Another balloon flight and ride and heading back to San Jose

DAY 93: Thursday, 17^th of May – Dad’s 70s birthday

Allie's version: another fantastic flight, a horse trail and a tedious drive back to San Jose

Another early morning start. This time we drive up towards the east, pick a football pitch and take off at 5.45. Today it’s me doing all the P1 flying which means doing the inflation, take off and landing. The winds at low level are gentle as they seem to be here all the time. 

balloon shadow in the clouds

I climb up to 3000 feet to get some speed and end up being above the clouds! 

This is amazing: we suddenly see the sun and our shadow on the clouds. Descending though into nowhere is not so much fun and a bit of an adrenaline buzz. 

Where will we come out? Will there be any obstructions?

As it turns out the winds at the lower level are just exactly the opposite as at high level and we start to drift backwards – unfortunately into hills and rainforest. 

blossoms in the rain forest

We only have one tank left and we have already being flying for more then one hour. A landing site is needed. Finally I decide to ditch the balloon into a small field near a village. It’s not ideal since it’s full with cow shit but better then running out of fuel over an inaccessible rainforest. Shortly after the crew arrive with the landy and we pack up the balloon and drive it out of the field. What an amazing flight! 1.45min.

after landing

After we had another good breakfast we return to the Ranch where three saddled horses are waiting for us – well not for Phil! I couldn’t resist the offer to do another trail with them and so Monica, Jaime (the crew man) and me ride off towards the river. 

I really got to like Giacomo, the white stallion, and that’s the horse I am riding today again. Monica is on her black cute Antares and Jaime on the chequered   Chocolate. Once we get to the river we take the horses right into it. They seem to love the cool waters and we nearly start swimming. Alas time is running short and we have to get back to the Ranch.

enjoying another ride

At 12.30 we say Good-bye to Esteban, Monica and the team and hit the road towards San Jose via the mountains. It’s only 100km back to the capital, but the traffic is a complete nightmare. Endless huge trucks or busses, that never let you pass and motorways that are only single lane but charge you money for driving a snail-like 20km speed! Whoever is the traffic minister in this country, he should be fired immediately.

After 3 hours we finally arrive at the Airport, check our tickets, change money, have a coffee and search in vain for a post office. By 16.30 we have eventually dropped off our hired car at AVIS and are back to “La Riviera” the airport hotel. How nice to have a clean large room without cockroaches and bugs and the smell of filthy dogs! Internet, a pool, a nice dinner and wine – what else could you want? Oh maybe a cuddle with your husband!

Mutti, me and Dad (Sept 2018)

And by the way: today was or is my Dad’s 70^th birthday. We managed to give him a call from my mobile from the breakfast place. It’s pissing with rain in Germany and the garden party has to take place in the living room. All the family is there including my sister with her 5 boys (well, 4 boys and one man!), my brother and his wife and our uncles and neighbours. Dad seems to be in good shape and they were just about to open a bottle of champagne. I regret not being there, but at least we sent him an interesting golf book of New Zealand and a tiny miniature conducting figure made of a cigarette match stick!

Phil's version: Day 93/17 May

The clouds are quickly pushing in

Esteban has suggested looking for a take-off site to the east of his estancia for a change of scenery. A suitable football pitch is chosen and the inflation causes a major traffic jam of big trucks as their drivers block the adjacent main road to watch. 

Allie is doing everything today in order to ‘get her hours up’ for the forthcoming Bristol Fiesta. Her very competent inflation is marred only by the ‘crown’ crew letting go too soon leaving her with a half-inflated envelope. 

Apparently this is an American technique used on calm days. Allie & I roll our eyes at yet another example of shoddy US training techniques. Toucans flee neighbouring trees as we lift off.

Passing over a fruit-processing factory in search of winds to take us towards the horse ranch Allie elects to make her first flight above cloud and is thrilled at the bright sunlight and the balloon shadow amongst the vapourous rolls below. She is less thrilled at the prospect of descending earthwards again, especially when Esteban initially declares himself lost in the process. 

monkey in the trees

Eventually we drift over more forest with enormous fluttering ‘morpho’ irridescent butterflies into a rather messy cow pasture. Our crew smartly snip the barbed wire fence (taboo in UK) to allow the Land Rover in for recovery. We are soon established in yesterday’s breakfast cantina discussing the possibility of meeting up with Esteban’s team in Panama next year to try to fly over the Canal. Apparently the border is only 9 hours’ drive away.

full Costa Rican breakfast

A final horse outing for Allie finishes punctually for our departure for San Jose over the country’s mountainous spine through dreary villages along tortuous roads.

Costa Rica seems to have entirely missed out on any architectural heritage and the bungaloid ribbon development reminds me of a run-down version of Ireland’s neo-Hispanic housing.

 

chatting to our new friends