I visited the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo and the Colorado Springs Balloon Festival in (you guessed it) Colorado Springs over the Labor Day weekend.
The state fairgrounds is in the middle of a neighborhood in Pueblo surrounded by a pink adobe wall. Very typically western. Inside you'll find all the usual trappings of a fair, animal shows, crafts, rides, and of course food, food, and more food. It's not the biggest fair in the world, and dwarfed by the New York State Fair, but still an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday.
Most of that food's not much different than what you'll find anywhere back East, with one notable exception: the Rocky Mountain oyster. For the uninitiated, let me explain. The Rocky Mountain oyster is to put gently dear reader, the male parts of a bull; rolled in flour and deep-fried. They are considered be many to be quite a delicacy in these parts, but to this transplant, not something I can quite wrap my mouth around just yet., if ever.
On to giant gasbags, and no this isn't a commentary on politics. The Colorado Springs Balloon Classic featured more than 70 balloons soaring against the backdrop of Pikes Peak.
If you've never seen a balloon rally, I highly suggest changing that. I'm not really sure why it's cool, but it's cool. The bright colors, the noise of the propane jets, the friendliness of it all make for a great experience. Plus the sunrise was beautiful.
This balloon with the cowboy riding a bucking bronco came right overhead, offering this interesting perspective.
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3 years ago
2 comments:
Matt:
I did this hot-air balloon gig once; the hot-air balloon festival out of Canandaigua Airport — I think Mercy-Flight.
6 a.m., 150 smackaroos; up to about 2,000 feet. I could see the Rochester skyline off in the haze, and deeries below. We dropped down and brushed the treetops; a dog barked at us below.
We were mainly drifting west. About 45 minutes. Finally touched down in some farmer’s field — and broke out the champagne for all-and-sundry.
Worth doing; we were chased by a Chevy Blazer that had the balloon-trailer and my wife. (She didn’t go — the basket could only carry two.)
When I told K-man I was gonna do that he said “oh, the humanity!”
By all means, drive the Pikes Peak road. —Every American BY LAW should do that. (Mistakes are verbotten — you’re looking at a thousand-foot drop.)
Seriously, there is something magical about hot air balloons. Even as a grownup, if I see one in the sky i still have to point it out in awe and watch it float away. Pretty cool! And what a great picture!
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