"Tanner, I need you awake at 4:30 a.m. and out of the hotel shortly after." Yup, that's what everyone wants to hear on DAY 1 of their trip to Phoenix. Unfortunately, that's the reality of this assignment. (I guess there are bigger problems an employee could have.) "You're going on a hot air balloon ride to watch the sun rise over the desert." Deal!
With it still pitch black outside, I wondered how long the experience with Rainbow Ryders would take. I realized there needed to be time to unload the balloons (there were at least six going up that morning), get them upright and ultimately airborne.
It was a chilly morning -- even for a Californian in the desert -- but I could still wear shorts outside that early in the morning. For the other guests, they were bundled up as though it was the middle of winter -- which it was... but in Phoenix. (Wimps!) Very quickly, the group of tourist strangers chatted and snapped selfies as the balloons filled up. It seemed only right to get to know each other since we would be in such close quarters for the hour-long flight. Many of the folks were from out of town. A couple locals were with family members who were visiting the Phoenix area.
I pictured the flight to be like one of two things: either like the glass elevator scene at the end of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, or like looking through an airplane window and cruising through the sky. I was wrong on both accounts. Actually, you barely notice you're moving. It's sort of a trippy feeling because you see that you're coming off the ground and gliding through the air but you really can't tell. (Then again, there was little wind during our adventure so it could be different any other day.)
As we flew over Phoenix neighborhoods, we actually went overtop a passenger's house. She even called down and waved to her husband. With the flight coming to an end, we touched down in a field and were greeted by champagne and orange juice. What a way to end the journey! We had a couple of "cheers!" moments and things got giggly on the way back to the Rainbow Ryders office... where breakfast was served and more drinks were consumed.
