Holiday time. And of course what better way to find the blog mojo than a bit of down time with the family. We are currently in central Victoria - Benalla. It is the Australian Hot Air Balloon Championships. Yes - a random and quirky family holiday - but that is de rigeur when you marry a Razzle Dazzle Stuart. Darryl used to fly, compete, and a whole bunch of ballooning stuff in his other life. Up til now there has been little flying but the kids are older and dead keen to get up in the clouds it seems. So in sub zero temps we sunny queenslanders are here for the week crewing with Paul Gibbs. The weather is crisp and bracing and we Queenslanders are far too soft. I bought the kids gloves in town and Darc didn't even know how to put them on! Of course - a holiday around balloons is best blogged about in pics so without further ado....
Saturday night - the town put on a Night Glow and Party. The balloons fire the burners which looks great in the night - and a little warmer too. Darc used the heat to warm up her Dagwood Dog!
Laser swords for sale - very popular with young Ninjas
Darc and Kel. Darc on the burners. New name... Burner Babe. Kinda suits supercool Darc.
Not to be outdone - Jackie had a blast too.
Monday morning. First day of competition. Do they look cold?
Darryl and Paul...
Inflating the envelope.
Dropping a marker at a target
Dirt kicking - there can be some waiting around for the crew between each target.
Landing right next to the road = no carrying baskets across paddocks. Nice and easy!
Some searching for valuable crystals (quartz) keeps the junior crew occupied for ages...
What a good little soldier - asleep in the back of the spartan troop carrier! Deano drives it like a rally car so goodness knows how the kids sleep - but they both do.
Thismorning - we are in the groove. No frost icing up the windscreen so it seemed promising. But Lordy - I have never had such cold feet in my life - perhaps I should have before entering my first marriage but that's a whole other story!!
Beautiful sunrise
Inflating the envelope
Maiike's balloon and crew. She's paul's better half and has an all chickie team.
Obviously I was feeling arty this morning and no crafty goodness to play with - so lots of photos...
This is Peter's balloon - Darryl crewed with them thismorning. Kat his wife flies co-pilot having just breastfed 3 month old Sam. Very cool chick. This is the travelling Day Care with head Nanny Steve (also known as crew - in charge. I asked to book in Jack and Darc in the morning!!)
For one of the tasks pilots needed to fly to this point and drop a marker as close to the target as possible.
Landing by the side of the road
Boys will be boys. City boys don't get to run around in the mud enough. Heaps of fun.
What lovely photos - looks like fun for all - ahhh I miss a great crisp central Victorian morning nothing clearer and cleaner than country air. Enjoy
Posted by: Amanda | July 07, 2009 at 09:01 PM
awesome!
that log looks like a bear.
ps - I came across your site looking for a rolling hem foot ;)
Posted by: melanie | February 26, 2010 at 07:53 AM