New Mexico and Seeking Nirvana
Friday early afternoon, and now we are on the road to New Mexico. We are expected to arrive, and will visit with my woman falconer friend, Sharon Hartshorn, and her husband, Tony. I met Sharon over the Internet. She has an online web site where she chronicles her falconry activities. I found her site, http://www.spiritwind.cc/hawke/falconry/falconry.html, several years ago, and began an e-mail correspondence with her. We met at the 2004 NAFA meet, and hunted bunnies together. She invited me to visit her should I ever be in the area, and I’ve decided to take her up on the offer. She has also recently pursued and achieved her hot air balloon pilot license. So, if we have good weather tomorrow morning, she is going to give us a balloon ride. I told her that I had brought my falconry gauntlet with me. She said something about me helping her to change out some jesses on her redtail, Zephyr.
So, we are on the road, traveling more of the desolate areas of Colorado. We just had the “pleasure” of stopping at a seedy roadside gas station. In the open areas, you have to take what choices you have. Sure, it had gas, which is primarily what we needed. And we could use one of the credit cards that we have. But the restrooms left a lot to be desired! Very old and very dirty. If you have done much road travel, coming across a truly clean and tidy bathroom is a pleasure! This one was not in that category! YUCK!!
We are now back on the road, and just passed over into New Mexico. Sharon has promised us Mexican food tonight! Sounds good to us! Just haven’t found good Mexican food in Wisconsin!
So, we are on the road, traveling more of the desolate areas of Colorado. We just had the “pleasure” of stopping at a seedy roadside gas station. In the open areas, you have to take what choices you have. Sure, it had gas, which is primarily what we needed. And we could use one of the credit cards that we have. But the restrooms left a lot to be desired! Very old and very dirty. If you have done much road travel, coming across a truly clean and tidy bathroom is a pleasure! This one was not in that category! YUCK!!
We are now back on the road, and just passed over into New Mexico. Sharon has promised us Mexican food tonight! Sounds good to us! Just haven’t found good Mexican food in Wisconsin!
* * *
We arrived to Sharon and Tony’s home in the later afternoon. She showed us around her home, and we got to see her feed her Harris’s Hawk, PeeWee. She also showed us the very large cottonwood tree in her yard that came down the night before. It was an old tree, and the base has been rotting away with age, ants and squirrels. Finally, it could stand up no longer. Fortunately, it fell in such a way as to not harm the house, and simply lay across the fence, not harming it. Sharon was sad to see it come down, and vows to plant a seedling in its place. But she’s thankful it didn’t come down on the house!
They took us for Mexican Food . . . and the place they chose was all that it promised to be!! We cannot get good Mexican food in Wisconsin. This stuff fought back, as it should. It was a wonderful meal, and we waddled out, incapable of eating another bite! We returned to their home, where Sharon made preparations for the flight for the next day. After checking e-mail using her high-speed direct hookup to my laptop, we were off to bed. It would be an early morning.
The alarm was set for 4:00, but I was awake prior to that, because I couldn’t sleep. I was restless. We got up and dressed and ready to go. Sharon told us to not bother showering, advising us that we would need a shower after the ride to get, as she referred to it, the “Enchantment” out of everything. After all, New Mexico is the “Land of Enchantment”. In other words . . . it’s a very dusty land, and we would be dusty afterwards, and need a shower. Yeah Right!!
We first stopped at a convenience store, so Tony and I could get some coffee. Shawn had a cold cappuccino that Sharon had given him. We then drove to a Walgreen’s parking lot and met up with the rest of her crew. This is where I came to understand exactly what a “crew” was. When she mentioned them, I had no idea what function they performed, having never experienced balloon riding.
Like all activities and hobbies that we fill our time with, there are whole sub-cultures that build up around an activity. In the ballooning community, the pilot is the person who is trained and licensed to actually operate the balloon. However, they need a crew that actually performs the function of assembling their balloon, helping them to get up off the ground, then serve as chase vehicles to then be at the location when the balloon comes down. Hot air balloons have neither means to maneuver, nor to brake. They are totally dependent upon the wind, and the skill and wisdom of the pilot. But without a crew, they are going nowhere! And the relationship between pilot and crew is very important.
People who are interested in getting into ballooning should first meet and become part of a crew. This is where they will learn all the skills needed to put a balloon up. They earn the “right” to participate with the pilot by helping out the pilot, and participating in the work. However, the pilot must also take care of their crew, because they are dependent upon them for everything before and after the ride. It is an interesting relationship ripe for politics! But, if you have a good pilot, who is a decent and fun-loving person, they will attract good crew to themselves . . . or better yet, find interested people, and train them. In exchange, the crew have a very good time, usually participate in a party afterwards, and share the fraternity of others who are just as crazy as they are about the activity. And, they also usually get invited up with the pilot frequently.
Sharon’s crew was comprised of the following people:
Pat Shields (Crew Chief)
Norm Lufer
Richard "Magic Fingers" Gutierrez
We arrived to Sharon and Tony’s home in the later afternoon. She showed us around her home, and we got to see her feed her Harris’s Hawk, PeeWee. She also showed us the very large cottonwood tree in her yard that came down the night before. It was an old tree, and the base has been rotting away with age, ants and squirrels. Finally, it could stand up no longer. Fortunately, it fell in such a way as to not harm the house, and simply lay across the fence, not harming it. Sharon was sad to see it come down, and vows to plant a seedling in its place. But she’s thankful it didn’t come down on the house!
They took us for Mexican Food . . . and the place they chose was all that it promised to be!! We cannot get good Mexican food in Wisconsin. This stuff fought back, as it should. It was a wonderful meal, and we waddled out, incapable of eating another bite! We returned to their home, where Sharon made preparations for the flight for the next day. After checking e-mail using her high-speed direct hookup to my laptop, we were off to bed. It would be an early morning.
The alarm was set for 4:00, but I was awake prior to that, because I couldn’t sleep. I was restless. We got up and dressed and ready to go. Sharon told us to not bother showering, advising us that we would need a shower after the ride to get, as she referred to it, the “Enchantment” out of everything. After all, New Mexico is the “Land of Enchantment”. In other words . . . it’s a very dusty land, and we would be dusty afterwards, and need a shower. Yeah Right!!
We first stopped at a convenience store, so Tony and I could get some coffee. Shawn had a cold cappuccino that Sharon had given him. We then drove to a Walgreen’s parking lot and met up with the rest of her crew. This is where I came to understand exactly what a “crew” was. When she mentioned them, I had no idea what function they performed, having never experienced balloon riding.
Like all activities and hobbies that we fill our time with, there are whole sub-cultures that build up around an activity. In the ballooning community, the pilot is the person who is trained and licensed to actually operate the balloon. However, they need a crew that actually performs the function of assembling their balloon, helping them to get up off the ground, then serve as chase vehicles to then be at the location when the balloon comes down. Hot air balloons have neither means to maneuver, nor to brake. They are totally dependent upon the wind, and the skill and wisdom of the pilot. But without a crew, they are going nowhere! And the relationship between pilot and crew is very important.
People who are interested in getting into ballooning should first meet and become part of a crew. This is where they will learn all the skills needed to put a balloon up. They earn the “right” to participate with the pilot by helping out the pilot, and participating in the work. However, the pilot must also take care of their crew, because they are dependent upon them for everything before and after the ride. It is an interesting relationship ripe for politics! But, if you have a good pilot, who is a decent and fun-loving person, they will attract good crew to themselves . . . or better yet, find interested people, and train them. In exchange, the crew have a very good time, usually participate in a party afterwards, and share the fraternity of others who are just as crazy as they are about the activity. And, they also usually get invited up with the pilot frequently.
Sharon’s crew was comprised of the following people:
Pat Shields (Crew Chief)
Norm Lufer
Richard "Magic Fingers" Gutierrez
Connie Gutierrez
Ron "Hollywood" Gabaloon
Shawn "Rooster" Leonard
and Sharon's husband Tony "Indaho"
(Please forgive me folks if I misspelled your names in any way! I'm taking the spellings off the bottle of Cook's that was signed!)
Once everyone was assembled, Sharon put up what is called a “pibal”. This is simply a small balloon used to see the direction and speed of the wind. It helps them to make the initial decision if a flight would be possible, and where to launch from so they know about where they may land. Once this was done, and the decision made on where to launch from, we all piled back into the cars and followed Sharon and Tony to their chosen launch location. The sun was just coming up as we arrived at the location we would launch from. It was a very beautiful morning.
This is where the skill of the crew comes into play. Like a well-oiled team, under the direction of the crew chief, all the components were unloaded, the gondola assembled, the tanks tested, the envelope (what the actual balloon is called) was pulled from its protective cover and attached to the gondola, and the process of inflating it began. The balloon is first inflated with cold air using very high powered fans. Once inflated enough to safely open the mouth of the envelope at the bottom, the burners are used to heat the air inside. It was quite impressive to see Sharon’s team work. Everyone knew what needed to be done, and did it quickly, efficiently, professionally. Soon, very soon, the balloon was fully inflated and tugging at the tether line. At this point Sharon indicated Shawn and I should climb in. She gave us a quick lesson on what we were to do, and more importantly, what we were not to do. Then with a signal from her to the crew, they released the tether, and we were off! We quietly floated up, over the desert.
Sharon has named her balloon “Seeking Nirvana”, and I can see why. I have had the pleasure to fly in an ultra-light, and it was an extremely exhilarating experience, which I’d enjoy experiencing again. (I’m always ready for another invite, Dave!) But to fly in a balloon is something completely different. We rose very smoothly, steadily, and silently. With the exception of the burner, which when activated is quite loud, and which Sharon had to activate from time to time to maintain the temperature of the air inside the envelope, it is otherwise silent. If by yourself, yes, I can see how it could be a very emotional, almost spiritual experience. We, however, were busy talking and asking questions.
Albuquerque, New Mexico, according to Sharon and her crew, is the “Ballooning Capital of the World”. Apparently the conditions in the area lend themselves quite nicely to this activity. It is dry and has fair weather almost every day of the year. The terrain is open enough to allow balloons to fly and land all around. While up in the air, we counted about 30 other balloons. Sharon said this was a typical weekend, and frequently there are far more balloons out. She pointed out different balloons, being familiar with their color patterns, and informed us of the names of the balloons and their pilots. Prior to getting her own balloon and license, she worked as a crew member with many other teams, so knows many of the people in the community.
All too quickly, our fuel was running short, and it was time to come down. Sharon coached us on what we were to do on landing, and what to expect. She very expertly put us down, with very minimal bumps. A safe return to the earth! Very shortly after this some of her crew came running across the field to come lend assistance holding the balloon down until the whole crew could arrive.
What happened after the ride was almost more impressive than prior. Her crew arrived, and again, in an extremely well orchestrated process, brought the envelope down and safely returned it to its protective canvass pouch. The gondola was disassembled and returned to its trailer. In the meantime, Sharon was busy talking to a father and his three small children who showed up to watch the show. The father indicated that they had chosen this particular balloon to follow this morning, and came out to watch the landing. One of his small children was talking with Sharon, and using all the proper words regarding balloons. So, children in the city must surely know about the balloons, as there are so many of them flying overhead all the time!
Once everything was packed up, we as a group returned to the original launch site, where many of our vehicles were left. But, the more important reason to return, is the post-flight tailgate party. The pilot will usually “pay” their crew with snacks and drinks and beer, and enjoy a party among friends. And all of this usually before 10:00 in the morning! Shawn and I were then also initiated into the fraternity of hot air ballooning, with secret rites and rituals for which we have been sworn to secrecy. So, if you’d like to know the content of the initiation, you must find yourself a hot air balloon pilot and crew, and participate in the process. All I can advise is . . . . don’t bother with a shower before you go out! You’ll definitely need it afterwards!
Such a Wonderful Experience! My heartfelt thanks to Sharon and all the members of her wonderful crew. Thank you all for a most memorable addition to our vacation!
Carolyn
Once everyone was assembled, Sharon put up what is called a “pibal”. This is simply a small balloon used to see the direction and speed of the wind. It helps them to make the initial decision if a flight would be possible, and where to launch from so they know about where they may land. Once this was done, and the decision made on where to launch from, we all piled back into the cars and followed Sharon and Tony to their chosen launch location. The sun was just coming up as we arrived at the location we would launch from. It was a very beautiful morning.
This is where the skill of the crew comes into play. Like a well-oiled team, under the direction of the crew chief, all the components were unloaded, the gondola assembled, the tanks tested, the envelope (what the actual balloon is called) was pulled from its protective cover and attached to the gondola, and the process of inflating it began. The balloon is first inflated with cold air using very high powered fans. Once inflated enough to safely open the mouth of the envelope at the bottom, the burners are used to heat the air inside. It was quite impressive to see Sharon’s team work. Everyone knew what needed to be done, and did it quickly, efficiently, professionally. Soon, very soon, the balloon was fully inflated and tugging at the tether line. At this point Sharon indicated Shawn and I should climb in. She gave us a quick lesson on what we were to do, and more importantly, what we were not to do. Then with a signal from her to the crew, they released the tether, and we were off! We quietly floated up, over the desert.
Sharon has named her balloon “Seeking Nirvana”, and I can see why. I have had the pleasure to fly in an ultra-light, and it was an extremely exhilarating experience, which I’d enjoy experiencing again. (I’m always ready for another invite, Dave!) But to fly in a balloon is something completely different. We rose very smoothly, steadily, and silently. With the exception of the burner, which when activated is quite loud, and which Sharon had to activate from time to time to maintain the temperature of the air inside the envelope, it is otherwise silent. If by yourself, yes, I can see how it could be a very emotional, almost spiritual experience. We, however, were busy talking and asking questions.
Albuquerque, New Mexico, according to Sharon and her crew, is the “Ballooning Capital of the World”. Apparently the conditions in the area lend themselves quite nicely to this activity. It is dry and has fair weather almost every day of the year. The terrain is open enough to allow balloons to fly and land all around. While up in the air, we counted about 30 other balloons. Sharon said this was a typical weekend, and frequently there are far more balloons out. She pointed out different balloons, being familiar with their color patterns, and informed us of the names of the balloons and their pilots. Prior to getting her own balloon and license, she worked as a crew member with many other teams, so knows many of the people in the community.
All too quickly, our fuel was running short, and it was time to come down. Sharon coached us on what we were to do on landing, and what to expect. She very expertly put us down, with very minimal bumps. A safe return to the earth! Very shortly after this some of her crew came running across the field to come lend assistance holding the balloon down until the whole crew could arrive.
What happened after the ride was almost more impressive than prior. Her crew arrived, and again, in an extremely well orchestrated process, brought the envelope down and safely returned it to its protective canvass pouch. The gondola was disassembled and returned to its trailer. In the meantime, Sharon was busy talking to a father and his three small children who showed up to watch the show. The father indicated that they had chosen this particular balloon to follow this morning, and came out to watch the landing. One of his small children was talking with Sharon, and using all the proper words regarding balloons. So, children in the city must surely know about the balloons, as there are so many of them flying overhead all the time!
Once everything was packed up, we as a group returned to the original launch site, where many of our vehicles were left. But, the more important reason to return, is the post-flight tailgate party. The pilot will usually “pay” their crew with snacks and drinks and beer, and enjoy a party among friends. And all of this usually before 10:00 in the morning! Shawn and I were then also initiated into the fraternity of hot air ballooning, with secret rites and rituals for which we have been sworn to secrecy. So, if you’d like to know the content of the initiation, you must find yourself a hot air balloon pilot and crew, and participate in the process. All I can advise is . . . . don’t bother with a shower before you go out! You’ll definitely need it afterwards!
Such a Wonderful Experience! My heartfelt thanks to Sharon and all the members of her wonderful crew. Thank you all for a most memorable addition to our vacation!
Carolyn
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