Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Balloon Rally - Part 1


We just returned from a great Hot Air Balloon Rally in Pittsfield, NH. We have sponsored a balloon (sometimes 2) for the last 15 years or so. Flights are very weather dependant and this year we were lucky to get 3 out of 4 flights.

We sponsor the Irish Rover with pilot Ted O'Hara. The first scheduled launch was Friday evening but it rained. Thus no flight. We did enjoy the supper of baked chicken, potato salad and green beans. Dessert was a brownie and ice cream. These dinners are put on by the Rotary people who work extremely hard for the whole weekend. Much appreciated even with out a flight! Thanks.

This picture is from the Saturday morning flight. We almost didn't make it to the field as our alarm didn't go off. My husband's brother woke us at 5 AM and we rushed to the field.




We hurried to get the basket out and start with the procedure of getting the balloon ready.





The balloon envelope gets spread out on the field ready for inflation. Inflation is started with a large fan blowing into the bottom of the envelope.




When the balloon is upright, get ready to jump in the basket as you'll miss out otherwise.





Then up, up and away!





Next and sometimes the most fun, is landing.




This part of the flight was to just land and change people in the balloon and they took off again. Tomorrow, I'll show how the landing went. Stay tuned.


B

www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com

1 comment:

  1. I think . . . I would be terrified. Yup. I would be terrified.

    ReplyDelete