Sunday, September 29, 2013
Full Of Hot Air
Hot Air Rising
Living in southern Alberta, a common sight in the skies along the eastern slope of the Alberta Rockies, are hot air balloons. Now having said that, you may say...what is he talking about, as I have rarely seen any hot air balloons in the skies of southern Alberta.
Sorry....but that's because you have been lazing in bed at sunrise, when the rest of us, including those who fly hot air balloons, know that the best time to fly hot air balloons is just after sunrise, and in the hours just before sunset. Of course I am having fun with you, as I know you have seen these wonderful flying hot air balloons, as they float along in the skies above.As a photographer, hot air balloons have long been a favorite of mine, as I realized the first time I ever saw one in the skies over southern Alberta, that I had to shoot photos of them, and I also wanted to ride in one as well.
Years back, Calgary had a large number of hot air balloons, and on any given day, you would see them in the skies overhead. Before long, I discovered that on the weekends, they could be found just after sunrise being launched from the various parks within the city, and during one summer, I became a hot air balloon junkie.

This past week, the Canadian Hot Air Ballooning Championships were held at High River just south of Calgary. The goal of the event was for the competing Canadian hot air balloon pilots, and the winner of the competition to get the chance to attend the World Hot Ait Balloon Championship in San Paulo Brazil in 2014.
With all the goings on in High River, beginning with the floods that overwhelmed the town in June, everyone involved needed a break, and the Canadian Hot Air Ballooning Championships being held there over the past week, was just what was needed to unwind, even if just for a short while.One of the highlights of the event, was the balloon glow to be held Friday night, and if you have never been to a hot air balloon festival, you probably have not had the opportunity to experience a balloon glow.
When I heard that there would be a balloon glow Friday night, I headed down to High River, and I must say it was a lot of fun. It was without a doubt, the festive part planned for the Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships. As the sun set on Friday, the crowd gathered in a local park to enjoy the music, with a party atmosphere in anticipation of the spectacular Balloon Glow, where pilots make their hot air balloons dance to a musical beat. At approximately sunrise, colorful hot air balloons begin to inflate and balloonists vied for their chance to be the stars of a most spectacular part of the evening. With the crowd numbering approximately 3000 plus, the evening was a hit, although I must say that once I took my leave, the traffic jam on 12 Ave, was not unlike Deerfoot Trail in Calgary at rush hour!



Maybe experiencing the magic of a balloon flight is in your future!
Fly Me To The Moon....
All photos expand
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