European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 15, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Alsace " drifts Over the rooftops in France b Munster Valley with its Shadow following behind. Andre Ornaf below. It ready to pop Champagne work Tor a sunday morning Brunch in the balloon. A t right Pata Ongen watch a the balloon 1$ int Petett pud. We were to tie Lees the frees were in the balloon. There was no Lime to panic to had to pull the Al branches and push Iho Skinny ones out of our faces. The frenzied teamwork brought us Down in a Jungle like chaos of weeds horns vines and Bushes on a Hillside. Nol Exa Elly a storybook ending but we were Safe. Three of us climbed Oul and pulled i he Basket a Lew meters Down the Hill to the Edge o a dirt Road. The balloon was rapidly too Sig life Starling to will and Rita Inlo she fees. Grafl shouted directions again telling us to pull the heavy ropes that attached the balloon to the Basket in an attempt la keep i away from Tho Sharp branches out there were too Many branches a lop Section of the balloon was Langley in twigs. Slop Don t pull anymore he directed no sense in complicating the problem. Now we needed our Rescue squad. Where were the boys in Iho land Cruiser whee were we Grafl got on the Walkie talkie and let them know where he thought we were. The waiting seemed endless. Occasionally we shouted out through the Forest a group of sunday strollers rounded the Bond in the Road. Toftey slopped open moulded. They haunt seen Loo Many Gigantic balloons caught in the Trees in the Middle of the Woods. Stilt no familiar laces finally one of grafts friends came charging up the Hill Oul of by Cash shoes covered in mud. The land Cruiser was stuck in a Creek below he reported belie he and Graff and one of the passengers took of to Rescue the vehicle we All worked on rescuing the balloon. Actually. Graff s Friend did the work shimming up Tho tree Al least 25 feel to delicately Yunlan Rulo the the fabric this was better 1han any Tarzan movie. Holding on to the trunk Wilh one Arm ant hand he used the other to reach Inlo his pocket Lor a knife arid then started cutting branches away the wounded balloon tumbled 10 the ground Graff immediately ran Over to inspect the damage there was a slash a fairly big one. And some smaller holes our once us land Piziol was Cre Kallen this balloon was his prize his treasure. He had told us of the etl Orts to raise the $45,000 to buy in ii was shall ice actively new jus i so months old repair would be costly no time for brooding he and some of the others look 011 to free the land Cruiser finally we heart the sound of a motor we packed up and headed Down Iho Mountain grail was smiling again. La snot sad it was a marvelous  tie said