The hot air balloon sailed over the farm early Sunday morning. I woke late - 7:30 a.m. - and I was looking out the window at the garden when I saw the balloon crossing the fields.
I think hot air balloons are pretty and I have been up in one. I took a trip in 1985, I think it was. N.H., who used to balloon around here as a hobby, took me high in the sky. I wrote an award-winning article about it. We took off in Daleville and landed in Trinity. The balloon route roughly traversed US 220 for a couple of miles.
Up in the balloon, sounds are magnified. You can easily hear people talking, dogs barking, cattle getting ready to stampede . . .
And therein lies the problem with hot air balloons and farming. They make a magnificent whooshing sound when the pilot is heating the air. This sound frightens the heck out of cattle and we have had them run through fences before, scared out of their minds.
And the hot air balloonist goes on his merry wary, heedless of the destruction his "fun" has wrought.
It costs a lot to fix a fence.
Another problem with some hot air balloonists is they tend to land wherever they want. And then the chase crew comes in with a big pick up truck and leaves deep ruts in your hay field.
We of course have had this happen. Some hot air balloonists apparently only ask permission if they get caught.
There was a story about this on WDBJ7 recently. The supervisors have decreed Greenfield a no-landing zone for the local hot air balloonist who does this as a business.
I do not know if the balloon that crossed the farm on Sunday was this person or not. It may have been a hobbyist.
Many farmers have informed the hot air ballooners that they are not welcome to land in their fields, including us. Some people, of course, have granted permission. I imagine it all depends on what you use the land for. If you're not making hay on it and it doesn't matter about ruts then it's not a problem, but all of our land is used for agriculture purposes.
Anyway, when I saw the hot air balloon on Sunday, I knew right away that the first chore on the list was check the cows.
that's interesting. you just never know the effects of some things.
ReplyDeleteI saw the title and thought I would scroll down and see a photo of Cheney. Wizard of Oz?
ReplyDeleteCheney! That is too funny! Would've fit though.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad the pilot your speaking of acts that way. He's giving the rest of us bad names. As a pilot I try to be very mindful of peoples crops and livestock. When flying over livestock I stay as high as I can (depending on if I'm landing or not) and use our 'quieter' valve. When landing I try my best to avoid planted fields of any sort. It' much easier on the crew, balloon, and vehicle; and we always ask landowner permission if we can before traipsing out into a field.
ReplyDeleteRobbie - I agree with you. All it takes is one bad apple and poof. There goes the reputation of all. I like hot air balloons and I think they are lovely. I am glad you're a considerate flyer. That is good to know.
ReplyDelete