21. Hot Air Balloon Ride

We went up! up! up! So much fun! I found a livingsocial deal a few months ago for a half price hot air balloon ride and couldn't turn it down. $250 for both Mike and I sounded like a much more reasonable price to check this one off the list (it was going to be more the $650 in Jackson Hole last Spring).

We woke at 3:30 this morning to drive 2 hours into the mountains for our sunrise flight. It was an early start but totally worth it!

our balloon filling up (notice how tiny our captain looks inside the giant balloon)

almost there!

upright and ready!

our basket (the couple behind us are Gators also! Gator Nation is an awesome small world)

lifting off (we didn't even notice at first, it's so smooth and effortless)

we're actually doing this!

hot air ballooning in the Colorado Rockies

so peaceful

blasting the burner to get a little higher

our view (which included an ultralight flying well beneath us)

our pilot Ken softly landed our balloon then it was time to help pack it up which started with tipping over the basket

as the balloon deflates (it's really huge - 120 feet long, 560 pounds)

the girls squished the balloon into it's container

then back to the base for a champagne toast

and a mountainside breakfast.

What a great experience! We highly recommend Colorado Hot Air Balloon Rides if you're looking for a hot air balloon adventure!

Halfway through my 30 before 30 list! Better get truckin, only 17 months to go!