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| Up above the field | High above the field | Another balloon took off just before us | Looking north along I-85 |
Soon we were brushing the tops of trees with the basket. I have a feeling this is how balloon captains show off since flying too low through a tree would have obvious disadvantages. So it is a true test of skill to brush through the branches of a tree without, well, dying.
Down low you could get a better view of what's on the ground and also see the fall colors. You could also see the people coming out of their houses to see us. Some kids started following us on their bikes and Mike lowered the balloon into a nearby field so he could talk to them. Just before landing Mike told us to bend our knees to absorb some of the thump from the landing, but the landing was very gentle and we hardly skipped once we hit the ground. The land owner came out and talked for a while with us and then we lit up and headed off again over some cow pastures and then over a deer hunting ground. Uncle Edward's keen eyes spotted a couple of deer but we ended up seeing ten or so in a few different places running through the woods to get away from the sound of the burner. We put down again briefly and Kay, Mom and I swapped positions. When we took off again we floated over a subdivision where Jeb and his family had followed us in the van. We waved and yelled and they drove off.
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| Mom and Dad during flight | The other balloon | At treetop level you could look right down on people's houses | The cows had a hard time figuring us out |
We floated further on, saw a few more deer, and started looking for a place to land. Captain Mike turned out to be quite the flaming conservative, and seemed to enjoy competing with the big gas burners for quantity of hot air he could spew. Everybody wants to be a Rush Limbaugh. Fortunately, before the crew could mutiny we found a decent lot where the other balloon put down. Mike decided there were too many briers that could hurt the balloon and we took off again. He spotted a nice grassy field with no fences (this was key since the van has to be able to get to the balloon). After a few more scrapes (literally, this time) with trees, one of which lashed Kay and Mom pretty good, we put down. Mike, Ted, and Dad got out and started walking the balloon towards the driveway to ask permission to take the balloon down. The owner seemed more annoyed than anything, but let us land anyway after Mike promised this would be the last time he would use his land for an airstrip.
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| Taking off from a field | Brushing the treetops | We saw a bunch of tiny deer | Near where we saw Jeb |
Once on the ground we enjoyed a beautiful sunset. The van caught up with us after a while (the landowner wouldn't give us directions to his house), and the balloon and gondola were rolled up and packed onto their trailer.
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| The sun from the balloon | Ted helps walk the balloon | The balloon being deflated | Rolling up the balloon |
Once in the van we broke open some Guiness to celebrate a successful trip. Despite a few scrapes everyone had a wonderful time celebrating Dad's birthday and Erin enjoyed her somewhat belated birthday present just as much.
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| A great sunset! | Ted and Erin | Everyone but Mary Ann | The veteran balloon fliers |