Most of you know that I have this thing for Hot Air Balloons. NO, I have never been up in one and have no desire to go up in one, but I love watching the beautiful colors floating in the blue sky. There is something serene and peaceful and lovely about them that has a calming effect on me. Maybe because I have been told more then once I am full of hot air that I can relate to them. (No comments from anyone please.) Anyway, every year a week before the Hall of Fame festivities we have the Balloon races. Approximately 70 balloons come from far and near to be part of this event. The love of the sport is growing, not only for spectators but for the participants themselves. The last two years has been a bit of a bust. Balloons can only fly when the weather, winds and the nearby airport cooperate so because of that last year they could not take off and the year before that they were rained out. But this year, THIS YEAR, OMG, was the BEST ever!
Saturday morning Gerry and I awoke to the 5:30 a.m. alarm and after doing the necessary getting up tasks headed to the college grounds where the first drop spot for the race begins, around 6:30. Imagine the early morning cool temperatures, the gentle fog rising, the sun slowing climbing into the sky and the rainbow colors of balloons everywhere you look against the blue sky background. Just sitting here thinking about the show we saw this weekend still amazes me and brings a feeling of tranquility to my heart and mind. Saturday was amazing but Sunday we arose again to see the second race and this had to be the best show EVER!
We took Winston with us this year and even he enjoyed the outing, sitting on our laps watching the balloons coming closer, dipping to the ground to throw their bean bag markers at the targets. Even with all the people there the quiet was formidable. We were all amazed at the beauty. Needless to say we took some great pictures that I have posted here for you all to enjoy. I invite everyone to try and make the trip here to see this event next year and we will all hope the weather is as good as it was this year. Tammi, I am not the photographer you are, but I think a couple of these turned out pretty good. I hope you can make it here someday and take some whopper photos for your old aunt. ;)
Notice how the colors are getting brighter as the sun rises higher in the sky? We could not have asked for a better day. Aren't these photos beautiful?
My Balloon loving buddies. Winston, don't look at me, look behind you! :) Gerry has a folding lounge chair but he never once dozed off. :)
I could have posted another 20 or so photos but I tried to show you the best of the lot. These were all taken on Sunday. Saturday was wonderful too, but a little more over cast and cloudy. Come visit me and I'll bore you with photos of balloons taken over the years. :)
