Have you ever headed out expecting to do one thing and then ending up doing something completely different? This is often the case when I’m on long distance cycling tours? And it was the same this Saturday morning. Fortunately, I had my camera and the bike was ready to go, so I could roll with the punches and take advantage of opportunity.

Encountering the unexpected on the road is one of the things I like so much about bicycle travel. You never know what you’re going to experience in the day ahead. It’s about the beautiful landscapes you happen upon or the interesting people you meet along the way. Occasionally, a little of that serendipity happens at home.

Out for the Usual Morning Ride

Not expecting much, I headed out on my morning ride around Carson City to get a little exercise, check out the wildlife, and maybe grab an espresso before returning back home. I’ve come to expect spotting small herds of mule deer nonchalantly munching on succulent front lawns, or cycling among flocks of Canada geese who have ceased migrating and taken up residence in our local parks.

Great egrets, ruddy ducks, and while pelicans can often be spotted floating about on the city’s wetlands that also make for nice sunrises as well. Pedaling among these little specks of nature makes for excellent reflecting and contemplating future journeys. This morning would be a little different.

An Unexpected Surprise

Rolling out of the garage and down the driveway into the street, I glanced down the street to make sure it was clear when a low flying balloon caught my eye. I looked up and spotted a group of four or five more.

I’d completely forgot today, October 31st, was Nevada Day, the day Nevada entered the Union back in 1864. The annual celebratory parade down Carson Street had been cancelled due to Covid-19. So I’d mistakenly figured there wouldn’t be anything else happening. I was wrong. About half a dozen balloons had launched.

If anything, I was going to get a few shots of hot air balloons as they were flying on such a beautiful fall day. I circled back into the garage to park my bike and get Annie. What an excellent opportunity to get out on such a wonderful day and see what’s going on.

The Chase was On

Change of plans. Rather than doing a bike ride alone, Annie would join me in an impromptu balloon chase. The light was perfect. It was a beautiful fall day, and probably one of the last before colder, bleaker weather set in.

Annie jumped into her riding gear and the two of us were out the door. We hopped on our bikes and the chase was on. Weaving our way southward toward the city center, we closed the gap between us and the lofted balloons. Cool morning air nipped at our noses as we pumped our way through still quiet neighborhoods. Save for the occasional car, traffic was nonexistent. The only sound was brown leaves crunching under our tires.

Our bikes made easy work of following the covey of balloons effortlessly floating just above the houses, buildings, and treetops. Once near the hot air craft, casual conversations between the passengers drifted to the ground below.

Pedaling for Images

The warm early morning light made for ideal shooting conditions. The slowly drifting balloons made it easy for Annie and I to cycle down residential streets and maneuver ourselves into position to make interesting images.

It’s often said, the best camera is the one you got with you. The images I made for this post were all taken on my iPhone 12 Pro Max. Under the right conditions, it’s capable of making some pretty sweet pics.

Passengers in the woven baskets dangling under their brightly colored envelops a hundred feet or so above spotted us and waved for a photo op. People in one balloon tossed out handfuls of popcorn, which looked like snowflakes fluttering to the ground.

Cycling around Carson City, Annie and I snapped picture after picture. As the balloons floated silently overhead, clear conversations between the pilot and passengers drifted to the ground below.

Expert Flying

Skilled pilots shoehorned their balloons into the tightest spots. The moment their baskets ever so slightly touched the ground, they would blast their burners at full throttle to ascend again. Expert pilots aptly threaded their balloons through the narrowest of cracks in the trees to touchdown in small vacant parking lots often adjacent to buildings and power wires.

Silently gliding just over stands of trees, passengers grabbed hand fulls of leaves from their tops.

End of the Ride

One by one, each of the balloons located its landing zone and silently came back to earth, touching down on side streets, parking lots, or in the city park. Waiting chase crews quickly deflated and stowed them in small trailers towed by each of the chase vehicles.

At mid-morning, the sun was high in the sky. Our little balloon chasing adventure was coming to a close. Time for a fresh-baked pastry and a double or maybe a quad shot of espresso to wash it down.

When an Opportunity Presents Itself

The hot air balloons touched down one by one until they had all landed around the valley. Some were in clusters while one or two had drifted off on their own. Harsh overhead sun replaced the golden morning light. The indigo sky had turned a pale blue. The magical moment had passed.

After an incredible morning of cycling and photography, Annie and I dined at a local bakery. Croissants and espresso were the order of the day. It was an excellent Nevada Day in spite of Covid-19. If you’re not ready when an opportunity presents itself, it simply passes you buy. Success happens when preparation meets opportunity.