The day of the Sioux Falls Balloon Race, Saturday, June 14, 2008, we flew the Keebler, but did not race.  Because we were upwind of the race about 10 miles, all the ballonist saw us and wondered who we were.  Some joked, we were the hare.  That is, the ballon that launches first in a "Hare & Hound" race.  In the Keebler were me and the kids, Jacob, Adam, and Anna.  The chase crew was Clay Anderson and his friend Ken.

Coincidentally, at McHardy Park, it was the Brandon Fire Departments 50th anniversary celebration.  So, at takeoff we had plenty of help and spectators.

Below the kids wrote short captions for the flight photos.

Attaching the envelope to the basket.

Balloon almost ready to inflate.

Starting to inflate.

Starting to put the top in.

Still putting the top in.

Still putting the top in.

Almost done putting the top in.

A peek inside the balloon wile inflating.

Velcroing the top on.

Finishing the top.

The top form the inside.

Holdling on to the envolope is getting hard.

The balloon almost inflated.

We have a crowd.

Jacob holding the balloon down.

The keebler tree.

The leaning tower of keebler.

People holding down the balloon.

Time to let go.

The keebler tree from the inside.

Fire off.

The burner in action.

The amazed crowd of bystanders.

Party in Brandon.

The people saying good bye.

Fire trucks at the party.

Going back to the party.

Lakes at the golf course.

The Brandon water tower.

Looking down at the nahborhood we flew over.

Looking down at a river.

The lakes at the golf course.

Golfers saying "Hi" to us.

A good view of the city.

The inside of the balloon.

The city of Brandon.

A cool picture of of a lodge.

A very nice church.

Some golfers putting.

The golf course.

Our shadow over a field.

Higher above the golf course.

Some balloons participating in the balloon race.

The city of brandon from above.

All 25 of the balloons at the race.

Deflating the balloon.

Relaxing from a good flight.

A very cool sunset.

The

The balloon race almost over.

Us after the flight.