MORNING Half-Mass Ascension
500 to lift-off from Balloon Fiesta Field,

The first wave filled their balloons with hot air,
Then began rising skyward,
But, whoa, all the pretty colored ones,
Shifted into something like warp-speed, balloon style.
They shot across the sky over our heads.
Finally slowing after reaching a higher altitude.

Needless to say, Wave 2 opted to stay on the ground.
Normal speeds, at this point,
Are 6-10mph vs. the rumored 29mph
These Bad-Boys reached.

I snapped this patriotic balloon before it entered hyper space.