We pulled in the parking lot just as 2 balloons were launching in the sky. Quentin was excitedly screeching "balloons" and pointing.
As we came over the ridge in the parking lot we entered the grounds of the festival. 25 balloons in various stages of being filled with air were tethered to the ground. 5 balloons were up and 20 more were waiting to go.
We walked on the dew soaked grass and watched in amazement as the balloons began launching in what looked like a ballet in the sky.
One group of 5 balloons preformed an amazing maneuver and by sheer pilot knowledge and skill the 5 balloons launched and stayed in a tight group formation. It was amazing and beautiful.
Next we watched the largest (possible Guinness World Book of Records large) balloon launch off the ground. We were 6 feet away as the huge Champagne shaped hot air balloon took off and floated above our heads.
Over the trees we spotted another large balloon filling up. It was Smokey the Bear! Smokey was in town to memorialize the evacuees that made our city home last fall when the Temecula Valley was literally encircled by the flames of 20 wildfires for 11 days.
I captured a few balloon "eclipse" shots where the balloon maneuvers directly in front of the sun, eclipsing those of us on the ground.
We stopped and visited the Clydesdale horses while they ate breakfast. Then we stopped at the Bank of America spread the cheer booth for the kids to record a message of good luck to the Olympic athletes in Beijing China this year.
2 comments:
Oh that is so cool!!!!
awesome pics! I was up at that time too -- getting ready for that 5K! :o)
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