Last month, our Escapee’s friend Charlie Boles suggested that we travel to Albuquerque to join The Boomers at their Rally at Balloon Fiesta. Why not? We’re retired and have no better task at hand but to have 4:00 Happy Hour and watch hot air balloons. Here we are at about 4:30 planning Pot Luck Suppers and swilling various adult beverages.
Would we like to join a Chase crew? Sure, why not.
A strong dose of reality; set I-Phone for 4:45am Wake-up! Put on 3 layers of cloths under our jackets, it’s a windy 40 degrees outside. Bring a flashlight (it is very dark), wear tuff shoes as there is lots of walking. The 1965 school bus used in the fleet of shuttles pick us up near our camper and drop us about 1/2 mile (WALK) from our designated lift off point where we will meet our Pilot & Crew Chief.
Soon we are put to work with the launch, roll out and spread ‘our’ Balloon sponsored by the city of Durango, MX. Annie and I are holding it open while our Crew chief uses a large fan to fill it. our pilot will hook up the myriad of steel cables from which the whicker basket hangs.
Our balloon is full of ambient air, next come the tricky part. Our Crew chief must fire the 1,000,000 btu propane burner into the center of the balloon. Loud and furious action result in the balloon slowly rising and pulling the basket upright. Did I tell you that I think everyone checked that we were tied to the chase truck’s bumper?,
While this has been going on, about 200 other crews are working in concert, there will be 3 flights this morning. In the picture below, you see our balloon is still down, we have to wait for a formation near us to lift before we add heat and lift. Study the distance and note there are several balloons down as ours is, in the far distance you see a previous group in flight.
Quick as a bunny, we are released and cast off. To float away and land, somewhere???
Tomorrow, we will introduce our pilot & crew chief if they let us work again.
Stay Tuned
Pete & Anne-Marie
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