Surprised K with a hot air balloon ride for our anniversary.  It was an early flight at 6am, but well worth it as she had no idea.  We arrived early and helped get everything set up with the pilot, Gery Dekoevend and his crew at http://www.denverballoonrides.com/index.htm  Gery has been doing this for a loooong time and has won many competitions all over the United States.  After the flight, we helped get the balloon taken down and put back in the truck.  Gery and the Crew then brought out a table with mimosa’s and snacks and began telling stories about ballooning and how it all began.  Gery began the festivities with the Balloonist’s Prayer:

May the winds welcome you with softness.
May the sun bless you with its warm hands.
May you fly so high and so well that God
joins you in laughter and sets you gently
back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.

An interesting fact that was shared, was that all balloon pilots carry with them Champagne on their flights, hence the mimosa’s.  This dated back to 1783 when it all began.  Legend has it that early French aeronauts carried champagne to appease angry or frightened spectators at the landing site.

We’ll definitely go again!!