Sometimes you have to leave the ground - to fly!

[puppychow]

I have always maintained that riding a motorcycle is the closest you will ever get to flying, without ever leaving the ground. Although, sometimes - you have to, and it is definitely very OK to float off the ground, and soar into the sky! This occasion was my big four-O! Life supposedly begins anew at the big four-O! It certainly started on a very high note, with a wonderful surprise birthday gift from my American family.

Link to the story and pictures below:

https://motorcyclewanderings.blogspot.com/2016/08/sometimes-you-have-to-leave-ground-to_27.html

Thank you for reading!

 

[Niehart]

Just jealous, thanks for taking us along.

 

[DennisJ]

Thanks for sharing this. Great photo essay in a beautiful area. I lived in Mill VAlley, CA during the last half of my Senior year and one of our weekend excursions was to go up to the Napa/Sonoma area and tour a couple of wineries. Lots of fun.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

 

[griff]

I remember my first (and only) flight in a balloon in Colorado. Really neat. Now, I have to ask Puppychow, if this was your first flight were you initiated with champagne and dirt on the head?

 

[LKLD]

That was some gift! Congratulations on your birthday, and having such a memorable one at that. Well done :good:

 

[PhilJet09]

Very cool! Looks like you had a great time.

I have a buddy that lets me tag along in his balloon from time to time.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Cool. AND, happy birthday!!

 

[escapefjrtist]

Wonderful pictures Sam! Can't say I have any interest in taking a hot air balloon ride...but it looks like the festivities after the ride made for a excellent ending.

Happy 40th B-Day!

--G

 

[juniorfjr]

Can you say bucket list.

 

[Mihalis fjr]

Very nice Sam!!Thanks for sharing!

And:Happy birthday!

 

[doug5551]

Sam!

Thanks for the post.

Happy Birthday!

They do this in Del Mar at Sunset and I have always wanted to give it a go.

Maybe on one of your trips to SD we can coordinate and go up together.

Hope to see you at Gerlachfest!

Doug

 

[rogdeb]

Extremely cool

Happy birthday Sam.

Takes us back to when Deb and I did it out of Coloma a good few years back. Balloon, chase vehicle and champagne !! Oh yeah

 

[puppychow]

Thanks guys! It was a great way to start my 40s. Want to make it another fun decade to look forward to.

I didn't realize that dirt and champagne on the head were part of the initiation rituals, fortunately for me - neither did anyone-else!

I have a great family - both birth and adopted! and great friends - many of whom are on this forum. Triply lucky!