Sunday Mass (ascension)

Balloons '96, page 1 of 6: index, next page.
When we got to the field in the pre-dawn light there was already lots going on. Unloading Bill's trailer
We were in the second wave so we waited around while the first wave inflated. Bald eagle checks out the rest of the first wave
Our next door neighbor fills his balloon. Even a *huge* field can seem a little crowded.
Hanging on to the crown line while the balloon inflates. Early birds in the first wave take off.
Tim Whitney helps hold our neighbor's balloon down ... ... while he tightens it up.
The first wave takes off in the dark and meet the sunrise at a few hundred feet AGL. Bill Jewitt is definitely having fun now.
Now it's time to spread out Bill's balloon. Jeff zones out on the
sensory overload.
More of the first wave get ready to go ... ... and more and more.
The last of the first wave take off just at sunrise.