Up, up and away

This is the story of the balloon festival - over 100 balloons taking to the air over a 4 day weekend, the balloonists enjoying camping together in a field while a crowd of over 20,000 each day enjoying the delights of ballooning. Thursday evening saw us sitting on a hill with Adrienne and Shane in Bedminister a few kilometres away from the launch site watching balloons floating through the air near to Clifton Bridge. The novelty shapes of a house, car (Harry says it was a Jaguar XK8), fire extinguisher, wine caskets and and it has to be our favourite the kiwi float past Clifton Suspension Bridge. After sitting on the hill for a couple of hours we wandered past pubs hoping for a late meal, but most finish serving food about 7.00 ish. We found an Indian Restaurant that was prepared to cook all night and enjoyed a banquet.

On Friday morning we pulled the curtains at 6.30 to see balloons floating past our bedroom window and as we rode to work continually looked up to watch them float past. It was somehow a very peaceful start to the day. Friday afternoon was the hottest it has been since we have been here and after work we rode across to the park to watch the evening mass lift off. There we saw for the first time the piper in all his glory. Before lift off the balloons were laid out carefully in quite a small field and as they started to inflate they all jostled for space - it almost felt extra terrestial watching them go from long and flat to partly inflated and then fighting for position. We rode back before dark through the parks as the 'Flying Scotsman' looked over us and were pleased to have our bikes with all the crowds. Saturday started off lazy, I drove to the shops and got lost (how could I?) and then we packed a picnic and went back to the park. We decided to take the car half way this time and walked to the Estate against a flow of red and white teeshirts and a few blue and white striped teeshirts (Bristol City Football Club had just drawn their first match of the Season with Queens Park Rangers) for the night glow and met Anne at the Estate. There were a number of side shows and food caravans there and many people were wandering around with huge stuffed toys they had won. We liked the wolf and the tiger obviously enjoying the evening out. The evening was still and warm and the Estate Gardens looked across Bristol. We parked ourselves on the hill and watched a spectacular night glow where the balloons lit up to music finishing with the 1812 overture and fireworks. Again we have been impressed with how England organises large events - they are lucky to have such large and lovely estates gifted to the National Trust where there is so much space the crowd isn't overpowering and space for so much entertainment for all to enjoy.