Copyright ©2025 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.
October 31, 2025 was Nevada’s 161st year of Statehood. The celebrations started early in October with many events scheduled throughout the month leading up to the big Birthday Bash on November 1st.
November 1st started really early with Hot Air Balloonist rolling in at 6am to get their balloons ready for an 8AM lift-off. I was there.
I usually pick one balloon and stick with them until they lift off. This year I watched the crew that owns this balloon laying flat on the ground.
The crew pulled up to their spot on the street then they laid out a huge tarp, next they roll out the balloon. The crew is named Cloud Couture Crew. The Balloon’s name is Cloud Couture. It’s piloted by Eric Diamond.
Next they hook up the basket, and gas, check all the lines, then they turn on a huge fan. See it next to the basket on the left? They use the fan to fill the balloon with air. The best part is when they have enough air in the balloon to start heating it up and lifting the balloon! Whoosh! It was warm standing here once they had the flame going.
That’s Officer Lorentzen from the Washoe County School Police department. He’s about to embark on his first hot air balloon ride.
By the way the balloon is piloted by his boss.
Now the balloon is just about ready to fly!
Officer Lorentzen is invited on board as well as one more passenger, the owner- Delores Martinez. It’s almost Go Time!
While they wait for 8AM and lift off the ground crew is holding onto the lines keeping the balloon from rising. Another crew member is on ground standing by to give the pilot directions with hand signals which way to maneuver the craft to miss trees, lamp posts and wires.
I turn my back on the crew a minute to see what’s happening behind me, and find Lift Off has begun!
This is looking north.
Let’s look back and see what’s happening behind the Cloud Couture Crew.
Looking south.
Did Officer Lorentzen and crew get off the ground?
Cloud Couture is airborne!
I waved good-bye and quietly wished them a great flight, and soft landing.
All in all I counted 18 balloons in the air, but I may have missed a couple.
My girlfriend and I went to breakfast and shed some layers before the parade started at 10AM as it was getting warm out.
Cloud Couture Crew-
Pilot-Eric Diamond
Owner-Delores Martinez
Crew Chief- Stephen Moore
Crew- Anthony, J-Bird, Alex, and Emma.
You can find them on Instagram at CloudCoutureNV
Cloud Couture, thank you for letting me and my camera hang out with you to see all it takes to get your beautiful hot air balloon off the ground!
Happy Wednesday!
more to come…
Circadianreflections Blog 
My goodness, how wonderful! The Lift Off photo is my favorite. Happy BIrthday, Nevada! Thank you for sharing this, Deborah.
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Thank you for sharing it with me. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. That’s my favorite image as well. 😊
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I’m so glad! Best to you, Deborah.
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Thank you, Jennie!
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You’re welcome!
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What a great experience. So colourful
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It was colorful and fun!
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Dear friend, beautiful capture of the Nevada Statehood celebrations! The Cloud Couture Crew’s hot air balloon launch looks incredible, and your storytelling really brings the moment to life. Loved seeing the teamwork, colour, and excitement of lift-off!
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Great Photos!
I used to live in a house that backed on an open field where balloons often landed. It was so much fun to watch one glide over the top of our place and then land!
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Thank you so much! How lucky was that! They are fun to watch.
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Excellent! Hugs.
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Thank you so much, Teagan!! 🤗
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What a fun morning. Great photos! I’ve been to a couple of hot air balloon events and am always in awe of the entire process and the crews who make it happen. Your post was wonderful. Happy Anniversary to Nevada!!
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Thank you so much, Judy! It is fascinating and fills me with wonder how they get the balloons up and who discovered heating air would make balloons float? It’s amazing and so fun to watch.
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What a marvelous event, Deborah. You have captured the beauty and energy of this moment!!!
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Thank you so much, Rebecca! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post.
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Happy birthday
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Thank you!
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You’re welcome
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Wow! That was fun – I felt like I was there with you observing! I have never been close to the balloons like that or ridden in one. I love how colorful they are in the sky. ❤️
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Thank you so much, Jill! I also like how colorful and vibrant they are floating across the sky.
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How Fun!Sent from my iPad
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It was fun! Thank you so much, Jarlath! I hope you’re tucked in snug and warm today. It’s what Pooh would a very blustery day. 😊
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Very beautiful photos, Deborah! Thanks for sharing! Honestly, I am just too big of a chicken to try this. 😂 Carl’s Jr? Eeww. 🤭
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Thank you so much, John! Carl’s Jr. just recently came back to Carson City. They closed in 2018 and now they’re back in a new location.
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You are welcome, Deborah. ❤️ I didn’t mean to be rude but I stopped eating junk food over a year ago. 🤭 Have a great week!
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No worries! I didn’t think you were rude just sharing an opinion! I haven’t at a Carl’s Jr. for years and years. I got sick the last time I ate at one and that was that for me and them. A lot of people here were thrilled they came back though. 😊
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Good on you for avoiding that stuff! I feel bad for those that are happy that chain joint came back…
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I enjoyed reading about and seeing the process, Deborah. The balloons are gorgeous and seeing so many in the sky is wonderful. I feel the same about crowds, so I’d probably shy away from a larger event. I will probably never go up in a balloon, as heights and I have a shaky relationship. But I love seeing even one balloon floating so beautifully.
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Thank you so much, Janet! It is cool seeing them float through the air with their vibrant colors.
The Great Reno Balloon Race has been drawing larger and larger crowds with each passing year. About 10-11 years ago I almost went but, something else came up so I didn’t go. I think I would have enjoyed it then but, not now.
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What a terrific report, Deborah. That is some event and it was great that you were on the front line (so to speak) Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you so much, John! It’s a fun event and my favorite of the year.
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What a sight, those colourful balloons against the spotless blue sky! And what a great report of the procedures you made, Deborah, in text and pictures. They do this every year? Great fun!
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Thank you, Peter! If there’s no little to no wind they do.
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What a fun post!! Your images and descriptions are great. Thanks for showing us what it takes to get those balloons inflated and into the air. I worked on the crew for a balloon at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta two years ago and remember well all the steps you showed us. I was offered a ride in the balloon but said no thanks. I was happy being on the ground.
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Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. A huge part of me enjoys them with my feet on the ground too. 😊
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Just finished reading this as your comment came in 🙂
A great event to get up close with and lovely shots. I once helped out with a balloon many moons ago, the pilot explained that one of us needed to lie under the flame and hold the mouth down / open!!!!!! The weather turned bad and it never took off, phew! 🙂
I’ve always wanted to do one of these in low light.
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Thank you! You’ll need to come over to Reno in early September…I think it’s early Sept. anyway there’s a Hot Air Balloon lift off at dawn. I think that event draws a lot more hot air balloons too. I haven’t gone it get way to crowded for my liking, but thousands of people love going and photographing it. Perhaps there’s an event like this nearer to you though?
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Ah, there’s the catch! Despite it being in Reno, the crowds would put me off too. I don’t think there are many events like this in Scotland, I may be wrong, there are a few down South in Englandshire though.
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😊
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Those are wonderful photos. I’ve seen lots of photos of hot air balloons, but it was very interesting to see the process of getting ready and getting off the ground. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you so much, Dan! It’s fascinating to see all the things they do to get the balloons ready to launch, and super fun to photograph when they ignite the gas and get those huge plumes of flames to heat up the air inside the balloon. I know I simplified the process a lot. There must a line item list with 1500 things to do just to get ready to launch. 😊
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And given that the balloon will be carrying them pretty high, I think all thos items are important.
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Me too. 😊
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Have you ever been up in a balloon yourself?
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No, I haven’t. Have you?
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No, I haven’t either. The least technological aircraft I’ve been on is a small two-seater airplane, and only once. Now that you’ve gotten acquainted with the Cloud Couture team, maybe you can wangle your way into the basket next year.
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I’ve flown in the front seat of helicopter which was great fun.
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