Colorful balloons provide breath-taking rides, sights in Foley
Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival in Foley (Karim Shamshi-Basha)
“Bend your knees and brace yourself,” hot air balloon pilot Tim Slattery yelled as we approached the ground at what seemed to be a high speed.
A million thoughts went through my head: “This may be it,” or, “Why did this have to be on my bucket list?” I tucked my cameras into my chest, bent my knees – a lot, and held onto the edges of the wicker basket like they were a lifeline on the Titanic. The balloon came down sideways at a pretty good clip, and then bumped the grass.
Taking in Alabama from a hot-air balloon in Foley from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
I vividly remember the liftoff after the bump as my feet elevated a few inches off the floor of the basket, and I said a few things I shouldn’t have. We bumped again. I crept even lower, now almost on my knees, only for the basket to lift off again, still moving sideways, and bumping a few more times.
“Whatever you do,” Slattery screamed at a crewman, “we can’t hit those lights.” We had landed at the Foley Airport near the runway. (I know, the irony!)
The balloon dragged us about 40 feet while I braced, with the basket heading toward the runway determined to crash into the metal lights. Slattery bellowed at a crewman standing nearby to “put weight on.” He jumped on the basket, forcing it to a stop three feet away from a metal light that would have ripped the wicker basket to shreds.
I breathed.
This was my first ride in a hot air balloon at the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival this past weekend in Foley. Forty pilots from around the South convened at Tanger Outlet mall to participate in what Slattery called a “once-in-a-life-time-sport.”
Despite the rough landing, flying between Earth and sky in a wicker basket carried by a balloon and propelled by hot air was poetic, silent, reflective and peaceful. As we glided among tens of other balloons heading wherever the wind wished, I thought of man’s never-ending quest to compete with those born with wings.
The four-day-festival provided a Glow Show at the mall on Thursday night with thousands watching and cheering. It also included several flights over the Foley and the Gulf Shores area. Residents and tourists have enjoyed the astounding scenery for 12 years.
“There is absolutely nothing like it,” Slattery said. “To fly that high carried by nothing but a balloon. It gets in your blood. I have been doing this for 13 years, and I love sharing the experience with people.
“It’s something that’s on many bucket lists – all the peace and quiet interrupted by an occasional loud blast of the burner. People seek thrill in many different ways, to me, this thrill is special,” he said.
I have to admit; the thrill was intoxicating. Then, Slattery mentioned something else that elevated that thrill-seeking to a new level.
“I have had cancer survivors ask for balloon rides. They’ve either survived cancer or are getting close to the end of life,” Slattery said. “When they are running out of time, the joy they experience, well, there’s nothing like it. I will always remember their reaction after we land. Many start crewing and fly again and again.”
I will always be thankful for this ride and the thrill and joy I experienced, combined with the excitement of what I thought was a rough landing. I asked Slattery to rate that landing from one to 10, with 10 being the roughest.
“That was about a three,” Slattery said in a matter-of-fact way.
I will make sure I am unavailable if there is ever a 10 to be experienced.
