Tigard Festival of Balloons
June 20, 2009
Following a story too long to recount here, I ended up with my friend Jenna's backpack, and I needed to get it to Portland by the 21st. Since I didn't have any trips planned, I searched for interesting events and found this one. On three successive days, about 20-25 hot air balloons lauch from a suburban park and drift over the southern part of the city. The launches start at 5:45 am, so I left home before 4:30 and arrived before they started inflating.
The balloon crews intermingled with spectators, and the spectators sometimes got to help hold ropes, stretch balloons, etc.
Two million BTUs looks like a bit of a rush!
His Sky Ministries balloon (What Would Jesus Do?)
Interesting...
Preparing to lift off
Advertising balloon...
Fire lady.
Looking up.
"Got the Hotz" and two other balloons. This is picture #5000 taken with my Sony camera. That's 208 rolls of film...
More advertising...
Floating away southward
Making the hot air
A view from beneath
The last two balloons depart.
I left just after 8 am, arrived at the Portland farmers' market just as they opened, dropped off the backpack, stocked up at Trader Joe's and arrived home before noon.