At a quarter to five, when the sun has barely begun to lighten the sky, but has not yet risen, Larry Fortin releases a black toy balloon and starts his stopwatch. Five seconds, ten seconds and the balloon has sailed above the treeline and the first breezes of dawn sweep it southeast. Twenty more seconds and a second current of air pushes the balloon northeast. After fifty seconds, the balloon is a tiny black dot sailing southward in a strong wind that only Fortin seems to be able to see. He flips open a map and announces to the huddle of helpers and passengers, "Skunk Hill Road."

In moments, they all bundle into Fortin's SUV, trailer in tow, and scurry off to one of the many launching areas.

Fortin sails hot-air balloons year around, weather permitting, for paying passengers. On this trip he's joined by Chris and Kate, a young couple wanting a high-flying experience together, and Janina, an 81-year-old who is living a wish of a lifetime.

They pull into a hay field just as the sun peeks over the edge of the trees. In short order the ground crew pull the hot-air balloon's basket and colorful forty-foot "envelope" from the trailer and spread it across the field. The ground crew are volunteers -- balloon entheusists who set up, track, and pack up the balloon, simply for the joy of participating.

Early morning setup

The ground crew on this particular trip includes Sarah Peck, a Providence RISD student, who designed and built her own experimental balloon, called the "Mystical Flyer". She's along to learn from Fortin.

Ropes are straightened, systems are checked, and the cables for holding the basket to the envelope are locked into place. Then Fortin has Chris and Kate hold open the mouth of the envelope while a portable fan puffs it up. After a few minutes, the rip-stop nylon of the envelope is inflated enough for Fortin to release a few blasts of hot air from the propane burners.

In seconds, the envelope rises off the hayfield and the passengers are ready to board. Chris, who rode a tethered hot-air balloon once at a fair years before climbs quickly into the basket and Kate follows with little coaxing. Janina, whose children remembered her 65th birthday wish years before and bought a gift certificate for her ride, has a little trouble climbing the basket, but soon Fortin and the three passengers are ready to sail.

At the last moment, Fortin calls for Sarah to climb in and learn balloon sailing from up close. Then, with a few more blasts of flame from the burners, the basket lifts from the ground.

They're flying!

Aloft!

Just a few feet at first, a slow drift above the field, then a little higher to just kiss the treetops at the edge of the field. Then it's time for some real flying.

When Fortin had launched the tiny black balloon, he knew which direction and how fast the wind blew at different altitudes. To go one direction, he goes up, to go another he goes down. In balloon races, where judging and harnessing the wind determines winners and losers, Fortin will sometimes sail with the envelope in one wind current and the basket dipping down into a cross-current.

Normally the wind is calm, or at least relatively so, this early in the morning, which makes balloon sailing a sport for earlybirds. Today, he catches the breeze that sends them across the Wood River and the Wyoming Dam.

Up high, to give views in the distance of Block Island to the south and Boston to the north.

Then quiet. No blasts of the burners, no noise of engines. Peace. Not even the sound of the wind, since the balloon drifts at the same speed as the wind. And with the world far far below, no sound from the ground.

Down below, the ground crew follows, sipping coffee and keeping an eye out. Occasionally they pass a motorist who has stopped to watch the balloon pass over. But unlike the motorists, they're up close and personal with the balloon. They know the feel and weight of the nylon canopy. They know exactly what it takes to make one fly. They know the sound of the burners and the smell of the propane. And from experience, they try to predict where the balloon will likely set down and try to be there when they're needed.

Today the balloon sails low over Richmond, waiting for an open turf farm to give a clear landing area. The balloons can land anywhere -- in someone's back yard, on a dirt road, in a hay field. But the broad expanse of a lush green South County turf farm is the right place at the right time.

They set down and Fortin deflates the envelope quickly, laying the basket on its side to let everyone out.

The ride is over, but not the work. The ground crew arrives to pack up the balloon, first laying it out straight, squeezing out the excess air with a "squisher", then carefully stowing it in a huge canvas bag, which fits securely in the basket.

Cheers! Champagne to celebrate!

Then out comes the champagne to celebrate the flight. Cheese, apples, crackers. Smiles. Sarah Peck learned about balloons, Chris and Kate got their high-flying thrill, and Janina at age 81, got to sail in the sky and see Rhode Island from a place most people can only dream about.

Do you want to see Rhode Island from the clouds? Call Fortin at (401)783-9386 or 1-800-656-9386 to set up your own adventure.

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