Hello! I haven’t blogged in a while. I think it’s time to give you an update. I haven’t forgotten about my adventure challenge. But I had to take some time to work on my support system and my health.
I have been getting out more to stores, the neighborhood, and events nearby.
My latest Adventure attempt was hot air ballooning! Did you know handicap hot air ballooning was possible? I didn’t.
I once lived near a hot air balloon launch site. Whenever I heard the telltale sound of the hot air balloon flame, I would run outside to watch the graceful balloon float. I have long wanted to ride in a hot air balloon.
I researched hot air ballooning and found it can be wheelchair/handicap accessible. What you need to look for is a basket with a handicap door! I found a local hot air balloon festival, and they confirmed that there was a hot air balloon with a basket that had a door 24 inches wide. Yay!
This kind of basket should also help if you’re using a cane, rollator, walker, or just can’t otherwise climb up and over the basket edge.
Hot air balloons have a weight limit, and my power wheelchair would put me way over the allowed weight limit. So, I planned on using my transport chair. I had some help measuring it and found that it was 22 in wide. Perfect!
I researched the balloon festival. Did they have handicap parking? Was it wheelchair accessible? Did they have handicap balloon baskets? What else was going on at that festival? What were the costs? You know, the typical stuff you have to find out if you’re going to a festival and if you’re in a wheelchair, all the things wheelchair.
The festival I was going to was the Flying Circus and Hot Air Balloon Festival. They had scheduled an airplane airshow, morning and evening hot air balloon rising, airplane rides, and hot air balloon rides (tethered and regular).
I decided to try out the tethered hot air balloon rides. The tethered rides only go up about 50 ft and last few minutes. I figured if I was thrilled instead of closing my eyes, I may be ready for a regular ride.
My daughter went with me. We got there in plenty of time and found plenty of handicap parking, yay! Then it was just wait for the hot air balloons. We watched a wonderful airplane Air Show that lasted well over an hour! Then, they did the airplane rides that people purchased.
The tethered hot air balloon rides would be next – if the wind was right. However, it was a warm day, and we had been out in the sun for quite a while. So, we left. We originally planned to go back later after it cooled off for the evening balloon rise. However, we were just way too tired. There is always next time!
I didn’t make it on to the hot air balloon this time. But I will keep trying! As we frequently experience from a wheelchair, some things don’t happen the first time. You just have to adjust and try again.
Don’t let the fact that you’re in a wheelchair keep you from an adventure. If you think of an adventure, just start exploring it. There just may be a way for you to be able to do it, and you should! So get out there and have fun, and let me know about it! Maybe I’d like to try it as well!
Life, Humor, and MS 