Up Up and Away !!!!
Before I even start, let me apologize in advance if some of this post rambles and babbles because I am EXHJAUSTED but simply had to write about today !!!
Was up at 3:00 am to meet friends and head down to Colorado Springs for the Colorado Labor Day Balloon Rally !!! What an experience !!
The morning air was heavy with fog as we drove down and only the moon could be seen peaking through
the clouds - not even Jupiter which has been so bright over the last few nights could be seen. As we walked over the hills to the launch ground there was a sense of something magical about to happen - the air heavy and damp with fog, people huddled in small groups, a tangible feeling of expectation everywhere.
As the dawn came, more and more people came pouring onto the launch ground and there was that sense of nerves as the pilots kept conferring with the weather people - no, we can't launch, you can't fly, the cloud cover is too heavy. All of this presided over by Pikes Peak that loomed in the background like some great god waiting to see if its children would ascend into the skies in its honor.
People kept milling about in the chilly morning air, contenting themselves with coffee and food, waiting, waiting..... ground crews and chase crews pacing back and forth, biting their lips, watching the sky for the sun to break through. Enclaves of pilots and their families everywhere, baskets already postioned, balloons piled on the ground waiting to be unfurled. Chirpy radio folks trying to keep spirits up when most of us would have prefereed they simply shut the hell up !!!!
Finally - the word came - GO HOT !!!!
It was liike wathcing an invading army recieve it's marching orders !!!! Generators cranking, crews scrambling, ropes being hauled by everyone from woman and children, to stout strong men - all with the same purpose !!! Fly, ascend, get these balloons into the air before we miss the window for launch !!!
Over 150 balloons began to rise, slowly like great beasts stirring from slumber. To stand at what end and watch them fill, the light within them translucent, was like looking into a great temple lit with the fires of morning worshippers.... and then, the moment - repeated over and over again - the balloon would suddenly lift and rise, and stand erect - and for each a cheer would be raised - the triumph of seeing these living jewels of cloth and flame come to life !!!
And then the mad scrambe, to board the baskets, to wave to family and friends in absolute joy and then to rise !!!! For those of us on the ground, looking up, and seeing them above us, was like seeing some great giant fill his hands with jewels and ornaments and fling them like a child into the sky !!! Glorious !!!!
And there they danced above us - and some would come so close to one another they would touch - and this we were told was called the kiss !!! And there were those who dared to sink so close to the waters of the lake that they could skim like some amazing dragon fly,,, touch and hover, and rise again !!! Beautiful !!
There are moments in life that hold such beauty you can't take it all in, and you stand spinning on the earth just babbling to anyone who will listen - look, look, do you see, it's so beautfiul !!!! Look !!!! Lke a child you stand in amazement and can't be sure if any of it's real...... but it was and it was wonderful !!!
Was up at 3:00 am to meet friends and head down to Colorado Springs for the Colorado Labor Day Balloon Rally !!! What an experience !!
The morning air was heavy with fog as we drove down and only the moon could be seen peaking through
the clouds - not even Jupiter which has been so bright over the last few nights could be seen. As we walked over the hills to the launch ground there was a sense of something magical about to happen - the air heavy and damp with fog, people huddled in small groups, a tangible feeling of expectation everywhere.
As the dawn came, more and more people came pouring onto the launch ground and there was that sense of nerves as the pilots kept conferring with the weather people - no, we can't launch, you can't fly, the cloud cover is too heavy. All of this presided over by Pikes Peak that loomed in the background like some great god waiting to see if its children would ascend into the skies in its honor.
People kept milling about in the chilly morning air, contenting themselves with coffee and food, waiting, waiting..... ground crews and chase crews pacing back and forth, biting their lips, watching the sky for the sun to break through. Enclaves of pilots and their families everywhere, baskets already postioned, balloons piled on the ground waiting to be unfurled. Chirpy radio folks trying to keep spirits up when most of us would have prefereed they simply shut the hell up !!!!
Finally - the word came - GO HOT !!!!
It was liike wathcing an invading army recieve it's marching orders !!!! Generators cranking, crews scrambling, ropes being hauled by everyone from woman and children, to stout strong men - all with the same purpose !!! Fly, ascend, get these balloons into the air before we miss the window for launch !!!
Over 150 balloons began to rise, slowly like great beasts stirring from slumber. To stand at what end and watch them fill, the light within them translucent, was like looking into a great temple lit with the fires of morning worshippers.... and then, the moment - repeated over and over again - the balloon would suddenly lift and rise, and stand erect - and for each a cheer would be raised - the triumph of seeing these living jewels of cloth and flame come to life !!!
And then the mad scrambe, to board the baskets, to wave to family and friends in absolute joy and then to rise !!!! For those of us on the ground, looking up, and seeing them above us, was like seeing some great giant fill his hands with jewels and ornaments and fling them like a child into the sky !!! Glorious !!!!
And there they danced above us - and some would come so close to one another they would touch - and this we were told was called the kiss !!! And there were those who dared to sink so close to the waters of the lake that they could skim like some amazing dragon fly,,, touch and hover, and rise again !!! Beautiful !!
There are moments in life that hold such beauty you can't take it all in, and you stand spinning on the earth just babbling to anyone who will listen - look, look, do you see, it's so beautfiul !!!! Look !!!! Lke a child you stand in amazement and can't be sure if any of it's real...... but it was and it was wonderful !!!