Today is a beautiful day in North Carolina - cool and crisp - you can see for miles.

It reminds me of the first time I rode in a hot air balloon. My friend Julian has one, and Louie and I met him on a day like today - and took off (launched). We ascended to a couple thousand feet, and just drifted with the wind. Beautiful, is all I can say...Peaceful...Quiet...until...

we started floating over populated neighborhoods - and the damn dogs were barking like crazy. From one neighborhood to the next - bark..bark..bark.

Hot Air Balloons drive the dogs F_____g crazy. It was strange.

Anyway, we'd been aloft for about 5 hours and Julian decides it's time to set 'er down. We'd covered, as the crow flies, boo coo miles - and dusk was approaching fast.

We were crossing the river when we spied a field that looked promising for a "landing". Problem was: there were TVA power lines between Earth and us, and it was almost dark.

Let me say - we had a radio, and had been directing the chase vehicle (full of some other friends) all day long. They were toe (lift leg) up - I'm willing to bet. Right.. Right.. no no I meant left.. OK OK good...we see you loud and clear. See not hear - whatever.

The Balloon Driver says - "I see a place where I think we can set 'er down, but everybody get down in the basket - I'm going to go through the top of those trees to bleed off some speed." WTF. Man - he did exactly what he said - we hit those trees and wood was flying everywhere.

We hit Earth, and bounced upside down for about 100 yards.

It was GREAT!!!