Well, maybe not perfect, but pretty spectacular. I was up and out of bed at 4:30 AM, so I'd get down to the rodeo grounds for the 6 AM Hot-Air Balloon Ascension. Got there about 5:30 and was almost the first one there. Talked to a guy in a golfcart with a flashlight and was told they probably wouldn't lift off until about 7 or 7:30. Don't you love it when people publish a start time, then change it and tell everyone except you? ... lol ... there were 5 or 6 others who didn't get the word, so I wasn't entirely alone. I laid my truckseat back and slept another hour or so.
Just before 7, the first ballooners showed up -- btw, sunrise here is at 8. I got out and milled around, looking for a crew that looked like they needed me. Then I found one! Most crews had 10 or 15 people around helping out and this one only had 5. I offered to help and before long was pulling this and holding that and standing on whatever to hold it down. I learned all about how to pull the balloon out of the bag, inflate it with the fan, raise it with the burner, and then hold it down until the pilot is ready to go. I guess they would have made it without me, but I think my 220 pounds was quite useful now and then keeping that thing on the ground. Well, I helped get it all ready and then ... and then ... I took a ride! Woohoo! Before you could say, "up in the air junior birdman", we were 1000 or so feet in the air. What fun! We went up, dropped down to a few feet off the ground, then back up again. About as much fun as I've had in awhile. After about an hour or so, we landed, I jumped out, and one of the other crew took a ride. Then I got to join the chase crew, which was just about as cool. It was interesting to see both ends of the action. When you're in the balloon, you can see exactly which road the chase truck should take and you get on the radio and try to get him to it. When you're in the chase truck, you have to pay real close attention to find those roads that look so clear from up above. The chase team has to really stay on the ball, because they have to be there when the balloon lands to pull the basket down and get the balloon deflated before it goes again.
Anyway, we finally got them down and I learned how to repack the balloon, etc. Another guy came down near us and his chase team wasn't there yet, so 4 of us helped him settle down and deflate also. Then we all went back to Quartzsite and one of the crew bought lunch. Thanks loads to Roy and his Blue Moon crew for a fantastic adventure!
After the big balloon ride, I went on over to the big tent to see the Rock'N'Roll Classic Car Show over in the Big Tent. It was great also! They had 30 or 40 of the greatest rods and custom cars that I've seen in a show. All the usual '32 & '35 Fords and Chevys, 50's and 60's cars, muscle cars, great custom cars, Model T's, Model A's, etc. I wandered through for several hours, all the way wondering if I'd finally find a Studebaker at one of these shows. Sure enough, I finally found two, a '52 and a '53. The '52 looked almost exactly like my first car, a 1951 Studebaker Champion. That's the only one I took a picture of in the whole show, since I figured everyone has seen pictures of all the others at one time or another. Look below for balloon pictures and a Studebaker.
I was sitting in my front yard cooking some hamburgers the evening of the 15th, thinking about what a great day I'd had, and noticed the beautiful sunset.
"A perfect end to a perfect day!", thought I.
Why a perfect day?
Read on!
13. Those Amazing Young Men In Their Flying Machines
My Travel Log
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Well, after Swansea and the flat tire on Friday, balloons and classic cars on Saturday, I decided I'd just take it easy and stay home on Sunday and probably Monday also. I've got so much to write and so many pictures to go through, I can't risk any more adventures any time soon ... hoho.
Well, it's now Monday morning and I'm just finishing this up. The only excitement the last two days was when a coyote pranced across my front yard -- no picture -- too fast. Now I've got to find some place where I can get on the Internet for about 2 or 3 hours without paying an arm and a leg. Am thinking of driving over to Phoenix and staying in a Motel 6 (with free local phones) for a day or two. In fact, it's getting so crowded here, I might just move along in a week or so. On the 15th, the population around here appeared to increase about 5 times what it had been. I used to look out my window and see desert, now all I see is RVs. The Big Tent shows and the Main Event stuff really started into full swing the 15th and I guess that's why all the people all of a sudden. Besides the balloons, cars, crafts, gems, and RV shows I've mentioned, they also started a Wild West show at the Main Event Rodeo Grounds. I understand from one of my neighbors that next week gets even worse. He said that he's come out of our camping area (over 2 miles from town) and seen traffic both ways as far as the eye can see. Says if you want to go to town, you either go before breakfast or later in the afternoon. hmmm
Unfurled and starting to inflate -- here's the proud owner.
Bringing the basket up with the pilot inside and everyone holding it down.
Got a shot of other balloonist following us out -- about this time we really went up and I spent more time hanging on and less time taking pictures ... lol.
Airing it up with the fan.
Basket laying down next to fan.
Off with the fan and on with the burner.
We're off! That's my truck all by itself by the fence.
A fellow balloonist aloft.
Left, repacking the balloon.
Right, the belle of the classic car show -- it's actually green with flames on the front (just like I had on mine back in 1957 or so ... lol). I was amazed at how much it looked like my old 1951 Studebaker Champion. The red is a reflection of the truck next-door.
Right, from the ground -- Blue Moon coming in for a landing.
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