Up at 4:30 am. First lift off scheduled for 7:00 AM. Our tour guide stated to allow 30 minutes driving time and another 30 minutes walking time to ascending area. Suggested departure time 5:30 am. Take I40 then I25 to balloon park. Its still real dark then and our headlights are not that good and we don't like driving at night much less on a busy interstate highway. We figured out how to go back roads to the site. Left at 6:25 am. Had no traffic until we got to the site. Traffic moved smoothly due to traffic cops directing traffic.
What a sight. We took hundreds of pics. We were able to get up close and personal with individual balloons. People are actually inside the balloon straightening control lines while the Balloon is being inflated. At first they are only blowing normal fan air. Then air heated by propane. I don't see how they keep from setting the Balloon on fire, there is such a shooting flame. Another person is holding the Balloon top line. As the balloon is being inflated he's hanging on for dear life to keep the top opening closed.There are so many balloons being inflated that they are touching each other. Before they take off they try to move the basket to eliminate touching another balloon. A referee orchestrates who can take off, clears the take off area of spectators, and gives the OK to take off.
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