Plymouth, MI—Things to do before you “kick the bucket” made popular by the Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman movie “The Bucket List,” include for many a hot air balloon ride.
“The movie is about getting the most out of life in the face of death. The movie stars Nicholson as a rich guy and Freeman as a working stiff, both diagnosed with terminal cancer, the duo teaming up to travel the world with a wish list of exotic adventures to squeeze in before kicking the bucket,” says David Germain in an Associated Press review.
“The list is not far from reality,” says Scott Lorenz of Westwind Balloon Company in Plymouth, Michigan. “I’ve flown thousands of people over the years and many say a hot air balloon ride was on their list of things to do before they… kick the bucket.” Its not often one can participate in an activity that so many people hold so high in anticipation. It makes it a very rewarding experience for me personally as well as my passengers,”
What’s the best time to go? Hot air balloons fly in Michigan May thru October. Lorenz says “springtime is nice, but summer’s pretty cool too and you can’t beat the fall colors in October!”
Most balloon rides last about one hour and Lorenz flies over the woods and streams of Kensington Park. He and several other pilot friends meet at Park 'n Ride area off Milford Road and I-96 (exit # 155) about 2 1/2 hours before sunset.
What to wear? Lorenz suggests passengers wear tennis shoes and jeans. He says the air temp “upstairs”
Flights cost $695 for a private ride which is two passengers and the pilot. All flights are pre-paid. Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover and PayPal are accepted. Gift certificates are available.
To schedule a flight call Westwind Balloon Company at 734-667-2098 or visit: www.westwindcos.com/
What’s on Lorenz’s bucket list? “I’d have to say white water rafting on the Colorado River, storm chasing tornados with a professional meteorologist, taking a zip line trip through the tops of a rain forest and flying balloons in Kenya,” says Lorenz.
About Scott Lorenz
Scott Lorenz, President of Westwind Balloon Company, has been a commercial balloon pilot since 1982, and has logged 1,385 + hours as pilot in command in a hot air balloon. Scott’s memorable ballooning experiences include: Flying over Niagara Falls, The Great Wall of China, Disney World, the Olympics in Calgary, St. Wolfgang, Austria, Saga, Japan, the Grand Prix in Spain, co-piloting one of two balloons for Mike Howard’s Guinness World Record ”balloon walk” flight at 19,000 feet, a 20 hour-361 mile Gas Balloon flight with Gordon Boring and handling media relations for Kevin Uliassi’s Round the World balloon flights. Lorenz and his balloon exploits have been featured by FOX-2 News, Hour Detroit and The Detroit Free Press. A balloon flight on Westwind Co. was named "most creative date" by It’s Just Lunch. Westwind Balloon Company is a member of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce, The Balloon Federation of America (BFA) and the Southeast Michigan Balloon Federation (SEMBA). www.westwindcos.com/
