Boulder Hot Air Balloon Lands In My Back Yard

My Close Encounter With A Hot Air Balloon

Fair Winds Hot Air Balloon postcard shot from my front lawn

This is a true story. No names have been changed, everything you are about to read took place on the last Saturday of September. All the events occurred right next door to my house in a big field. The Fair Winds hot air balloon landed gracefully right next door to my home and I had my camera with me to take some fantastic close up shots.

Be Sure to see 2016 Festival blog here!

Be sure to check out the extensive photo blog to see the Boulder hot air balloon packed into a box in moments. I also learned an important lesson: there are stickery weeds in that field – next time I go into that field, wear shoes!! Guess I was pretty excited!

So I’m Sitting At My Desk

And I hear this loud sound – that turns out to be the burner on a hot air balloon. When I rush outside, there is the Fair Winds balloon, just across from my home. Usually, I see the balloons far off in the distance. What an amazing treat to see this one up close and personal. I waved at the ballooners and they waved back. It became very clear: this hot air balloon is going to land in the field right next door to my home. This is very exciting start to my Saturday!!

Selfie, Bob Gordon and the Fair Winds hot air balloon that landed practically in my yard

Jeff The Fair Winds Pilot

Jeff the pilot called out a “Hello” to me and I walked much closer to the hot air ballooning expedition. I could now see there quite a few people in the basket of the balloon. Jeff the pilot stood in his own little area of the balloon, controlling the descent for a super smooth landing. His support crew quickly appeared in the field with a van and cargo trailer to pick up the hot air balloon as soon as the air is let out.

not the remax balloon, just two balloons in Boulder — I shot this photo months ago, taken from about 2 miles away. Much more common to see hot air balloon in the distance. Base upon the patter, pretty certain that is the Fair Winds balloon on the left. My home is in the distance.

One by one, the occupants hopped out of the basket. Next, the Fair Winds crew quickly set about rolling up the balloon material and forcing the warmed air out. The crew was really efficient at their task. I took this moment to meet some of passengers and hear about their adventures.

Patrick and Andrea Celebrate Their 1 Year Wedding Anniversary

While the Fair Winds hot air balloon crew picks up the balloon, I take a moment to chat with one of the couples. Patrick and Andrea are celebrating their one year anniversary. I ask about the wedding, “Oh – that’s a story!” exclaims Andrea.

This couple was set to be married in Estes Park a year ago when the terrible Boulder flooding took place. They had to change their venue at the last moment. Fortunately, a group of wedding planners got together and formed a group to assist couples in locating a new space for their festivities. Patrick and Andrea got to tie the knot at home plate at Coors Field, home to the Colorado Rockies.

Today they celebrated their first year of marriage with a romantic hot air balloon ride. They said the ride was calm and peaceful with gorgeous views. Jeff the pilot is an entertaining guy who really knows the area and shared plenty of great tales. And bonus, the landing in the field added a bit of excitement to the finale.

Off Into The Wild Blue Yonder

Just as I finished chatting with Patrick and Andrea, the crew finished loading their balloon into their support vehicles. Moments later, there was no sign of the ballooning group in the field next door to my house. Jeff shared a goodie bag with me as a parting gift. It includes all sorts of great stuff: a wonderful t-shirt, brochures for the area, a split of champagne, a custom pin and a post card that I’ve already sent off to my nieces and nephew. What a great adventure. I might have to try a ride in a hot air balloon with Fair Winds one of these days – especially if I can be dropped off in the field next door to my own house!!

Fair Winds Hot Air Balloon Go From Flight To Truck

fair winds hot air balloon coming in for a landing at my house — The shadow on the road is from the Fair Winds Hot Air Balloon. I’m standing on my front porch as I snap the photo and can hear the passengers in the basket

hot air balloon landing — Touch-down. The hot air balloon basket is on the ground near my house

landed hot air balloon with passengers preparing to disembark — Close up of Jeff the pilot (outside of the basket) and passengers disembarking from their hot air balloon ride. The passengers have 2 standing room only compartments.

3 The crew is onsite really quickly. The guy in the foreground arrived by truck, just outside of the picture. He grabs a line attached to the top of the balloon; in the following photo the hot air balloon is already being pulled onto its side.

Touch down. The hot air balloon lands next to my house — Touch down. This Boulder hot air balloon lands next to my house. The crew begin to pull the balloon over on its side to deflate

balloon landed on field in boulder county — Fair Winds balloon looms over a nearby tree just before it is deflated

balloon in boulder county field starting to deflate — Fair Winds Balloon starting to deflate

hot air balloon crew pulling balloon down to the ground — The crew is pulling the balloon to the ground

8 Watching the Boulder hot air balloon quickly deflate. A team works together, using hand held radios to communicate. Three guys up front are pulling the balloon to the ground. Cool air is added to the balloon as it falls to the side, to help spread out the material for the next step.