Persephone I Ground Pics
Inflation: Never trust a balloon older than half your team members.
The above photos out of focus due to me being an idiot and having my
camera set wrong. Sigh...
Crossing the road to avoid snagging traffic with the tether.
Balloon and tether (barely) visible.
Blaise takes a turn at the reel. Note how low the balloon is despite
the long length of tether run out. This is due to the winds 100' off the ground.
Trish takes video while she and Milly discuss tethered ballooning as a concept.
Tether is now pulling 40+ pounds. Brake is starting to burn.
Milly takes a turn at the winch. Note burn marks on the reel. John G assists to keep
Milly from getting whacked on the knuckles by the crank when the brake slips.
Your author takes his turn at the winch. John and I aren't too impressed by the balloon's performance, but Milly seems amused.
The brake is badly burnt now and the reel warped. Cranking it at all is a real chore,
and everyone is getting a good workout.
Milly is the only one smart enough to turn the winch over and crank it with his strong arm.
The winch is completely jammed. Blaise decides to go hand-to-hand with the tether,
with gloves to prevent his fingers from being cut by the taught nylon fiber.
"It popped!"
"I think it's out there somewhere."
John G returns from the mud with the payload.
Back at Doug's farm, Blaise opens the payload to inspect for damage, as Milly and Trish
look on. Doug is helping John G hose the mud off his boots off-screen.
Top: John N, Blaise, Milly, John G, Trish.
Below: Blaise, Milly, John G, Trish, and Doug.
Back.