It all started on Friday night, June 26th. Dad and I attended a free concert in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square—Scottish Bagpipes and Drums. The group was called the Wasatch & District Pipe Band, based in Bountiful with members from Ogden to Payson. The Pipe “Major” is a math teacher at Bountiful High School. There were about 16 bagpipers and 10-12 drummers, plus a group of young girl dancers who did the Highland Fling and the Sword Dance. The group performs and competes, has received a number of awards and are planning a trip to Scotland in 2 years. The music was loud and lively and we enjoyed it. (It was supposed to have been presented in the park, but due to the rain—a real thunder bumper and downpour just after we got seated—it was moved indoors.)
On Saturday we got up early and spent from 9:00am until 6:00pm distributing another 5 cubic yards of bark around the rest of the yard. Ugh, our backs are sore! We’re all done except for the rocks in the moat which we can finish in an hour or two. At 8:30pm we drove to Park City for dinner at Ruby Tuesdays and spent the night at the Landmark Inn in Kimball Junction…exit to Park City. I got up at 5:30am the next day for my Hot Air Balloon Ride! It was a great experience lasting 3 hours. I spent an hour sailing through a cloudless sky on a beautiful morning. We reached nearly 12,000 feet…a mile high above the ground (Park City is already about a mile high). It was so calm and peaceful. We traveled about 5 miles total at a speed of 5 to 6 miles an hour. We actually got to land twice because a small puff of air carried us over a fence away from the pick-up crew. We got to help inflate the balloon and pack it back up. We celebrated with a champagne/orange juice “toast.” What an experience! (Maybe I'll be able to post a video later.)
Our balloon named Gold Digger (with gold metallic patches) is just about inflated enough to turn upright. Another balloon in the background is just taking off with a bigger (up to 12 people) basket. A third red balloon is floating up and away from us.
There are 5 passengers (Sara and son Issac from Payson, Skylar and Rochelle, a young couple from American Fork, and moi the birthday girl) and the balloonist pilot (Will originally from Austria with 14 years experience), ready to launch! Our basket (it's only about 6' x 4') has a small rectangular hole in it just below me (maybe 6"x10") to step into and fling your leg over the edge to get into the basket. There are liquid propane tanks on either end of the floor.
Up, up and away...sailing, soaring over lush green Park City.
Looking straight up into the top of the balloon (yellow circle) as the flame heats the air.
Looking down at a parking lot over the edge of the basket as we descend after an hour of "skywalking" (the company name is Skywalker.)
This shot was taken at about our highest point, looking west, you can see the Great Salt Lake and Kennecott...we've caught up to the multi-colored balloon.
The Wasatch & District Pipe Band in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square. The Pipe Major is standing on the left facing the band. Four girl drummers are on the back left twirling their pompom drumsticks, 4 more drummers are below them and there are 2 bass drums, center back.
Scottish lassies ready to perform the Highland Fling. 
No comments:
Post a Comment