It was a crisp Saturday morning in May 2021 at 5am and a perfect day for a balloon ride over the Black Hills. Our host that day was Keely. He is very personable and an excellent host. We were actually scheduled to fly on Sunday, but Keely thought it would be too windy and called and rescheduled us for Saturday and I am so glad he did. I can honestly tell you that this was the most serene and amazing ride up in the air we have ever experienced. And though 5am seems a little early, it's essential to the experience of seeing the sun rise over the Black Hills of SD. Even though the ride was about an hour long, it felt like forever drifting over farms, pastures, forests, and of course, the hills. And after landing in a beautiful field, we were treated to mimosas and snacks before taking a leisurely ride back to Custer. It doesn't get any better than that.
Two tips for you future aeronauts:
1. Plan about an hour to drive out to Custer from Rapid City. There's no traffic at that time but there's a lot of hills to traverse.
2. Bring a hat or cap to protect your head. Ironically, not only are you going to need head protection from the cold, but you're also going to need it from the heat because when that flame turns on, your head is going to feel it!
No trip to SD is complete without a balloon ride over the Black Hills with these guys. You will remember it the rest of your life!