Lisa's Surprise Birthday Present

Saturday, June 28, 2003
Crockett Park, Franklin, TN

5:38am - Unpacking the equipment at Woodland Middle School in Crockett Park in Franklin, TN

5:39am - Unloading the gondola basket (and trying to wake up!)

5:40am - Unloading and setting up the gondola

5:41am - Setting out the balloon envelope

5:42am - Setting up the gondola basket

5:43am - Unpacking the balloon "envelope"

5:44am - Spreading out the balloon "envelope"

5:45am - Inflating the balloon envelope by fan

5:47am - Lisa in front of balloon partially inflated with cool air (balloon, not Lisa!)

5:49am - Balloon partially inflated with cool air

5:50am - Balloon partially inflated with cool air

Inside of balloon envelope while being inflated

5:55am - Balloon partially inflated with cool air

6:00am - Balloon being filled with hot air (ballon, not Lisa!)

6:01am - Balloon being filled with hot air

6:02am - Balloon being filled with hot air

6:03am - Balloon being filled with hot air

6:03am - Balloon being filled with hot air

6:04am - Balloon filled with hot air and ready to go!

View of the chase car as the balloon ascends

Another view of the chase car as the balloon ascends

A doe and her two fawns didn't know what to think of the balloon heading over them!

View of our take-off site Woodland Middle School in Franklin, TN

View leaving our take-off site at Woodland Middle School - Note chase truck and outline of where balloon was laying in grass dew in upper left

View of Franklin, TN from the hot air balloon - Note the shadow of the balloon!

View of Franklin, TN from the hot air balloon

View of Franklin golf course from the balloon

A lake near the golf course where we almost did a "skip and dip"

The lake where we almost did a "skip and dip"

Looking down into the water we could see the reflection of our balloon in the lake (and a huge snapping turtle nearby!)

View of a nice home in Franklin, TN from the hot air balloon

View of Zac and Stephanie's house in Franklin, TN

View of Zac and Stephanie's house in Franklin, TN

Our pilot Mark Lindecker piloting his new Lindstrand balloon - Note Snoopy the co-pilot!

Lisa enjoying the flight!

Lisa checking out the inside of the balloon

View of the inside of the balloon envelope being heated from 217 to 250 degrees

Lisa reading her birthday card and poem/proposal

Lisa's Birthday Poem Proposal

Scroll the box above to read the entire poem that Lisa read on the balloon ride...

She said "YES!"

8:00am - Being pulled down to by the chase crew in someone's front yard!

8:00am - Being pulled down to a safe landing by the chase crew

8:00am - Being pulled down to earth by the chase crew for a celebration of fruit, cheese and champagne!

Eventually back to our Cowboy Bunkhouse room at Namaste Acres B&B

Many thanks to Bill and Lisa Winters at Namaste Acres,
Julian Tune and Old Hickory Aviation for helping set up the surprise,
and to pilot Mark Lindecker and his Sandia Sunrise crew for making it such a wonderful and memorable event!

(...and to the love of my life, Lisa for saying "Yes" and making me the happiest guy in the world! Thank YOU, my Love!)