Aiken 2007 – The Inaugural Ford Trucks Equestrian America Balloon Festival was held in a farm field normally used for horse events in east Aiken on a Friday night and Saturday morning. Must have been a success because it came back in 2008 for the whole weekend.
Aiken 2008 – For the 2nd Annual Ford Trucks Equestrian America Balloon Festival we went both mornings. The first 13 photos are from Saturday and the last 13 are from Sunday.
Aiken 2007
10 Balloons - I caught about half the whole field in this one shot. (09/09/07)
Sunrise - Our late comer is last off the ground, but not that far behind. (09/09/07)
Here We Go - The sky is full of almost everyone now. (09/09/07)
Wait For Me - This team showed up rather late and hurriedly got going. (09/09/07)
Joining The Crowd - About half of the twenty or so balloons are in the sky now. (09/09/07)
Almost Ready - This balloon is moments away from taking off. (09/09/07)
More Balloons - Almost all the balloons are getting inflated now. (09/09/07)
Abstract - This partially inflated balloon makes a nice pattern against the sky. (09/09/07)
Preparing For Flight - It takes a team of at least three to launch a balloon, but double that is probably ideal. (09/09/07)
Inflating - A big fan blows air inside for the initial inflation. (09/09/07)
Launch 10 - Up, up and away, in my beautiful balloon... And I hope that silly song gets stuck in your head just like it has been in mine all day now. (09/09/07)
Launch 9 - Just lifting off. (09/09/07)
Launch 8 - The fellow in the very front is the guy from photo 2 who was helping out too and he got an invite to go along for the ride. Even though he said he was afraid of heights, he also said that he wouldn't pass up the chance to go flying if asked. I wonder how he liked it? (09/09/07)
Launch 7 - Almost filled with hot air. (09/09/07)
Launch 6 - So you want to play with fire do you? (09/09/07)
Launch 5 - The electric fan has it ready for the real hot air. (09/09/07)
Launch 4 - I was supposed to be attaching velcro flaps to close the top of the balloon when I suck my head in and snapped this (I was in a hurry which is why it is blurry.) (09/09/07)
Launch 3 - Amazing how much stuff came out of that little bag. (09/09/07)
Launch 2 - This guy helped too and when Donna asked if he had ever been up in a balloon he said that he is afraid of heights (this come into play a little while later.) (09/09/07)
Launch 1 - When Donna and I went to the Aiken Balloon Festival this morning to watch the 20 or so balloons launch, we ended up volunteering to help one crew launch their balloon. They really didn't need too much help so I took a bunch of pictures as they got ready. (09/09/07)