Up, Up and Away! - Plainville Balloon Festival




Hi Everyone!

If you didn't make the Plainville Balloon Festival this year, here's a look at what you missed!

It was my first time attending at such an early hour (5:30am for 6am launch). I've gone to the festival itself but missed the actual balloon launch.  Since it was so early, I figured there would be a few enthusiates, newscasters, fellow photographers......what I walked into were hundreds waiting, anticipating and very excited.  There were senior couples sitting in lawn chairs, families with children and pets, younger couples that were maybe on this outing together for the first time.  The morning couldn't have been any more perfect, not too cold but cool enough for a light sweater or sweatshirt.  Many were spread out on blankets enjoying their morning coffee.  Thankfully, my significant other, Joe was kind enough to go on this early morning venture with me complete with coffee.  He makes a great assistant :)



I caught this quite but accident but thought it was cute.  I love to see people out having a great time.  I think everyone was feeling like a kid that morning, lol.


As the sun started to rise, burners were fired up creating huge, forceful, beautiful flames. The crowd began to settle because we all knew what was to come.  The balloons were spread out, waiting to be filled and only minutes later we saw them start to rise.  Now was when we saw just how massive the balloons were.  All the hot air balloons were on display very similar to a car show.  You could walk around and visit the balloons, their operators, and look in awe at the various designs.






At last, we saw them begin to lift into the air with anywhere between 1 to 4 people inside the baskets.  Some hovered for a bit and others went higher and seemed to float in a circle to stay in the area.  Watching them was quite surreal.



This little early morning outing was definitely worthwhile and I can't wait for the next year!  Who's knows, maybe I'll even go up in one :)

Til the next adventure,
K






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rockville, Connecticut: The Hockanum Mills

Image
Hi Everyone, It looks like the warmer weather is finally upon us!  That being said, I’ve been out and about seeing people and things, lol.  Which brings me to the Town of Rockville……have you been there lately?  It’s one of those little towns that I think gets overlooked.  It’s a small section of Vernon and appears a bit run down but you have to look beyond that.  There is a lot of construction going on there presently so its an up and coming town.  Rockville has quite a bit of interesting history to it. The downtown section has e a few older, beautiful structures on the main street but what caught my eye was the Hockanum Mills.  I like where it’s situated.  The mill is located on an uphill bend and when you are standing at the top, the view gives the impression of a once prominent mill overlooking the town.   These are photos of the mill at the top of the hill with its name facing the town: This is the part I really enjoy ….often I start poking around for different an
Read more

The Anamet Complex, Waterbury, CT

Image
Hi Everyone! Its been awhile....I've been working on various projects, always learning new things and growing! I visited the abandoned Anamet Complex in Waterbury.  As many of you know, I love to go check out older, abandoned places or buildings.  Waterbury is quite interesting to me because there is a lot of history in the huge city known for its now defunct brass industry.  Many buildings are being demolished and/or redeveloped so I hope to get many photos of the city's history before its lost. The Anamet Complex is located in the south end of Waterbury on South Main Street and runs along the Naugatuck River.  The complex was founded in 1908 and was the home of Anaconda Metal Hose by American Brass.  It became the biggest manufacturer of metal hose in the world, spanning 400,000 square footing along 17 acres on South Main Street, employing hundreds.  The company went bankrupt in 1998 and the complex continues to sit, abandoned.  The land is also contaminated with i
Read more

The Pequabuck Tunnel

Image
Hi Everyone! I'm starting the season off with my trip to the Pequabuck Tunnel aka Terryville Tunnel and the Mile Long Tunnel located in Plymouth.  I heard about the tunnel last summer while visiting Horseshoe Falls which isn't too far away.  It took awhile to find this tunnel because it's just one of those things that is right under your nose if you look hard enough.  Every video I watched didn't specify a location.  I didn't video this trip but I did take pictures. The tunnel is still operational and is located just off Tunnel Road in Plymouth.  The tunnel was completed in 1910 and the year is marked at the top of the entrance.   Freight trains running between New Britain and Waterbury still use it.   It's not easy to find, and you may find yourself driving in circles until you do find it.  There is a small clearing on Tunnel Road that will take you to a trail which leads down to it.  There are many stories about the tunnel being haunted.  Would I go down t
Read more