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As we lift off into the morning sunrise my first instinct is to clutch the handles for dear life. We reach ten feet faster than I had imagined and as we climb ever higher I have to remind myself that this is no jet airplane. For someone that hates to fly, this contraption only takes a moment to get used to. My grip relaxes as we soar closer to the golden sun that paints the Sierra-Nevada mountains the color of red and gold that you only see in dreams. My pilot gives me a comforting nod and I finally muster up the courage to stare over the side of the basket of my first ever hot air balloon ride.
The sight below me takes more breath away then the morning cold. Below me I can see all of Reno and my first thought is, "I wonder if they named it "The Biggest Little City in the World" whilst up in a hot air balloon?" This is no fly-by though. Moving at a majestic 3-5 mph, I have plenty of time during my hour flight to check out all the spots I know and love. As our altitude varies as high as 3,000 feet at times, to as low as 10 feet, I can study the face on top of Mt. Rose with detail, or lightly brush the treetops of my favorite parks.
I've dressed warm for our eight a.m. departure, but the intermediate "blasts" of hot air into the balloon actually keeps it quite toasty. Our basket holds just the pilot and I, but he tells me they have sizes that can hold up to 16 people comfortably. "Children?" I ask, "Once they are over six, they can usually see over the basket by then."
The majesty and peacefulness of a quiet one hour balloon ride has left me with the experience of a lifetime. We lightly touch down and we seal a magical morning with a bottle of champagne, during which I inquire on how to start training to become a pilot for one of these upside down light bulbs. The pilot gives me an all to familiar smile. The guy afraid of flights and heights wants to be a pilot now.
To book your flight today call 1-800-585-5555 for Reno Balloon Rides
