Anatomy Of A Hot Air Balloon Launch

 During Elephant Butte Days (Labor Day Weekend) there were high winds and winners of the free balloon rides couldn't ride.  The replacement day was set for Sunday.  Some of us got up to see and take pictures.  Some of us were more chipper than others!  Finally after launching many small balloons to gauge the wind direction/speed etc.  Castle Dawn decided to launch.  Seeking Nirvana went down to help.

 It takes a lot of helpers to get it up.  The orangish box is the gondola and the pink "box" on the far right is the balloon "envelope".

 Our group of onlookers stayed up top to get a better view of the entire operation.  Kara (her 3rd morning of watching a sunrise), Maurene and Linda drink coffee and wait for the excitement.

 Bill, Leo and Rick supervising the watching.  The pontoon boat in the far right is Rick's.  He will go down, get on the water and be ready just in case the wind does something stupid and they need him to grab the rope and pull them back over dry land.  Little Jim and Newell were somewhere else.  Causing trouble, I'm sure.

Notice how the gondola is lying on its side as they pull the envelope out of the pink box.

 Then they begin blowing up the balloon.

All the little worker bees know their jobs and hustle to get them done.

 Almost there.

 And it is up.  Look at the guy "skiing" on the bottom right(ish).  He was hanging on for dear life as it went up.  Look in the trees and you can see a white line.  As it came up sliding on the sand.  In the final few seconds as it rose it finally got taut enough to tip the gondola upright.  Kara/Leo found out the initial outlay for ballooning is about $35,000 and every time they go up/down it costs $100.  The envelopes can cost up in the $100,000's range.  But they ARE a beautiful sight in the sky.

And it is up and makes a nice contrast to the mountains in the background.

 (Debbie has me in "take the backside mode".

 There were 4/5 people in the gondola sharing space with the burner.  I didn't get the actual flame, but Linda did.  Good catch!

Because of the wind up high they just went a little to the south and then began the descent down.  It was almost as fascinating at the launch.  The balloon is coming pretty fast here aiming for a small road in the sand.  During the last few feet he kept feathering the burner to slow it down.  He kissed earth very gently.

 One again the guy on the right grabs the top line; pulling to keep it straight as it loses air.  This time the gondola remains upright and the people just stayed in it.

And the work begins again.  This time they push the air out as then lay the envelope gently on the ground in the proper order for putting back into the box.

The people just stay in the gondola. :)

 Hmmm! Wonder if they packed the gondola with the people still inside???  Guess I'll never know as I became interested in another site farther south into the park.  At first I thought the local psychiatric center had a furlough but upon further study we decided it was a martial arts group.  Beautiful day to martial arty.


Another day in the neighborhood.  As we sat at Happy Hour Friday night we decided to do a progressive dinner Sunday night.  We did it with a different twist - the food would come to us.  Great idea!!!  It started with stuffed celery and hot wings, progressed to salad (tossed and macaroni), through to manicotti, chicken divan and kale with bacon, etc and ended with lemon bars and HOMEMADE Ice Cream.  And then the Big Blue Truck named Babe finally made it to the Alley.  But that story is for another day.