A Nudging Breeze Makes for an Exhilarating Outdoor Experience

Prompt: the gentle soft breeze sways and whistles

I love to feel a breeze in the air. There are so many ways to play with it. Isn’t Nature grand? It gives us opportunities to enjoy life to the max. But why do we have breezes in the first place?

Wind is the movement of air created by the sun heating our Earth. Air temperature fluctuates as it moves over sea and land. Trees, mountains, and buildings interrupt the air’s motion. This difference in pressure determines wind speed. A breeze is a gentle wind.

One of my best memories is the day a hot air balloon carried me aloft. I gave a colleague that special gift after she passed her nursing boards. We met the pilot before the sun rose. The best time to fly is when the sun pops over the horizon. Wind speed and direction can be predicted then.

He used a propane burner to fill the interior of the balloon with hot air. We watched the huge balloon mushroom in size. The ground crew held onto restraining ropes as it rose above the wicker basket. We climbed aboard at the pilot’s direction. He hopped inside, positioning himself near the propane heaters. The crew released the ropes and we were airborne.

My stomach lurched with the rapid ascent when the balloon shot aloft. The pilot dampened the burner at the desired altitude. The breeze carried us along the prevailing wind direction. There was total silence. It was so calm to be floating on the air current. We felt weightless. Viewing the world from above was awesome.

There was no sense of speed. The pilot ignited the burner to keep us moving at intervals. The hot air inside the balloon made us lighter than the cooler atmosphere.

The wind decided where we were flying. Balloons travel about eight to ten miles per hour. The ground crew followed us in their truck. Communication was by walkie talkie.

We soared close to two hours before running out of fuel. Then we descended fast, skimming the tops of a corn field. The balloon headed for a horse pasture, bumping along the ground. The basket stopped, fell on its side and we spilled out — laughing. The horse bucked and trotted from fright.

The farmer raced to check that we were okay. The ground crew had alerted him before we landed. Most landings are smooth, except when the winds pick up. Every landing is unpredictable. Crew members held the basket steady until the balloon collapsed completely. Before we left, a bottle of champagne was opened. A hot air balloon is one of the safest air sports.

Have you ever watched a bald eagle playing on the updraft of a gentle breeze? They spend their winter months here on the Mississippi River. A lock and dam keeps the water from icing over. So, chances for catching fish is plentiful. Take a lesson from our national bird and have some fun with the wind.

I delight in having a tailwind push me along when I’m on my bike. Pedaling becomes effortless and I can coast along a riverside trail. Then I’m rewarded with extended viewing of the river scenery. Oh, there is such joy in playing with that kind of wind. But a headwind is a real drag. I have to hunker down and pedal harder.

I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. Jimmy Dean

There’s a sailboat club here. It’s common to see boats playing with the breeze filling their sails. They’re taking classes or participating in races to test their skills. The sight brings back memories of sailing in New Zealand when I lived there.

I felt like a kid as I played with the energy of the wind pushing the sails. The boat skimmed across the water, responding to tacking movements like a charm. Alas, without the wind, you’re dead in the water.

Friends let me steer their sailboats on two occasions. One watercraft had a tiller to guide its direction. I needed an intense focus to steer without mishap. The tiller had to be pushed in the opposite direction of the turn I wanted to take. It was easier to steer with a wheel on the other sailboat.

“I saw a tree dancing in the wind, and it said to me, ‘I’m not doing this to entertain you, but to remind you of what life is — a dance in the wind!” — Song of a Nature Lover, Michael Bassey Johnson

When I’m hiking or climbing I welcome any breeze. It cools the heat of exertion from my body. It feels pleasant on my face and my hair rejoices as the wind whips through it. It replenishes my energy and renews my resolve to keep going.

Thank you Dr. Preeti Singh for the prompt “the gentle breeze”. It brought forth pleasant memories of playing with the wind.

Please read the following posts from these other Medium writers.

Vidya Sury, reminds us to be grateful for the everyday things in our lives. It is a catalyst for happiness and dispels negativity.

Cristina Cattai writes a poem about the Majestic Wind. It fits in well with my post on the wind.