This weekend is the annual Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic at Keiser Park in Windsor. A delightful event filled with whimsical mirth and propane fueled merriment for everyone.
Except for Splash. He went. Once.
(this picture taken pre-Filbert the Kidney…thus, Dialysis face…)
He has suffered from an overwhelming fear of heights (translation: he doesn’t wish to land face first on the pavement)
Intending to vanquish his fear, he arrived on a Friday morning for Media Day to defy gravity and hover the heavens above Sonoma County.
Bad idea.
Joining Stacey K from sister station Hot 101.7, he entered a 10′ x 6′ wicker basket with pilot Jane (yes, you need a pilot’s license)
When Splash is fearful or uncertain, he doesn’t freak out — he gets eerily quiet. As the craft reached the top of the trees at the west end of Keiser Park, Splash asked, “How high are we going to go?”
“At least 1000 feet,” replied their fearless guide.
For whatever reason, Splash assumed this would be a quick, fifty foot ride.
The more altitude they gained, the lower in the basket Splash became. Eventually he was on the floor, quiet, nervous, and nearly in a panic filled state. Still, not a sound uttered; his eyes spoke the truth of the matter.
After fifteen minutes of this, Splash’s nervousness was spilling over to the pilot, so she decided to land and allow him to disembark.
Unlike other aircraft, you can’t specifically land a hot air balloon.
They ended up landing near the forty yard line of the well manicured field of Windsor High School (go Warriors!)
With the ground crew in tow, Splash climbed two psyclone fences to reach back to Keiser Park and hug the forest green lawn and announce his triumph over gravity and its perilous powers.
When all the pilots and riders gathered together at the end, everyone agreed that was the first and only time they’ve experienced that with a passenger in the history of hot air ballooning.
So, you know, Splash has that going for him.
Tickets can be found HERETY HERE HERE.
P.S…Splash also fears long legged spiders, tight spaces, and losing Filbert the Kidney.
