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I should live in
Albuquerque! I've heard lots about that place and their balloons!!
I live in an area where we don't have a lot of hot air balloon
launchings. However once a year, in mid September at Orville Redenbacher's
Popcorn Festival here in Northern Indiana, they always have hot air
balloon dawn launches for two days, which means getting up at 4:00 a.m.
to make sure we're there on time . They also have dusk glows for those
two days.
At night they can't launch
because it would be too dangerous with the electrical lines and the
fact that there is no visibility in the dark. They tether their
baskets to the back of their trucks, so they will not lift, and fill the
balloons up. The "glow" comes from the fire bursting up into the balloon,
and it is really colorful and beautiful against the black sky. There is an
interesting
display.
They do a "wave",
where the balloonists one after another blast fire up into their balloons
which lights them up magnificently. Then a "twinkle" where they randomly
light up.
The glows are interesting
but they aren't as thrilling as the launches!! It's exciting to see
two dozen huge colorful balloons filling up and rising into the air, with
the sunrise in the background.
This is a picture we took in September
1998. Some balloons are still lying on the ground, some are filled enough
to begin lifting, and one lone balloon is up, up and away. How
exhilerating!!!!
This photo, also taken in 1998
is at the other end of the spectrum, they are nearing the end of their "flight"
and are coming down in a field.
These ballonists come in
from all around the country to participate. Even more excitement is
added to the launch by adding a spirit of competition. There is a big
X marked on the ground a distance away from the lift off point. The
balloonists are told which direction it is, they then attempt to fly over
it, drop a bean bag hit the X dead center.
Now this might sound easy,
however it depends on the air currents, which can throw them way off
or help guide them directly over their mark.. Many people leave and
simply go home after the launch, or back into town for the festival.
Everytime we have gone, we follow the crews through the backroads of
the countryside so we can watch the balloons come down. One year a
balloon landed in the road ahead of us, and then another right behind us.
No problem!! Well one problem, we didn't know which one to watch
dismantle. We got some
dynamite upclose pictures of those!!
If a balloon happens to land in somebody's
yard and the people come out, they sometimes give them a short "lift"
just straight up for a minute or so, and then come back
down.
A lone balloon drifting across
the sky.
I hope
you enjoyed the bright colors
the beautiful sky and the gentle breezes..
Aren't balloons
wonderful!!!
Click on the pink balloon to
e-mail me
your thoughts or comments on
balloons, any type.
Thanks for dropping by.
Jus me,
Janice
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