6:30 a.m. We creep down the gravel road in the dark, joining
silent fiesta goers gathering to ride the yellow Bluebird school buses ferrying
us over to the grounds. The rain has
stopped, and we look to the stars. The darkness
diminishes. Quiet crews unroll balloon silks and light the fires that create
the hot air to fill the balloons. A few
balloons are up—the Dawn Patrol—checking the winds. Dawn reveals snow powdered on the dark
mountains.
7:15 a.m. The first
official balloon rises, unfurling an American flag, and a soloist leads the
Star-Spangled Banner an Channel 4 TV
provides commentary on loud speaker. We
move away and watch the unfolding of the process in the relative quiet of the
crowd’s comments.
After the team of
about seven or twelve pulls the silk and the basket from a truck, they lay out
a tarp to unfold the balloon. It is
fluffed up and electric fans begin the inflation. Slowly the huge balloons rise from the
ground to sit upright above the baskets.
Two or three individuals climb in.
They periodically send blasts of flame and hot air upward into the
silk.
Referees in black and white, zebra motif, strut about with
whistles clearing the balloons for take off.
The balloons rise silently, except for cheers from the
ground. The colorful craft move quickly
upward and become small against the cloudless sky.
9:30 a.m. Hundreds of
balloons are now tiny, floating toward the mountains. About a half-dozen balloons have not lifted
off, for one reason or another. Several
are being taking down and rolled up. The
Acsension is officially over.
10:30 a.m. The
balloons are tiny and far away. The crowds are giving the vendors one good day
this week. VV is still shopping and Ally
walks quite a ways to get Jesse and me foot-long corn dogs, which we gratefully
gobble along with hot chocolate. It is
still brisk. I have not been so bundled
up in layers of long underwear, sweatshirts, winter coats since I was a
toddler. Plus three sets of
mittens. Though waddling, I am
comfortable until the sun comes out.
We
watch Navy Seals parachute from low flying planes. A string band plays at the Texas on Tour
exhibit. Birds have returned to the
grounds, as the breeze is slight today, enough to keep the banners and flags
bravely flying.
11:45 a.m. VV and Michael go through the RV checklist. The Floating Palace is road-worthy. With
Michael guiding her out, VV makes the turns. We stop for the intricate maneuvering
required to fill up at a Conoco service station.
1 p.m. We head north.
The exit signs are enticing: Mormon
Battalion Monument, Old Pecos Trail, Route 66, Santa Fe Trail. The wind plays with the vehicle, sounds like bagpipes playing. Glorieta, Canoncito, Las Vegas (the
clouds). Michael and Jesse are nodding
off. Jesse and I are content after our week with the kids and ready to go
home tired and happy. We miss our dog.