Up, up and away at the Atlantic Balloon Fiesta

CBC's outdoor adventure columnist Calixte LeBlanc has tried a lot of outdoor activities from mountain biking androckclimbing to skydiving and bungee jumpingbut he'd never been up in a hot air balloonuntil last weekend at the Atlantic International Balloon Fiesta in Sussex.

In fact, he'd never even seen one in real life.

"I'd seen cartoons as a kid and seen it on TV, but to actually see the whole thing was something new for me."

LeBlanc took a hot air balloon ride as the balloon festival celebrated its 30th year in operation. In 1985, some business peoplein the area came up with the ideaas a way toextend the local tourist season.LeBlanc says Sussex isa perfect location with many open farmland fields and forest and a hot air balloon offers a different perspective.

Not for the faint of heart

LeBlanc says passengers must overcomea few challenges tofully enjoy the view.

"If you're okay with heights, that's fine. Second is you have to have a little bit of faith in the weather ... and the third, which I find is the big thing, is you have to place some trust in the pilot and in the balloon because you're not in control. It's somebody else in control of that experience."

He likens it to extreme sports, like bungee jumping, saying you have to trust your equipment to truly appreciate the experience.

Next: On Wednesday,Calixte LeBlanc will try rock climbing in SaintGeorge.Listen at7:40 a.m.on Information Morning Moncton 106.1 FM.

Information Morning - Moncton9:28Up, up and away!

Outdoor Adventure columnist Calixte LeBlanc on his weekend at the Atlantic Balloon Fiesta.