It’s been four years since I last rode in the Blue Moon hot air balloon. She has a new pilot now, Dan Ewer, carrying on the tradition of former pilot, Roy Walz, flying over White Sands.

We could photograph the sky from the ground, but not photograph the ground from the sky. White Sands is a protected area.

There’s a song for the above picture. But first we must get there.

And, the chase is on.

Touch down.

Release.

Re

Pretty good run for a windy day.

We’re a well tutored crew.

How the air gets out of a hot air balloon.

Appearing at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2016: The Blue Moon.

All photos (c) Cheyenne MacMasters 2016