Photos from Clovis Fest

First, they stretch the balloons
out on a tarp.

Johnny trying not to smile and
Kelly with her signature beauty and smile
joined me at the balloon launch.

Earlier this month, we went for the balloon launch at Clovis Fest. The only two children willing to get out of bed at 6 am for the Clovis Fest were Kelly and Johnny. Johnny brought his book, and several people commented how much they admired him that he liked reading so much. "Most kids these days have an electronic device attached to their fingertips," they said.

This is a basket before they test it
and attach the balloon.

Kelly had her camera and I had mine, and Johnny had his book. (There's a lot of down time while they get ready, and it can be boring at first.) Here's a few snapshots we took of the event!

This is a test of the tanks on the balloon basket. They use
heat to warm the air in the balloons and make them rise.

First they lay tarps out on the ground. This usually happens in the dark. Then they stretch the balloons out on the tarp. They take the baskets off the trucks, and check all the equipment on the basket, including the tanks that heat the air in the balloon. It's pretty dramatic when the flame comes on....really loud and everyone turns around to look. In the dim light of the morning, it's quite bright, too!! You wouldn't believe how long it took me to capture the flame, though, because they only turn it on for a few seconds, and my camera was slow.

Pretty soon, all the compressors are on (noisy!)
and the balloons are beginning to "inflate."

The first balloon to lift off the ground
on this festival morning!

This is one of my favorite photos...I love the drama of the
flame, and as you can see, everyone is trying  to capture the moment!

After a while, all the compressors and fans are on, blowing air into the balloons. They stay on the ground until they shoot the flame into the balloon, warming the air up that's inside. It's tricky to get a shot of that, too...again, the flame is only on for a few seconds, and the camera has to be ready for action to capture it before the flame turns off.

This is a shot of the two balloons closest to us lifting off, and the
first balloon into the air behind them.
Pretty exciting stuff, huh??