patterns than those around them.
Though I’ve been a spectator and balloon chaser, it wasn’t until this year that I had the opportunity to actually ride in a hot air balloon at the Great Reno Balloon Race in Reno, Nevada. Though I’ve always loved the spectacle of hot air balloons from the ground, this year I also got to enjoy the view from a basket high in the sky. Here are some of my favorite images from the event.
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Abby
Amazing!! Hot air ballooning is so special to my hometown, but the one time I went, I was so scared. I love your pics!
September 27, 2011 at 10:12 am
JoAnna
Thanks, Abby! I had forgotten that you grew up in Albuquerque! I would love to check out its hot air balloon festival some day.
September 30, 2011 at 10:40 am
Jenna Vandenberg
Fantastic pictures! Was it scary? Are you going to the big balloon festival in New Mexico next month too?
September 28, 2011 at 6:47 am
JoAnna
It wasn’t very scary at all, Jenna. I hope to write about it more in depth later, but I had to share my pictures right away! I can see how someone with vertigo might panic a bit, but I thought it was fun!
And, nope, no plans to hit up the Albuquerque festival at this time, though I’d like to some day.
September 30, 2011 at 10:41 am
Jill
Fabulous pics! Love the colors!
September 28, 2011 at 3:28 pm
JoAnna
It was SO beautiful, and with the morning sun, everything was just a bit more vivid. I loved the colors of the balloons!
September 30, 2011 at 10:42 am
Deb
Gorgeous! I haven’t ridden a hot air balloon yet but it’s high on my list. Your photos are fantastic, well done!
September 30, 2011 at 7:32 am
JoAnna
Thanks, Deb! I had so much fun ~ highly recommended for an adventure junkie like you!
September 30, 2011 at 10:52 am
Sophie
Very cool photos, JoAnna. A ride in a hot air balloon is high on my list. It’s possible to do that at the Masai Mara, I once read. Wouldn’t it be excellent to view lions and elephants from above while floating silently by…
October 1, 2011 at 8:28 am
JoAnna
It was so much fun to ride in a hot air balloon, Sophie! And, yes, I did know you could do this in East Africa. In fact, it’s on my Life List to ride in a hot air balloon over the Serengeti, for exactly the reasons you mentioned.
October 13, 2011 at 8:09 am
Emily S.
They do this in St. Louis every year, and it’s one of my favorite events!
November 10, 2011 at 10:43 am
JoAnna
Have you ridden in a hot air balloon. Emily?
November 14, 2011 at 4:38 pm