Balloon Rides and the Gravity Derby

The weather was perfect and I arrived in time to help get the balloon up before getting my ride.  Yes, I did get to ride in the balloon I crewed the day before, the Lokopelli, owned and piloted by Pell Wadleigh and his wife Stacy as the Crew Chief.  

Laying out the balloon, getting ready to start giving it some air.

The next step is attaching it to the basket.  Then the big fan is started to give the balloon some air.

As the air fills the balloon, it starts filling out, taking on its shape.  This beautiful yellow and blue balloon was designed by Pell and custom made.  

Here I am, in the basket and ready to go.

Here is a better shot of Pell's balloon, the Lokopelli.  It's the blue and yellow balloon in front.  Notice each balloon has it's own design and colors.

Looking down on the balloons which haven't launched yet.

We just keep going higher.  I believe we only went up about 1500 feet, not as high as he did yesterday, but it was still wonderful.

Here I am looking at some of the other balloons up in the air with us now.

The ground looks so different from up in the air.  It is quiet and slow, almost surreal.  I can't wait until I have another opportunity to do this again.

We made a perfect landing and we have let the air out of the balloon and are now folding it back up into it's bag.

Everything is packed up and stowed in the trailer.  Now it's back to the airport for the champaign tailgate.

The balloon festival is held as a fundraiser for the purpose of rebuilding this church.   It was at the church location where the balloon glow was held.

After I left the tailgate party I headed towards town and the gravity derby.

The race was already in progress, but I got there in time for this next heat.

The only requirements for the entries were:  they could have no motor or pedals; they had to be steerable; and they had to have brakes.

You saw all types of contraptions.

This is the final for the adult division.

This is the kids division, the final race.

I could never see who crossed the finish line since I was at the start.  I guess I'll see who is posted as the winner tomorrow.

Fisherman Falls and the Balloon Festival

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I went back and found the third falls, Fisherman Falls.  I do really think it was the best.  With all the bear problems in the campground down the road, I was a little concerned about hiking by myself, so I took Fancy.  I figured between the two of us we could scare anything.  The hike itself was steep and longer than the paths to either of the previous falls.

The bridge across the creek.

Note how small and mellow this creek is at the moment.

This is the same creek just several hundred feet down river.  This was the largest of the several falls.

Actually, there were two narrow canyons and I believe one held North Clear Creek and the other South Clear Creek.  The two canyons came together just downstream from where I am standing.  On this ledge I could look right back at South Clear Creek and if I looked left, I saw North Clear Creek.

North Clear Creek was not a single falls, but several, including a spectacular flume.

Looking down at the flume.  Thank goodness my fears were baseless. I did not see any wildlife except for a marmot who was terrified because of Fancy.  If you are ever in the area, don't miss Fisherman Falls.

I arrived at the first day of the balloon festival about 10 minutes late and already there were balloons up or nearly up.

I did get there in time to see the first of the balloons lift off.

He was ahead by several minutes and during that time had the sky to himself.

Just several of the balloons getting ready to fly.  Notice the pretty blue and yellow balloon, that is Lokopelli, the balloon I helped crew on the 2nd day.  Hopefully I will get to ride with on this balloon on Sunday.

Just more pictures of the balloons before take off.

They got a total of 14 balloons in the air on the first day.  What a sight.  There was almost no wind, so they didn't go far the first day.  The second day was better and we chased the Lokopelli for several miles before it came down on the Wason Ranch.   Pell, the owner/pilot, even did a dip in the river (intentionally) before bring the balloon down on the ground.  Pell also took the balloon up to 10,000 feet trying to find the right wind.  I just hope my ride tomorrow is as exciting.

This young cowboy and his horse, Charlie, were there to watch the balloons, too.

Notice all the balloons are just hoovering close by trying to catch some wind.

Finally they got a little wind and off they sailed.
As I mentioned, today I got to help crew for the Lokopelli.  What an experience.  I can't wait until tomorrow.  Hopefully the weather will be as good tomorrow as today.