Up in the air, they fly

Today Alan and Trish took to the pure alpine skies in a hot air balloon, known here as a montgolfiere.  It was a prefect morning when they arose at 6.30 AM -  cool, somewhat misty, with the full moon still high in the sky.  While Ray and I breakfasted at home, they drove down to the Office de Tourisme to meet Patrick Poussardin, their ballon master.  About 8.00 o'clock, Ray and I walked along the little trail behind our house, leading into a freshly cut meadow that smelled very sweetly of dew covered haystalks.  We met a neighbour walking his dog who pointed east and told us that's where they would come up, and moments later, they did.  It was a wonderful sight - two multi-coloured balloons against the raw mountains and the blue sky. It was even more majestic for them - an unforgettable experience.  From up there, they could see Mont Blanc - 90 kms away on the Italian border