Sunday, September 1, 2013

37th Annual Colorado Balloon Classic

We remember going to this event when Maia was a toddler and one of the pilots went up riding on his horizontal gas tank, like a horse.  Ya don't see that anymore.

 


It's a dawn event and we start out on our bikes in the warm and trafficless early morning.


We get here as the sun rises and balloons are already being inflated.


It's not long before they're launching.


There's a lot of noise and excitement walking around the balloons as they inflate and we soon forget that it's 7AM.


Over the years the perimeter has evolved into a kids carnival with something new every year.


As the first balloons launch we walk over to the lake shore.


The balloons fly low over the trees


over us


and do the Splash and Dash in Prospect Lake.
Some skim the surface for 100 feet or so before sharply rising.
This year, because of the ever varying air currents, one balloon was able to circle back and do a second dip.


 Each of us has his favorite.



There's always a few show boaters.



Shouldn't he be in California?

I don't know why my videos go silent and speed up when I up load them but I like this one, anyway.







1 comment:

  1. Great showing on the balloons getting up and dipping! I remember those cold morning and hoping that they would all take off.

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