Balloon Spectacular 2016

For a lot of the year, early risers in my city can often see a balloon or two drifting across the sky.  I welcome them each time I see them.
 
However, in March for about ten days the city goes a bit balloon mad.  Each year we have a Balloon Spectacular (which starts as Enlighten finishes) and up to fifty balloons are launched each day.  Bliss.  There is always at least one 'feature' balloon.  This year?  Lots of feature balloons.  Some we knew about, and others which were a surpise/treat on the day.  This year is the 30th that the balloon festival has been held here - and I hope it continues for many years to come.

Weather permitting they take off from the lawns of Old Parliament House, and as well as the fortunate riders, it has become a tradition for people to come along and watch them inflate and take off.

His high and skinniness loathes mornings and given his druthers gets up (slowly) at the crack of noon.  Fortunately my youngest brother is like me an early riser - and he is also a balloon tragic.

I understand using tragic as a noun in this way is peculiar to Australians.  Essentially it means an interest in something which some might consider has been taken to obsessional levels.  I love balloons.  I have flown in them (and mourn that I doubt I can clamber into the basket any longer) and seeing them always brightens my day.

So we headed off, arriving at the launch venue just before dawn.  As is usual lots (and lots) of photos follow and will embiggen if clicked upon.

This was one of the feature balloons that we knew about.  Inspired by the Disney movie Up (which I haven't seen) despite looking like it is covered in jelly beans or smarties those are additional tiny balloons on the skin.  This one came to us from the UK, and when the burner was on looked stunning.

This is Owlbert Eyenstein, built in Brazil and brought to my city from Arizona where he now lives.  
He is huge.  Fully inflated he stands 30.5 metres tall.

Even the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) got in the fun.  This is their new balloon and has been crafted in the shade of a fighter pilot wearing a full helmet and aids including visor, oxygen mask and oxygen hose.

Baby Blue was one of the most popular balloons - and a complete surprise.  No publicity and seeing her inflate was a treat.

If you look closely at this red balloon you will notice there is no basket.  The brave pilot is essentially hang-gliding with a hot air balloon.

Thank you for bearing with me.  Do you wonder that my smiles were so broad?  And that I was more than happy to go again?

Sunday Selections #268

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 
Like River I usually run with a theme. This month is festival month in my city.  We started the month with Enlighten (and there is still another post to come on it) and then moved into the Balloon Spectacular.

To see dozens of them in the air, as we do with the Balloon Spectacular, makes me smile until my face hurts  My youngest brother shares this passion and we headed off last weekend before dawn to watch them inflate and take to the skies.
 
The skinny one stayed in bed.  HIs loss.  He and I have tried twice this week to see them (and the festival finishes this morning) but erratic weather prevented them flying both days.   Essentially I got him up somewhere between five and seven hours before his normal rising time - to no purpose.  Not a happy chappy.  Better luck next year is his cry.

Of course I took a kazillion photos.  I will share some today, and some in a later post.

Each year there are feature balloons, and this year (the 30th anniversary of the Balloon Spectacular) there were several.

Here are some of them. 

 

Just in case anyone is feeling too sorry for the smaller portion:  After we were told the balloons wouldn't be flying yesterday we took a detour down to the lake on the way home.  The kangaroo and the glorious dawn were at least some consolation (for us both).