On Saturday morning, we got up early and ate breakfast at Jakes, less than a mile away but the only time we took the car throughout the weekend. With our recent trip driving across England and Scotland, this was a very relaxing shift. Then we went into the festival for the day. We bought many artisan goods including a festival t-shirt and poster, a quilled squirrel picture, and a few Christmas gifts. We saw Pups in the Air - a really great show with crazy talented dogs and handlers, a juggler, and hung out for awhile in the beer tent. Many lemonades later, we stood in line and waited to check in for our balloon ride. They looked up our last name and gave us our boarding passes, and we signed a couple papers releasing the festival for liability. We then met up with our pilot for the evening, Chris Ritland. Chris is a local from Quechee who was inspired at the festival as a small child to take up ballooning. Chris discussed the process and answered any questions we had and then told us it would be awhile until we took flight. Ballooning is really safe, he told us because we cancel about 25% of the flights. If anything seems unsafe, they just don't go. The wind was a little much at the moment, but he expected that in about an hour we would be good to go. We hung out and looked at picture books depicting highlights of his previous flights. At around 7pm, we got to help blow up our balloon with Carolyn and Andrew - the other couple going up with us in the balloon. We were all able to be a part of every step of the process and it was so cool! There was balloons going up all around us and we were in the middle of this magical cloud field full of rainbows of color bursts.
Chris and his lovely chase crew (also his family) helped to pack up the balloon and bring it back to the festival for the evening performance. This time, we got to be part of the action at the Balloon Glow. We enjoyed champagne as well as laughter and for a moment...just a moment...considered remaining in Quechee for much longer than the weekend. Which is what makes a weekend away just so special. Our Airbnb in Quechee: www.airbnb.com/rooms/6575015 - $322.44 for 2 nights
Chris Ritlands website for Ballooning with "Carrots" :www.quecheeballoonrides.com - $500 for 2 Chamber of Commerce Balloon Festival: www.quecheeballoonfestival.com/balloon-ride-registration/ - $15 tickets for the weekend The Parker House - www.theparkerhouseinn.com Simon Pearce - www.simonpearce.com
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |