...were really amazing. I'm saying Wow and Holy Cow and Wow again. The sort of thing that even after you see it, you keep thinking: did I really see that?
Every Labor Day weekend for as long as I can recall, there has been a Hot Air Balloon Fest at Callaway Gardens. The people with (very expensive) balloons will come and spend their time inflating and deflating, unpacking and packing up the huge balloon envelopes (as big as a house when full of hot air). I know they offer 'tethered' rides', where the balloon is attached to a large vehicle so it won't float away, and visitors can pay to get in the basket and ride up to the end of the rope and back down again. Probably for about $15.
In the past there has been a planned event/chase, called the Hare and the Hounds, where one balloonist will leave ahead of the group, and the others try to catch it, landing as close as possible to the first one. There are, as you might imagine, many variables when you are completely dependent on the wind for getting from point A to point B. So each balloon needs a 'chase team' who can come to the rescue where ever the balloon comes down. And load all the hundreds of pounds of balloon shroud, basket with gas canisters and accoutrements back into the trailer for transport.
I forgot to take my camera. Rats. So was only able to snap a couple of photos with my old school phone, while adding my weight to the basket of the people I was assigned to assist. The balloonist guy was continually adding heat, by way of propane burner to the air in the canopy, causing the wicker basket to want to rise off the ground. And though it was securely attached to a large truck, and would not fly away, it did act sort of weightless, and needed the extra volume of bodies to keep it grounded.
It was really neat. There were seventeen balloons there, on the beach around Robin Lake. Colorful, huge, amazing. Well worth the trip. I know you have seen them on TV or calendars, so just imagine how neat it is to see them up close and personal. Wow.Holy Cow. And wow again.
No comments:
Post a Comment