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 A ride in a Hot Air Balloon

 The morning started bright and early at 0520. We got downtown to Lancaster California to help setup the balloon. It is surprising how small the balloon is when deflated and rolled out.

Then you blow cold air into the balloon to inflate the shell before using the burners to heat the air. One or two guys get to climb under the balloon to help unfold the amterial and make sure it is inflating correctly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then the burners are started to heat the air

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rachel is standing by the top of the balloon with Larry. He got to hold the thing straight and down as long as he could. Eventually, the balloon started pulling him across the parking lot.

 

And off goes the first group of passengers.

 

 

Scott and Rachel flew in the second group.

This is taken as we fly away. The white car is ours.

And a scenary shot of the Antelope Valley. The very thin smooth clouds are Linticular clouds. That generally means high winds around those areas.

No pictures of the landing because we hit pretty fast. Wouldn't be good to crush the camera. What a great way to start the day. We were home and off to our jobs by 0830.

 "Learn from other peoples mistakes...
you don't have time to make them all yourself"