Hot Air Balloon Ride By Sky's the Limit Ballooning

Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
16,017
13,346
2,665
Beverly Hills, CA
For Tinka's birthday I took her and her life-long best friend on a hot air balloon ride over Santa Barbara, California, at sunset.


FEE928B3-FDB4-4BE0-BE26-A581990B8B35.jpeg


Our pilot was James Lawson, proprietor of Sky's the Limit Ballooning: https://www.skysthelimitballooning.com/


64163443-9D4C-4CE0-8909-6EBF73863C72.jpeg


This was the most amazing outdoor experience I have ever encountered. Though traveling at 20 to 30 mph, at between 1000 and 4000 feet above ground, we literally felt like we were standing still -- the flight was that placid.

The experience was utterly ethereal and transcendent. It felt like you were rising part of the way to heaven. It was surreal.

Also, it was an incredibly organic and analog and non-mechanical and non-electronic experience. Only air and fire and wood basket and balloon were involved.

It was so completely quiet up there that when James fired the burner, you could hear the sound of the burner echoing in the canyons miles away.

The pilot must have extremely deep experience to understand, among other thermal and aerodynamic factors, the way the rising and cooling ground affects the wind currents thousands of feet up in the air.


0B2914A6-A31C-452E-AB9C-B29C05DC6868.jpeg


The takeoff and landing can be quite unpredictable and can be quite dramatic, James warned us. Apparently an inexperienced flight team may allow the balloon to go out of control, especially on takeoff. James is one of the very most experienced hot air balloon pilots in the entire world.

This is a highly recommended experience!


45AD6EF8-5EF4-4D6B-8612-629EB0D24997.jpeg



CDB2FA09-F2E0-4BDF-863D-8BF75EDF77D0.jpeg
 
Last edited:

Joe Whip

Well-Known Member
Feb 8, 2014
1,733
557
405
Wayne, PA
Balloon rides are awesome. The last one we took was in Cairns in Australia at sunrise Three years ago. Breathtaking. The landing was a bit rough though. Too bad they don’t have them in Antarctic, that would have been very cool. Congrats and happy birthday.
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,411
2,509
1,448
Happy Birthday to Tinka! What a great ride it must have been!

We have done one over the hills of Cappadoccia in Turkey...it was freezing at 2500ft, but you could just about reach down out of the basket and touch the snow on top of the hills as you drifted silently over. Absolutely beautiful.

And yes, it took several attempts to land because the wind currents were very unpredictable! Finally got down...hot coffee was definitely on order!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ron Resnick

ddk

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2013
6,261
4,040
995
Utah
What an amazing birthday present Ron, Happy Birthday Tinka!

david
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vbob

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
22,434
13,467
2,710
London
Wow amazing. Happy birthday to Tinka
 

Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
16,017
13,346
2,665
Beverly Hills, CA
Thank you very much Steve, Joe, Lloyd, David and Kedar!
 

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
12,308
1,425
1,820
Manila, Philippines
Happy Birthday Tinka!
 

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
12,308
1,425
1,820
Manila, Philippines
Happy Birthday to Tinka! What a great ride it must have been!

We have done one over the hills of Cappadoccia in Turkey...it was freezing at 2500ft, but you could just about reach down out of the basket and touch the snow on top of the hills as you drifted silently over. Absolutely beautiful.

And yes, it took several attempts to land because the wind currents were very unpredictable! Finally got down...hot coffee was definitely on order!

Yes! Freeeeeeezing!

Those "Smurf villages" were surreal right? Did you stay at one of the cave hotels too Lloyd? :)
 

Al M.

VIP/Donor
Sep 10, 2013
8,678
4,467
963
Greater Boston
Happy Birthday, Tinka! Thanks for sharing this amazing experience, Ron!
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,411
2,509
1,448
Yes! Freeeeeeezing!

Those "Smurf villages" were surreal right? Did you stay at one of the cave hotels too Lloyd? :)
It was literally the coldest night in 25 years...minus 30 celsius at midnight with windchill

We literally left Istanbul at 5am, took the 3 hour flight, went straight into the balloon, drove around to dinner, and then ran onto the flight and were back in Istanbul around 2am. That's how we typically travel, so no we did not stay over in Cappadocia. ;)
 
Last edited:

Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
16,017
13,346
2,665
Beverly Hills, CA
Thank you very much, Jack and Al!
 

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing