Probably any hot air balloonist asks the same question: Will my balloon fly today or not? Up ’til now, we’ve had little experience with hot air balloon launches, fiestas, flights, etc. But Balloon Fiesta 2014: Spirit of the Winds changed all that.
Waiting to see which ones will fly: Balloon Fiesta 2014, Albuquerque NM
In an enormous field in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from October 4 to 12, balloonists and watchers asked the same question: Will it fly? Here are a couple that did . . . and a couple that did not!
Humpty Dumpty filled right up, sucking in enough hot air necessary to puff up and fly! Even upside down, he was ready for lift-off, cheered on by a supporting crowd of students out of school on holiday and their parents who were kids for the day!
Filling Humpty with hot air: Will he fly?
And up Humpty goes.
And Humpty takes off — Balloon Fiesta 2014!
Yes, even cows fly as this entry named Airabelle from Creamland joins the skies — up, up, up and away!
Cows fly, too!
But, alas, not all balloons ascended. A big, brown sailing ship — one of the largest balloons on the field — struggled just to right itself.
Aiming the heat to fill the sailing ship balloon at Balloon Fiesta 2014
And then it just “hung out” with the crowd while its buddies took to the skies.
Just moving with the wind, but not lifting off. No sailing for this ship today.
Even filled with hot air and in the upright liftoff position, Yoda never made it beyond the field. Didn’t matter. He owned that field!
May the Force be with you!
May the Force be with you next year, my friend.
Early morning balloon rise at Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2014
For more information on the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2014, click here.
Want to help name Balloon Fiesta 2015? Click here to submit your idea!
For more entries in A Word a Week Photo Challenge: Fly, check out Sue Llewellyn’s blog A Word in Your Ear. You’ll be flying high!