We were off! After a few funny U-turns and some off roading with the 15 passenger van, we made it onto the interstate. It was a parking lot! We may have gone 20 mph a few times, but maybe not. Forget the dawn patrol. The mass ascention was set for 7AM. We were beginning to think we would be watching it from the interstate. Thankfully, there was a gorgeous sunrise to watch and photograph.
We were quite excited when we finally got off the interstate, until we saw the service road and began our crawl down that. It began to rain seriously. Artsy people can get a little strange when pinned in a van for 2 hours in traffic. People began getting out and taking pictures and running to catch the van when it moved a little long before we got to the actual entrance road.
It was well after 7:30, the drizzle had let up considerably and showed signs of stopping entirely, but we were all nursing the fear that the trip was wasted. Sunrise had given way to a heavy grey dingy morning. We had only one recourse for now: to go forward. If the other drivers were annoyed by our chinese fire drills, they were really annoyed by the singing. Some were amused, but most were annoyed. We didn't really care. We'd been in vehicles for the greater part of a day and a half. We'd had very little sleep - especially the driver.
When the first balloon soared into the air before us one hour and 45 minutes late, several of the group could no longer stand it. We got out and took low light pictures we knew might not come out. We giggled and ran like children. The driver -my sweet Louis- didn't have that choice, or didn't make that choice, anyway. He and Lilly crept along in the big green van while we played and giggled like children at recess. Other vehicles were experiencing the same loss. Thankfully the drivers all stayed.
Eventually the merging and managing came to an end and those of us on foot watched as our van disappeared quickly into the distance with all our stuff. We did find it eventually, but one at a time. Our group leader has a saying "Traveling with artists is like herding cats." Many of us did not see each other again until we made it back to the van after the last balloon had flown away. Once in the park, I soon found two members of our group and stayed withing eye range of them both for the duration.
Being on the ground in the park with all those incredible, huge balloons was quite an experience. Some of them were aired and tethered for a time then brought down because the wind was too strong for their size and complexity. One such that I loved was the big sea creature in the photo album. Also among those not flying was a huge eagle, a breast cancer awareness ribbon, and a fairy tale coach .
There were many mounted police in the park and they were letting people pet the horses for a donation to their program. One lady reached up to give the officer some money and her horse took a bite out of the lady's arm. I've never seen a horse bite that bad. One of our number was a nurse and she used some antibacterial wipes I had along and a cloth she had in her camera bag. We rinsed it with bottled water and wrapped it and waited for the promised courtesy ride. The officers continued their amiable quest for donations leaving us to tend the uncomfortable stranger.
Finally one of her friends found her and waited with us. After the ride didn't come within several more minutes, we walked the elderly lady across the park to the information station where they took her and her friend immediately to First aid. We didn't give a donation. We were busy.
Reaching the van, we found only one other person there, but via cell phone we finally rounded up our cats and made a quick uneventful trip back to the hotel to begin the next leg of our journey.
(To be continued!) Oh yeah, look at the Balloon Fiesta album.
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