Early Saturday morning, long before the balloons would glow in the evening at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, hot air balloon pilots met at a hotel nearby to learn the task and target for the first day of the two-day Louisiana State Ballooning Championship.
While the Red River Balloon Rally gives the public a chance to see the balloons up close and take tethered rides, the championship gives residents a chance to see balloons floating across the sky.
Local commercial hot air balloon pilot Michael Gullo enjoys them both, particularly people’s reactions…