*Taking a break from party stuff*
The Monday after Elianna's party, Mom, Elianna and I headed to Colorado Springs for the day. We had quite the full schedule planned out for the day. We left at 5:30 am ... I know, right? Colorado Springs was hosting their annual hot air balloon festival (Colorado Balloon Classic) and the balloons were scheduled to take off at 7 am. I waived back and forth between going and not going since it would be an early early morning after a full weekend. Looking back, I am so glad we decided to go! It was so cool!
We got there just in time to see everyone start to unload their balloons and got to watch so many from start to liftoff. It's fascinating to watch! After unloading the basket which is laid on its side on the ground, the balloon is pulled out and laid on the ground (or in some cases blown open). Then a fan blows cold air into the bottom of the balloon until it is full of air and then they start heating up the air with the fire that you normally see. Apparently you have to fill the balloon up with cool air first or else the balloon would start to float away before it is full since hot air rises. As soon as the air begins to heat up, the balloon begins to float up into the air and the basket is turned upright. As the air heats, the balloon begins to float up up and away!
Start to finish
Almost start to finish
Several of the balloons went and skimmed across the lake impressing the crowd! It is also exciting to watch and listen as each balloon lifts off, everyone claps and cheers for the crew. Great camaraderie! There were literally a couple hundred balloons including one that was shaped as Smoky the Bear. There were some extremely pretty ones!
As we were walking up to the festival, we saw a bride walking to get into one of the balloons. Apparently there was a wedding held up in one of the hot air balloons. Pretty cool but not for me! I would be terrified to get in one of those!
Some people were really into it
Elianna taking pictures on her "camera" (hand)
No comments:
Post a Comment