Up, Up, and Away - Balloon Stampede 2009

May 10, 2009

What an amazing site I witnessed on Mother's Day soaring over Walla Walla with 30 other balloons. The flight with Captain Crystal was my first and was an experience I'll never forget.

Having conditions suitable to fly is not often a given - the pilot is at the mercy of the weather. And it all can come down to the last second whether to fly or not. My flight was supposed to take place last year, but wind left the balloons grounded on the day we were to launch. This year, Thursday was too windy, Friday the currents where we were to launch could have led to an emergency landing at the city dump or an off-limits wheat field, so our day to fly was scheduled for Sunday.

A lot is involved in leading to "a thumbs up" from the launch director, but the seasoned crew clearly had a set routine to ensure a safe trip. Everyone pitched in to get us airborne.

After soaring high above the crowd below, we were off across town, drifting over Walla Walla at daybreak. The view of Walla Walla from above provided another perspective of downtown and our beautiful valley. Neighbors waved from below and dogs barked as our fleet made its way towards the airport - our destination for the morning. One by one the balloons touched down, and it took a seasoned pilot like ours to successfully land without incident.

Thank you Captain Crystal and crew for my "Up, Up, and Away Special Mother's Day."