ALBUQUERQUE - Riding in a hot-air balloon is unlike any other mode of transportation.

Words like peaceful, tranquil, surreal can be used to describe a ride in a balloon, but you can bet the hundreds of first-timers taking part in such a flight that it will have even more words.

The busiest time of the year for Rainbow Ryders, Inc., arrives Saturday and runs through the following Sunday, Oct. 14.

A Rainbow Ryder balloon is "cold-inflated" as two other balloons begin to lift off in the early morning at Balloon Fiesta Park. (photo by Gary Herron)

In its 24th year of operation, Rainbow Ryders (www.rainbowryders.com) was founded by W. Scott Appelman, who was born into a successful business family but opted to start his own venture - and adventure. His wife, Liz, played a key role in the company's birth.

"We started out fun-flying with a banner on it," said Appelman before a summertime promotion that offered area media members a ride and an opportunity to learn anything and everything about the sport.

In the first seven months of 2007, Rainbow Ryders flew more than 5,000 passengers, which actually pales in comparison to how many its balloonists - the company has ???? balloons of its own but contracts about 50 for fiesta - will fly during fiesta week. Appelman projects 12,000 passenger flights by the end of the year.

"We'll have about 325 flights (a morning) during fiesta," Appelman said, with passengers ranging in number from three to 12. "We're sold out the first weekend."

Do the math: $325 a flight during fiesta; $160 to $170 at other times.

Piloting a balloon with a gondola large enough to hold about 10 passengers, Mike Collins said it was the best job he'd ever had. He's been flying for about 15 years, the last 13 with a commercial endorsement.

Once the cold-inflate was done, the burners soon filled the envelope with hot air, causing it to rise. One by one, his passengers that summer morning climbed in, some flying for the first time.

"How do I make it come down?" Collins queried of his chase crew, as the balloon began to rise.

He was jesting, of course. Flying a balloon is like flying a plane: If landings equal takeoffs, you're successful.

"I fly, like, 250 days a year," Collins said. "I always get excited when the fans start up."

This particular August morning proved ideal: Sunny and warm and without a breeze. The balloon guided in a southerly direction, away from the balloon fiesta park in Northwest Albuquerque, passing over Garduño's Restaurant and Cantina - 'We call it the balloon saloon," Collins said - and then over Alameda Boulevard.

A train horn is heard; a look west reveals the Rail Runner Express hauling passengers toward Albuquerque.

"I think the (Rio Grande) 'box' is there," Collins said, when a passenger asks if he'll be able to take advantage of it.

The "box" is what pilots term the conditions that, thanks to thermals, allow a pilot to guide his balloon south, then take advantage of the conditions at a higher level that bring it back north, sometimes to the same spot from which it took off.

Like Appelman, ballooning wasn't his first call in life. He once worked for Galles Chevrolet, he said.

The balloon drifts further south, two balloons that lifted off earlier still in sight to the south and southwest. As the pilot and his freight approach Montaño Boulevard, he eyes one of his favorite landing spots: a rare (these days) lot, just north of a Home Depot.

Although Collins had shown his passengers how to face him and flex their knees when it came time to land, the day's lack of a breeze makes the landing near perfect. The crew is already there, grabbing hold of the basket and steadying it for the passengers' exit.

Then, the vent line is pulled, releasing the hot air remaining within the envelope, and the envelope, which weighs 600 pounds, slowly collapses.

Appelman, who traveled with the chase crew to the landing site, answers questions as the envelope is rolled up and packed away for the next flight - no doubt, one day later.

He's been a pilot for 26 years.

"(Ballooning) has changed a lot - and so has the city," he said. Appelman used to take passengers on short hops, but as the number of available landing sites has dwindled - and almost dwindled more until a prospective Wal-Mart that was destined for Osuna Boulevard fizzled out - those short hops are tougher to do.

Appelman, of course, was eagerly looking forward to the balloon fiesta.

"The balloon fiesta here has a huge impact: It's the biggest economic impact in the state," he said.

Year-round, he added, "We're blessed with good weather. Pilots want to come here and have a good time. It's so unique for us to have 100,000 people out there (at balloon fiesta park), and the people in Albuquerque are balloon savvy."

Then it was time for the ride back to the park in a Rainbow Ryders, followed by breakfast burritos for everyone.

Nothing says morning balloon ride and fiesta time like the words, "breakfast burrito."

And like that burrito, nothing is more satisfying early in the morning than a carefree balloon ride.