The Moon's a Balloon

[steepholm]

Today was the last day of Bristol's annual balloon fiesta, so I got up before 5am and went with my friend Htay to see the morning ascent an hour later. The fiesta takes place at Ashton Court, a stately home owned by the city (as is proper), just on the far side of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Htay and I were far from alone, despite the hour - we had to queue a long time to get in, then joined the snaking throng that was winding its way past the deer park to the balloon field. When we arrived, the balloons were still laid flat.




The weather was pronounced suitable for an ascent by means of green smoke from a special balloon-announcing chimney, no doubt on loan from the Vatican, and we passed the time by eating bacon (there wasn't much else)...



...and then watched the scene slowly transform, lopsidedly inflate, puff like a bullfrog, and fly:




What was that? Yes, especially for Archer's Goon fans - "Hathaway, send a balloon!"



Tribute ale gets the party started:





The lion is of course from Longleat:



But watching it turn slowly towards me I felt very much under the eye of Aslan:



Balloons in full bloom!



Eventually we trailed back, being followed by a giant box of Tempranillo. It's all right, startled man on the left, it's not the DTs, just a hot-air balloon.



Oh, the title of my post? As well as being a reference to David Niven's autobiography it's a literal description of Luke Jerram's latest artwork, which we didn't get to see today, alas, but which you can read about here. Sadly, it burst....

Comments

[sovay]

Bristol's annual balloon fiesta

That's really cool.

As well as being a reference to David Niven's autobiography

I've only read Bring On the Empty Horses!

it's a literal description of Luke Jerram's latest artwork, which we didn't get to see today, alas, but which you can read about here. Sadly, it burst....

Oh, dear. I hope there is no sympathetic magic involved. I like our satellite.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Me too. I'd been looking forward to seeing it - but maybe another time. (I missed the Perseids again, too.)

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Wow, it must have been spectacular seeing them all take off like that. I'm glad they made sure you had some breakfast available, given the early start.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

It's something I've wanted to do for a long time - but only today did I finally manage to get out of bed early enough.

[heliopausa.livejournal.com]

Watching the balloons s-l-o-w-l-y inflate, and then rise and float majestiscally away must've been marvellous - and to have aslan looking down - wow!

The moon-balloon looked great - that's a pity it didn't make it into the air. The real one - the full moon, I mean - is only a couple of days away,though. :)

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

The real one - the full moon, I mean - is only a couple of days away,though. :)

I suppose it'll do at a pinch.

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

I've only once got up early enough for our local equivalent (because we need cars everywhere in Canberra and that means persuading friends they also have to get up well before dawn) but that once was utter magic. I'm glad you got the magic!

[ron-broxted.livejournal.com]

The evening burn is great, used to watch it whilst doing karate.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

That must have been quite a sight! Well worth the effort of the early start.

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

Oh, how magical! I can't get over those pictures of the sky full of balloons...

Thank you!