It's cold out there so I am glad when
the sun starts coming up.
the sun starts coming up.
In the distance there's a house that as
built by a Navajo family. They don't
allow electricity to be wired, but they do
have generators, and water gets
brought in every day.
built by a Navajo family. They don't
allow electricity to be wired, but they do
have generators, and water gets
brought in every day.
Now they're laying out a tarp and I
can't remember exactly what that was
for. Something about trying to protect
the balloon from the ground, but I
didn't see how it was providing any
protection.
can't remember exactly what that was
for. Something about trying to protect
the balloon from the ground, but I
didn't see how it was providing any
protection.
Although things started out smooth, no
sooner than they got the basket in
position to hook the balloon onto it, the
wind direction changed. So they had to
move the tarp and basket in a different
direction. Brian and Ron planned to
ride in the balloon while Curley drove
the truck to meet us at the landing
site... where ever that ended up being.
They used walkie talkies.
sooner than they got the basket in
position to hook the balloon onto it, the
wind direction changed. So they had to
move the tarp and basket in a different
direction. Brian and Ron planned to
ride in the balloon while Curley drove
the truck to meet us at the landing
site... where ever that ended up being.
They used walkie talkies.
OK! So now they're laying the balloon
out and have the fans in position to
blow air into it.
out and have the fans in position to
blow air into it.
I was amazed at how large the balloon
was. And then he asked me to help by
holding on to the ropes to let the fan
blow air into the balloon. Ian was on
the other side.
was. And then he asked me to help by
holding on to the ropes to let the fan
blow air into the balloon. Ian was on
the other side.
Well I didn't think that would be too
bad... until a huge wind came and blew
me up into the air and I came down in
front of the flame blaster. Good thing it
was off, but I still felt heat from that
thing.
bad... until a huge wind came and blew
me up into the air and I came down in
front of the flame blaster. Good thing it
was off, but I still felt heat from that
thing.
The cords were all twisted from that
blast of wind and Brian almost got
hung by the neck trying to wrestle the
balloon back down.
That's Ron holding a cord by himself
on the other end. He said he got
swished around like a flea on a dog's
tail.
blast of wind and Brian almost got
hung by the neck trying to wrestle the
balloon back down.
That's Ron holding a cord by himself
on the other end. He said he got
swished around like a flea on a dog's
tail.
They had to end up letting all the air
out. And for about an hour, they were
trying again and then again until they
gave up.
It just wasn't meant to be. How could
such a beautiful looking day turn out to
be a bad day for balloon flight? He
said that they have an 80% success
rate.... its just one of those things....
out. And for about an hour, they were
trying again and then again until they
gave up.
It just wasn't meant to be. How could
such a beautiful looking day turn out to
be a bad day for balloon flight? He
said that they have an 80% success
rate.... its just one of those things....
And so.... they packed it all back up
and we ended up letting Brian and
Curley take us on a back country tour
that's off the tourist path. And what an
adventure that turned out to be....
and we ended up letting Brian and
Curley take us on a back country tour
that's off the tourist path. And what an
adventure that turned out to be....