On Thursday night Joli Boerma Crane represented Lincoln Daily News at the annual Balloons Over 66 Media Night. Austin Hopp was the pilot in Hoppin' Around where Crane experienced her first ever hot air balloon ride. Meanwhile, her husband Brandon hitched a ride in another of the four balloons that flew, and got this great shot above Hopp's balloon, just before it touched down in the green space next to the Catholic Church Food Pantry.

Photo by Brandon Crane

The back lawn of the Karen Klockenga home was a beautiful location for the Thursday evening inflation for the annual Balloons Over 66 media flight. The “bottom” land behind the Klockenga home provided for a bird’s eye view from the hillside as pilots inflated and launched, flying toward Lincoln.

Photo by Nila Smith