a long day...

...on Saturday, volunteering at the Hot Air Balloon Festival at Callaway Gardens. One of the requirements as a Gardens volunteer, in order to receive the benefit of a gate pass that gets a carload of friends/family in free is: fifty hours of time each year. I thought that 'freebie' would be a good idea. With fond memories of going with daughters to spend the day riding the bike trails, having a picnic, enjoying the scenery, fresh air, woodland views, healthy exercise.

There is quite a bit of irony to be found in this: I decided to become a volunteer partially to qualify for that permit that gives free entry. And never, ever, ever go there unless I am volunteering. So the value of that pass is actually virtually zero. Even though I think the cost for a one day ticket to go into the Gardens is probably about forty bucks for an adult, just to gain entry and ride yourself around along the winding roads in the nature preserve.

Daughter from Decatur asked about possibly volunteering for the day to help with the ballooning event. I had already committed to doing a stint, actually double stint, helping with kids crafts. Thinking it would be inside, where it is cool, comfortable, climate controlled, bug free vs hot scorching humid day in the wide open field where the ballooning occurs. Therefore I proceeded to take complete leave of my senses, and offer to assist with a balloon team before and after my other 'job'.

We got up at 4 a.m., (not all that unusual for me when I have to be at work at 5) to be there at 6. We crept along rural two lane roads, hoping to not encounter dashing deer. Drove about twenty five miles north east to get to the Gardens. Arriving in the pitch black dark  5:45, trying to look chipper: ready for instructions/assignment for ballooning. Cautioned by the groups of balloonists that hot air balloon events are totally weather dependent: 'hurry up and wait' for the sunrise, and the world in east central Georgia to wake up.

It turned out to be a excellent day for ballooning. Cooler than it normally is here in middle GA, when September is still the blistering heat of summer. It was pleasant a bit breezy, probably due to remnants of the hurricane weather that devastated Texas a week ago.  Not too crowded early in the morning, but lots of families enjoying the weekend by mid-day, viewing antique car show, a day at the beach on the mad-made lake, picnicing, all the amenities of the destination.