August 2019 Scottsbluff Nebraska, site of the combined Old West Balloon Festival and the U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship.  One group, the national guys, fly competitively completing all sorts of assigned tasks to earn points.  They take off twice a day, when the weather permits, and make target drops at a location where the public can watch.  Wow they can dive and rise with great accuracy.  It is great to watch.  Mass ascensions don’t happen ‘til weekend and we need to be moving by then.  We do stay one extra day to see a night glow of about 50 balloons.  Humpty Dumpty and Marvin the Martian are here along with lot of beautiful racing balloons.