TPOS prompt: hot air balloons – up, up and away

Prompt: bee balloons

birds do it ~ bees too
even balloon bees do it
fall in love
holding hands at dawn
Up up and away to the sky

tanka prompt – hot air balloons – up, up and away (Gary)

For twelve years we have stayed at the Blue Ox RV Park

in Albany Oregon for our grandson’s birthday.

Just before his big day is the Albany Art and Air Fair,

which we have been able to witness most years.

The balloons ascend from Linn-Timber Memorial Park’s soccer fields

adjacent to the Blue Ox over four mornings starting at about 6 am.

Albany is a small event with only 35 to 40 balloons.

(The largest in the world with over 600 balloons is at Albuquerque NM.)

Usually, the balloons are standard hot air shapes,

but this year there was nothing ordinary about one set of balloons.

Ascending this year with last place honors were the “Little Bees” from Arizona –

Lilly and Joey tethered together and Joelly,

the smaller kid (but still 50 foot.

His parents are 100 feet each.)

Two small facts – they are the only balloon group that flies together;

and

Joelly’s pilot is the first paraplegic balloonist

What is your experience with balloons,

even water balloons?

And other flying craft, such as hang-gliders and experimental planes?

Given the chance, would you go up in a balloon?

How do your tanka soar using alternative power?

For pictures of shape balloons at Albuquerque go to