Got up bright and early this morning. I got up an hour too early as my phone didn’t automatically change to adjust for the time change. Oops! Went back to sleep for a bit and got up at 5:15.
We left the hotel at 5:45 and headed to the small airport in Phoenix to meet the crew for the hot air balloon ride. We loaded into a van and made a quick potty stop and then headed to the field where the hot air balloon pilot was. For some reason they changed locations and we drove to a different spot for take off.
It took the crew about 20 minutes to get the balloons ready for lift off. It was fun watching them unpack it and then inflate it. We were given the green light to get into the basket. Luckily they had steps which made getting in the basket easier.
The basket held 12 people plus the pilot. We quietly lifted off as the ground crew untied the ropes holding us down.
The ride itself was so peaceful and quiet. It was a brisk morning but when the pilot would release the fuel and the burn happened it would warm me up.
The bird’s eye view of Phoenix was beautiful. We got to a maximum altitude of 2,800 feet and floated for 5 miles.
They warned us the landing might be jumpy but it was very smooth. I didn’t feel much of a bump when we landed.
Exiting the balloon was interesting. I managed to get out fairly gracefully – one of the crew told me he rated my dismount as a 9.5!
We were served breakfast and had a champagne toast. After breakfast we loaded into the vans and they drove us back to the starting point of the adventure.
Nicole and I headed for Sedona which was about a 90 minute drive from the small airport in Phoenix. It was a beautiful drive through the mountains.
When we got to Sedona we started looking for a place to charge the car. We weren’t given good instructions when we picked the car up. We found a charging spot and Nicole managed to figure out how to hook up the car. We sat in the car for about 30 minutes and realized it was going to take about 8 hours to fully charge the car.
We decided to go to lunch while the car was charging. We found a place that was within walking distance of where we were and left the car charging. We stopped at a wonderful crystal magic shop we found on our way to the restaurant.
Lunch was good, service was excellent. The waitress told us about an art gallery that was fun to visit.
We went back to the car and found we had gone from 34% charged to 54% charged. We realized we couldn’t get to 90% which is what we need to be to take the trip back to Phoenix. We decided we need to come up with Plan B.
We went to the art gallery and walked around it. Found a different charging station and let the car charge for another hour. When we found out we could check into our place for the retreat we left and headed there.
One of the other retreat participants is going to follow us to a charging port in the morning and we will get the car hooked up and then leave it all day. They will take us back to the car when we return from our adventure of the day.
I took a nap in my room when we got checked in. I hadn’t slept much last night and needed a rest.
We sat and visited with the other members of the group while we waited for dinner to be ready. They were running over an hour late with dinner.
Dinner was finally served around 7:30. After dinner we had our first group meeting with the facilitator of the group and did some sharing. The facilitator is disorganized but she nailed most of the group with what they need to work on during the retreat. I think I intimidated her a bit but whatever.
Our group session went until 10:00. I am tired and ready for a long night’s sleep.
Tomorrow we are going to a vortex and in the afternoon are doing some group activity. We have free time from 3:00 – 6:00. Then have some sort of group activity again in the evening.
The balloon ride was on my bucket list and I’m so grateful Nicole thought to plan that for us. It was well worth the money spent.
Have had a wonderful time visiting with Nicole. There are a couple of participants that I am looking forward to spending time with. Most are young women which is nice to see they are healing and growing. I am the oldest one in the group but I am used to that.
I have given myself permission to excuse myself from any group activity that I decide I don’t want to participate in. This retreat appears to be intended for beginner level which is not what I had anticipated. Regardless, it will be time well spent especially since Nicole is with me.
Grateful to cross off a hot air balloon ride from my bucket list, grateful for a safe car trip from Phoenix to Sedona, and grateful for this time with Nicole.