Hey hey USA - 30th October - up up and away, Taos balloon festival


We had discovered that the Taos Balloon Festival was taking place on the first morning we were staying in the town. We had missed the Albuquerque one which is enormous, around 200 balloons, so thought we would recompense. The Taos one is much smaller, only about 15 balloons, but it was still great fun.

We set out really early and walked to the venue as we thought parking would be difficult. It was cold and crisp with the sun coming up over the mountains. Nothing at all was happening when we got there so we walked around for a bit! When we got back the balloons had started to arrive and being laid out to inflate.







The trick seemed to be to lay the balloons on the ground, sometimes on top of a tarpaulin and then start to inflate them with the gas burner. As the balloons grew they would be steadied with a rope to pull them upright and tether them. Then the people would get into the basket and jettison the rope.









Fortunately there were some food trucks so we could get some much needed breakfast, and as the morning wore on more and more balloons arrived and were set off.









The sun gave some interesting effects as it lit up the balloons.




Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves









Finally the sky was full of balloons. I don't think they went very far, just a few kms down the Rio Grande valley before they were picked up again.




And just in case you have not grasped the topic here are a few shots of some of the balloons!














































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