44 Nebraskaland • July 2021
started.
The roughest part of the whole experience was the landing.
Despite our pilot's capable skills and experience fl ying all
over Europe and the United States, the wind will do what the
wind does and the big balloon shall go with it. After a couple
of attempts at a "standing landing," Maguire advised us to
brace ourselves because "we're going over."
Upon touchdown, the gondola went to its side and skidded
to a stop. The three of us, stacked horizontally, looked at one
another with a hearty laugh.
As soon as Maguire coached us from the basket and our
feet were on the ground, another balloon was coming in for
a landing nearby. As he had done many times in the past,
Maguire raced to get a hand on the basket and help those
passengers have a much smoother landing than ours.
The Teal Octopus' trailer, which had been following us
from below, soon arrived, and we loaded up the balloon.
Amazingly, the vessel that seemed so large moments before
was neatly packed into the small space of the trailer. Upon
returning to the festival grounds, the veteran pilot regaled us
with a traditional ballooning story and a toast. The perfect
ending to an amazing experience.
Those who have not experienced this mode of travel have
opportunities to do so. The Nebraska Balloon Club's website,
nebraskaballoonclub.org, has a directory of about 25 pilots
who charter fl ights.
For those who want to experience balloon culture but stay
grounded, many opportunities exist.
A photo taken from the "Teal Octopus," a balloon owned by Douglas Gary Maguire of Allenspark, Colorado,
shows the Old West Balloon Fest at Mitchell Airfi eld in Scotts Bluff County.
