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May 2025 (Part 05)

France Trip: Day 2: A Hot Air Balloon Ride Over the Loire Valley

We wanted to make this trip extra special for Alexa, so we arranged to do something we have all wanted to do for a long time, take a ride in a hot air balloon.  This time over the chateaus and grandeur of the Loire Valley.  Worried we might have peaked too soon on the trip.

https://www.loire-et-montgolfiere.com/fr/accueil/

We arrived at a meeting point at 6 AM and were introduced to our pilot Vengrys Aurimas, who was from Lithuania.  We then drove in their van to a take-off point upwind of the Chateau De Chenonceaux.  In all, we spent over an hour in the air and traveled right at 16 miles in a south-westerly direction.  We flew over several wonderful farms and small towns, and even a smaller chateau just before our landing.

Most of us were recruited to help pull out the envelope, then help move the basket into position and tip it over to be mated with the lines from the envelope.  Still pretty early and we could see the moon again.  It was pretty clear and we were at an elevated spot, giving us a pretty good view of the countryside even before we launched.

With the basket on the side, they used two big fans to help inflate the envelope.  They then used the burners to heat up the air, helping the enveloped start to rise.

As the balloon was inflating, the pilot related that the enveloped had a 2500 square-meters surface area and could hold 10,000 cubic-meters of air (although the company website said 7,000 cubic-meters).  It was made by Kubicek Balloons in 2018.

Rise and shine sunshine.

Because it would be a challenge to climb into the basket, Cathy was given an opportunity to climb in while the basket was still on its side.

Once the envelope was hot enough to rise, it tilted the basket upright and we could all climb in.

Ready to go.  Looks to me like they photo-shopped some of the people into the images without the flame.

Wave goodbye to the chase van as we rose away.  A bit close clearing the row of trees to the south.

Had to wave at the horse below and admire the sunrise striking the morning mist to the east.

As we settled in, we could see Chateau De Chenonceaux and the Loire River coming up pretty quickly.  Some interesting homes and a chapel on the way.

Our flight took us pretty close to the chateau, a very pretty site and impressive palace.

As soon as we drifted by the castle, getting to the west, the morning have to the east unfortunately started to obscure the view back to the chateau.  This wasn't as apparent in person, but impacted the pictures.

We could see several other balloons rising to the north, much farther away.  Our guide commented that they might not get as close to the chateau, as the wind would likely move them around a lot more in relation to the chateau.

Interesting view of our shadow in a field as we got a bit lower at one point.

Some interesting farms and even a vineyard.

An interesting effect with the haze producing a halo around the shadow of the balloon.

While there are only five balloons in the picture on the left, we counted ten or so scattered over the horizon.  Saw a deer below in the field.

Surprised that the moon was still up.

Here was a pretty castle and small church next to the city hall in Reignac-Sur-Indre.  The nearby smaller chateau turned out to be the Chateau De Reignac, now a luxury hotel which retains two towers which date to the 15th century fortress.  The small church nearby dated to the 10th century.

We could see the chase car tracking us.

We had enough velocity over the ground when we landed to bounce hard a couple times then tip over, which help smash Nancy's glasses into her head, but which made it a bit easier for Cathy to get out of the gondola.

We all wound up helping to roll up, then pack the canopy into a bag which involved the ladies sitting on the bag.  We also helped position the gondola which was then winced onto the trailer.

The chase car joined us almost before we were out of the basket.  We were all recruited again to help fold and stuff the envelope into a huge bag, then we all laid on the bag to help push out the air and get it pulled tight.  The boys helped lift it onto the trailer.  Glad for the winch to get the basket on.  Once everything was all set, they moved the rig closer to the road and brought out some refreshments.

Time for a group toast, and for them to hand out some certificates.

As the girls decided they wanted a T-Shirt, we followed the team back to their office, where we discovered llamas and some beautiful flowers.

Oh my, there were bees ... cue many pictures from Alexa.

Here are the flight certificates.