The Great Balloon Race

[Barefoot2Dream]

My husband was working this weekend so my boys & I decided to take a quick road trip out to Nevada to check out the Great Balloon Races in Reno. It's basically hare & hound hunting only hot-air balloon style. 2 balloons take off and go "hide" somewhere within the city. A short time later 100 other balloons take off to "hunt" for the targets.

The morning starts off at 5am (aye carumba) with a glow show and dawn patrol where the balloons are lit up against the still dark skies. Then just as the sun starts to rise over the horizon, a mass ascension of 100 balloons take off. It is absolutely incredible to watch. Simply beautiful.

I'll get some pics up today.... Sauce, you would go nuts with all the incredible photo ops.

[Miss Shark]

How fun!! They do that here where we live evey year, well not a hunt, but with 50 balloons. This will be our first year going.

I can't wait to see your pictures Barefoot!!

[tinkerlion]

that sounds fantastic!

[sauce.baby]

Ah don't toy with me woman! It sounds like such a blast!

[Barefoot2Dream]

Mass ascention at dawn. The race begins... That's our bunch of kids playing in the field below.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h297/weaselgirl21/BalloonRaces184.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h297/weaselgirl21/BalloonRaces004.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h297/weaselgirl21/BalloonRaces031.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h297/weaselgirl21/BalloonRaces006.jpg

[Barefoot2Dream]

My little brother (in orange) helping bring home the basket.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h297/weaselgirl21/BalloonRaces046.jpg


My little bro, me and his girl at dawn patrol. It's not smart to drink the night before when you know you gotta get up at 4am.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h297/weaselgirl21/BalloonRaces017.jpg

We were kind of partial to Smokey as Mr. Barefoot works for the Forest Service...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h297/weaselgirl21/BalloonRaces014.jpg

Next year I am paying my brother $100 to knock someone over and steal their camera for me (just kidding.....or am I? ;)) I've never seen so many people in one place walking around with such expensive camera equipment. Lucky.

[the duke]

that looks like SO MUCH FUN!!!!! I wish they did that stuff here...Although, i've been in a couple of hot air balloons, best fun ever! There's nothing stranger than the feeling that you're way way up in the air, not strapped in and if you lean too far forward, it's all over...

[sway2sway]

that's beautiful barefoot, looks like a scene out of fantasia or candyland.

{and I put this big space between the rejuvenating peaceful fantasy land and my Doom & Gloom land. I do not want the latter to besmirch the former. wide berth. ample room}





we had a balloon accident out this way a few weeks ago, quite nasty, I think the pilot was the first to jump out leaving the rest to fend for themselves in the 'neither halfway up and neither halfway down' burning basket. but this is just one anecdotal balloon.
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/story.html?id=fe541724-1c0a-402c-8420-dce49b8b82b8&k=45382

[tinkerlion]

nice pictures barefoot. i bet that was a great time!

[Miss Shark]

Great shots barefoot! I love the one with the kids playing in the field.

[Miss Shark]

I saw that Miss Doom & Gloom ;). I think that's the first time I'd ever seen a balloon aglow like that.

[Barefoot2Dream]

Great shots barefoot! I love the one with the kids playing in the field.

The kids were interested for a bit but then the awe and amazement faded...as is always all too big a part of childhood >sigh<.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h297/weaselgirl21/BalloonRaces187.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h297/weaselgirl21/BalloonRaces188.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h297/weaselgirl21/BalloonRaces189.jpg

Kind of reminded me of the movie Gummo only without all the creepiness.

[Miss Shark]

I can only imagine that boys are different in the regard. I was surprized how long my girls wanted to dance the other day to a local band playing at a supermarket opening. They kept going for the whole set. I wonder who they get that from....?

[Miss Shark]

What are their ages Barefoot?

[Barefoot2Dream]

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h297/weaselgirl21/BalloonRaces188.jpg
Left to right: JJ is 5, Connor is 6, Tori is 7, and Liam is 4. JJ and Tori are my sister's kids. Connor and Liam belong to me. They are like little stair steps with a year between them each. Tori is the only girl and she is a cutie.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h297/weaselgirl21/BalloonRaces182-1.jpg

[tinkerlion]

she's the one you took the black and white photos of before right?

[Miss Shark]

Yeah she is like a little angel. Connor look like he's found and is studying big foots foot print.

We did those steps in my family too. From my oldest brother on down to me in order, but all 5 baby came in the same year.