Tuesday, June 06, 2006
For many years, Janice and I have wanted to go over to Temecula, California, for the annual Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival. Problem: We never seemed to figure out the date until after the fact. Speaking of fact(s), here are some balloon facts to jump start some potentially boring conversations today:FUN FACTS:Aren't you glad you stopped by today? You are so much more informed now than just a minute ago! So this past Saturday Josh, Jan and I got up about 6am ... had breakfast and drove out to where the balloons were being launched. There were a few dozen balloons in the air, a few dead ones on the ground and others both going up and coming down. All in all, it was a fascinating morning as we'd never been so close to hot air balloons.
Sept. 19, 1783 - first hot air balloon launch with a sheep, a duck and a rooster as passengers. It flew for 20 minutes over Paris. Those whacky Frenchmen!
November of 1783, first manned balloon flight. In Paris.
1785 - first long distance balloon flight over the English Channel.
Jan. 7, 1793 - first balloon flight in North America. Launch was witnessed by George Washington.
August, 1932 - first manned flight to reach the stratosphere. Reached a height of over 52,000 feet.
1978 - first balloon flight to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
1981 - first flight to cross the Pacific Ocean.
1999 - first hot air balloon flight to circumvent the earth.
Before I Googled and found the interesting facts, Josh wondered how balloons were flown prior to learning how to compress gasses. (I did a little research on that as well and it seems we've been able to compress gasses for a LONG time.) Not knowing that, I replied they were powered by the forerunners to televangelists. Where else would man find such a concentration of hot air? Actually, the trend is to use nothing more than hot air (hence the name, hot air balloon) rather than the gasses used earlier. They proved to be far too dangerous for flight.
As you can see, it doesn't take much to entertain people our age!
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There sure is a lot of hot air on your blog today...urrr...I mean, a lot about hot air balloons, that is. Sounds like you had a great time.
My family has long enjoyed hot air balloons. When we lived in Topeka, Kansas, we would attend a nighttime illumination event. It was always one of our children’s favorite things to do, while they were younger, that is. Great fun for moms and dads, too!
My family has long enjoyed hot air balloons. When we lived in Topeka, Kansas, we would attend a nighttime illumination event. It was always one of our children’s favorite things to do, while they were younger, that is. Great fun for moms and dads, too!
Hi! Just checking in. Yesterday was my flex day, so I was absent from blogs.
I used to think I wanted to ride in a hot air balloon, but I've changed my mind. I'm too much of a chicken! :)
I used to think I wanted to ride in a hot air balloon, but I've changed my mind. I'm too much of a chicken! :)
Come on sing with me . . . "Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon . . ."
It won't be long until you take the grandchildren on pony and hot air balloon rides.
It won't be long until you take the grandchildren on pony and hot air balloon rides.
harleyrider: As long as we've known you and as much as we love you, are you ever going to grow out of being that little bit of a trouble maker?! :)
We just saw balloons, didn't pay the $$$ to actually attend the festival. And certainly not the $$$$ to ride in one.
We just saw balloons, didn't pay the $$$ to actually attend the festival. And certainly not the $$$$ to ride in one.
You know me, I just thought since it was a wine & balloon festival & you are from wine country, you might have , oh well!!!
Balloons??? Are you kidding? I'm knee deep in kids at Central Florida Bible Camp. Can you send in a balloon to air lift us out of here?
Peace from the East Coast crowd.
Peace from the East Coast crowd.
Puck: Take it from a guy who did camp almost as many years ... it's time to get out and let the younger crowd have it! There is not one thing about camp that I miss! Not at this point in my life.
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