To fly, Kent Couch dressed in shirt, sweater, jeans, work boots and sunglasses handed him at the last minute.

He took off at 6:06 a.m. Saturday after kissing his wife, Susan, goodbye and petting his Chihuahua, Isabella.

"See you in Idaho!" he said.

Bend Bulletin

As he made about 25 miles an hour at altitudes of 11,000 feet to 13,000 feet, chase vehicles followed.

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A three-car caravan filled with his friends, family and his dog followed Couch as he traveled from below.

Even at two miles high, Couch said, he could hear cattle lowing and children talking. He heard gunshots, which worried him. A black butterfly flew past. He passed through clouds. He said they were fluffy.

Couch stopped when he was down to a gallon of water and just eight pounds of ballast. Concerned about the rugged terrain outside La Grande, including Hells Canyon, Couch decided to come back to earth.

This time, he was able to pop enough balloons to set the craft down, although he suffered rope burns. But once he was down, he jumped out, and the wind grabbed his gear, chair and remaining balloons, sweeping all aloft.