A Nature Walk in the Sky

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Coastal Balloons: A Nature Walk in the Sky

A RE/MAX balloon flies over Smithfield, VA, during an early morning flight on June 4, 2019.

Luke Mason, a ground crew chief for Coastal Balloons, helps remove the Spectrum hot air balloon from its storage bag as the van slowly drives before an early morning flight on June 4, 2019.

Luke Mason, a ground crew chief for Coastal Balloons, holds the opening of the Spectrum hot air balloon as it inflates before an early morning flight on June 4, 2019.

Luke Mason, a ground crew chief for Coastal Balloons, guides the basket of the Spectrum hot air balloon to an ideal launch spot at Summerwind Vineyard for an early morning flight on June 4, 2019.

Mark Nelson, pilot for Coastal Balloons, pulls the trigger on the burner to put hot air in the Spectrum balloon during an early morning flight over Smithfield on June 4, 2019. Nelson has been flying hot air balloons for 40 years and has over 3,300 hours of flight time.

A RE/MAX balloon flies over Smithfield during an early morning flight on June 4, 2019.

Pilot, Reed Basley, in white, with passengers Dianna and JR Keen fly in the RE/MAX balloon over Smithfield on June 4, 2019.

Mark Nelson, pilot for Coastal Balloons, lands the Spectrum balloon in a field after an early morning flight over Smithfield on June 4, 2019. Nelson has been flying hot air balloons for 40 years and has over 3,300 hours of flight time.

Luke Mason, a ground crew chief for Coastal Balloons, puts the Spectrum hot air balloon into its storage bag after a morning flight over Smithfield on June 4, 2019.

Coastal Balloons provides hot air balloon rides in Hampton Roads. Pilot, Mark Nelson, 61, has been flying hot air balloons for 40 years and describes the experience as "a nature walk in the sky." Early in the morning on June 4, 2019, Nelson flew the Spectrum balloon over Smithfield along with his friend, Reed Basley piloting a RE/MAX balloon.