Hot Air Balloon ride

[ChrisinNam]

I'm in Namibia, visiting family. We're going for a hot air balloon ride after New Year. I brought 5mg Pred with me, that's what I'm on just now, not planning to reduce until I get home in February. My shoulders are a bit sore, but not too bad. But I was wondering if I should increase to 10mg for the balloon ride. I'll have to stand for an hour. At present my walking is almost non-existent, but I can stand. What do you think? I don't have any 1mg tablets with me.

[Pixix]

Hi…I was a hot air balloon pilot before I got sick. Do you get into pain or discomfort if you stand for an hour normally eg cooking or at a bar/party? If yes, then I’d suggest you will suffer in a balloon! There’s nowhere to sit, especially if you are going in one of the commercial big ride balloons that take many passengers at a time…you may be limited to a small compartment in a large basket! You need to appreciate that every landing is as smooth as weather conditions allow…but naturally can be bumpy! Hot air balloons don’t come with brakes & accelerators, or steering wheels! Be aware that if you get so you want to stop, you can’t suddenly land a balloon ‘on request’, & just step out! Of course, in an emergency it can be brought down, but the pilot first needs to find a space without wires, close to a spot the retrieve vehicle can get to, without animals, & know who owns the land below!! It’s unlikely then to be able to just take off again (often have to re inflate & go through take off procedure again) so it may stop the ride prematurely for others!! Um…not being rude, but if your walking is non existent how will you climb into the basket, walk to it from where you park etc? Is it a ride that’s suitable for disabled people, please? If you have queries about the experience, just ask, happy to help! PS landing could jolt your shoulders…I guess I look like I’m trying to put you off, but I’m not! I never flew any passengers who couldn’t walk easily…often walking was involved at beginning & end of flights..but your ride company presumably know of your health issues! I’m biased, obviously, as I loved my years as a balloon pilot, so want everybody to be able to have that experience!! S x

[ChrisinNam in reply to Pixix]

Hi, Pixix,I can walk, but very slowly. Standing isn't a problem, and I'll have my family with me. The operators have already asked if I can stand for an hour, and if I can crouch. Tried that yesterday, no problem. I don't stand to cook now, because I don't have the energy for preparing stuff. But the plain standing part isn't a problem. And there's a lot of determination involved here!

[Pixix in reply to ChrisinNam]

If you’re determined, there’s no stopping you! I just hope you get a light windy day & an easy landing! The guy who taught me used to explain that every landing is a crash landing, you just have to get good at it, but accept that quite a lot of landings will be heavy! had my arm in plaster one day & we flew a friend. Sadly, the wind picked up after take off & she panicked & forgot to hold the rope handles on landing…which resulted in me having to catch her as her body started to fly out of the balloon, then her standing on my broken arm,.,explaining the broken plaster was hard at hospital the next day!! On another occasion, both the pilot & I were on crutches, but quite capable of flying…however when we landed we couldn’t do a thing until our retrieve vehicle came as we forgot to put our crutches onboard! However, at that time I had no autoimmune diseases, & was a lot younger! Just check your travel insurance covers the ride, if I were you, & hope any jarring on landing doesn’t affect your PMR! Good luck, I’m biased, but it’s a wonderful thing to do, & it sounds as if your balloon company is happy to take disabled people! Enjoy!!