Up, Up and Away.....

I have always wanted to attend the Sussex Hot Air Balloon Fest.. you might say it's been on my "bucket list".... it's only just over an hour's drive away, but it seems every year, there is a conflict and I've never gotten there. Well, this year - now that we are "empty nesters" - we decided that we would go. It was a beautiful day, sunny and not too hot, a great day for a drive. We wandered around for the afternoon, strolled down Main St. and checked out some shops and had a quick bite for supper before we headed back to the launching field. They launch at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. IF conditions are right- ie the air is relatively still. Hot air balloons cannot fly in the middle of the day due to thermal activity which makes the air unstable. We have heard that there have been many years when few if any of the balloons even got off the ground, so it seems we were lucky and picked the right year to attend.

I had (secretly) thought it would be nice to go up for a ride, but when I saw the cost ($160.0 per person) I quickly put that out of my mind. Then we found out there is a long list of potential "riders" and you have to put your name in a few days ahead, so I was out of luck in any case!! I think the view is nicer from the ground anyway, looking UP at the balloons. I've decided if I ever do it, I'd like to do it over "foreign land" - ie somewhere where the view is much different from "home territory" - so you would really enjoy the scenery.... like over the desert in Arizona or New Mexico - I hear there is a BIG balloon fest in Albuquerque - maybe I'll go there! haha

It was exciting to see them go up- of course it takes a few minutes for them to inflate the balloon, then they start warming the air with high powered propane burners. The burners ignite and heat liquid propane that is aimed into the balloon to make it rise. (The burners create 30 million BTU's of heat ! Ouch! In comparison, a home barbeque creates 30,000 BTU's...)

The balloons cannot be steered but travel in the direction (and at the speed of) the wind. A "chase crew" follows for pick-up. The balloons are made of rip-stop nylon, much like that used for winter ski jackets. They were very colorful, and it was hard to pick a favourite. I guess I'd have to say I liked the very first one to launch- with those big red Canadian maple leaves!!

Piece,

Linda

"Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you are right." ~ Henry Ford