On Saturday, some friends of David's were having a birthday party for their son, and asked David if he'd set the balloon up and treat the guests to tethered balloon rides. David asked me if I'd like to help, and of course, I said, "yes!" Tethering is a bit of a chore, but it's something balloonists are called on to do occasionally, and my experience with it is limited.
The best way to tether is to have six lines attached to the balloon, three on top, and three on bottom. Those six lines attach to three different anchor points; vehicles, in most cases. Each vehicle has a rope running to the basket, and one running to the very top of the balloon. This keeps the balloon pretty stable, even in slightly windy conditions.
I learned lots about the setup, and got to handle the burner, under David's supervision. We flew (up and down, up and down) until the propane was gone, and the sunlight was nearly gone. The guests (especially the kids' parents) enjoyed having the balloon there, and I had fun, too, but not as much fun as a "free flight," and with lots more work!
