They Went Up....And Then Came Down.....

The alarm went off at 4:50 AM.

That's just plain early...

not even bright yet
so I can't say Bright and Early.

I woke Chelsea and we got

ready to drive to Bird-in-Hand to meet

the Grandma's and the Hot Air Balloon Team.

This was the balloon preparing for its morning mission

as we arrived....the sun popping up behind it.

Can you believe they were able to smile

at this hour of the morning?

With the nerves and everything.

 This photo is right side up. 

It was one of the funniest moments of the day.

Turns out you don't climb into the basket.

You lay in the basket and then it sits up when it is ready.

To see the faces of the soon to be ballooners as they 

lay there was priceless.

No one was expecting this....

See the man just past my Mom?

He was terrified.

The whole time.

That would have been me.

He and his wife were celebrating 

their anniversary.

I think he is a gem.

Filling the balloon......

The Basket is now right side up!

Getting Georgia's attention for a photo

was tough.  She was really into what was

happening inside the balloon.

 And then they were off!

 

 

I had been told the town they thought they were 

headed for.....

but funny things can happen when you rise up

3,000 feet and the only control you have is 

up or down.

They missed their goal town by about five miles to the west.

I ran a quick errand and then headed for the expected 

destination.  I was confused when I didn't see the balloon

but kept driving in faith that I would find them soon.

Finally I spotted them way out in the distance

and took the most direct route I could think of.

Out into the country....

they flew over the home of 

our friends at Creekside Cottage,

I finally caught up with them over beautiful farmland

south of a small town called The Buck!

 Mom, Chelsea and Georgia

saw me and were waving.

One lady asked Mom, 

"Who are we waving at?"

Mom said, 

"That's my daughter."

So she waved too.

A quick peek at the beautiful farm where they landed.

 

Look!  They survived!

What a fun morning.

The pilot said it is very difficult to chase a hot air

balloon....I would have to agree.

But it was worth the effort and I think I enjoyed it 

every bit as much as the ones who rode.

Can you believe they could 

see all the way to the 

Bay and Philadelphia?

I thought Mom was teasing me

when she said that later.

But, no,

It was that clear today.

They picked a winner.

I'll steal some of Chelsea's photos

from the balloon for another post.

Hope you enjoy this day.