Here are a few more photos from the recent Hot Air Balloon Race at Forest Park. The Fall weather has been so pleasant in the high 70s to upper 80s. We are planning a road trip to see the fall foliage. Got to enjoy every minute of the clear blue sky and warm weather before the winter arrives.
Well, I think the photo below was captured when the balloon landed, so it actually is not above the ground!
I did not see t
he Select 55 balloon last year so it could be a new entry this year. I have seen many commercials as the company launched major push of this new product. Someone told me that the 55 did not taste as good as the regular beer but he was sold on the promise of 55 calories. Not being a drinker, I would not know the difference. I am not against drinking and people have the right to drink whatever products they like. I just thought that if the person is so concern about calories, why not quit drinking completely? It is almost like handing me a piece of coconut cream pie and telling me it tastes awful but it has only 10 calories. Just give me a delicious pie for enjoyment along with the guilty100 calories!
The Pepsi can is one of the regular and popular entries in the Race. So we have the beer and the soda, where's the pretzel? I wonder if I should write to the Race organizers and ask if they should try to get Gus' Pretzel to submit an entry with a balloon in the shape of a pretzel. Well, I guess the Gold Fish (bottom photo) would have to do for now.
As promised, for this St. Louis Friday series, photos from The Great Forest Park 2009 Balloon Race. We had to rush to St. Louis Blues Fanfest, so we did not take photos of the Energizer Bunny, hopefully next year, including the Balloon Glow on Friday night! 
Here are a few interesting facts - The Great Forest Park Balloon Race is the most well-attended, 100,000 plus spectators, in the United States, and the largest sporting event in Missouri.It is the second oldest balloon race in the United States, with Albuquerque, Mexico being the oldest.
The Balloon Race started in 1973 and only cancelled twice - in 2001 after September 11th and in 1983 due to high wind. This year there are 70 hot air balloons took to the sky. The Energizer Bunny lands and puts out an X at a select location and the team that drops a bag of birdseed closest to the X mark is the winner of the Balloon Race. 
Here is a saving tip for the family budget - You can fly a balloon for approximately 3.5 hours on 44 gallons of propane. The cost of a flight is seldom more than a few dollars. Hot air balloon "engines" are the burners that heat the air inside the balloon. Because hot air rises, the heated air lifts the balloon and makes flight possible. I am considering selling my car, purchase a hot air balloon as my mode of transportation to work. I have plenty of hot air and I know people I could get hot air from, it is the wind that I am a bit worry. Any suggestions?
Here are a few more photos from the recent Hot Air Balloon Race at Forest Park. The Fall weather has been so pleasant in the high 70s to upper 80s. We are planning a road trip to see the fall foliage. Got to enjoy every minute of the clear blue sky and warm weather before the winter arrives.
Well, I think the photo below was captured when the balloon landed, so it actually is not above the ground!
I did not see the Select 55 balloon last year so it could be a new entry this year. I have seen many commercials as the company launched major push of this new product. Someone told me that the 55 did not taste as good as the regular beer but he was sold on the promise of 55 calories. Not being a drinker, I would not know the difference. I am not against drinking and people have the right to drink whatever products they like. I just thought that if the person is so concern about calories, why not quit drinking completely? It is almost like handing me a piece of coconut cream pie and telling me it tastes awful but it has only 10 calories. Just give me a delicious pie for enjoyment along with the guilty100 calories!
The Pepsi can is one of the regular and popular entries in the Race. So we have the beer and the soda, where's the pretzel? I wonder if I should write to the Race organizers and ask if they should try to get Gus' Pretzel to submit an entry with a balloon in the shape of a pretzel. Well, I guess the Gold Fish (bottom photo) would have to do for now.
The 2010 Great Forest Park Balloon Race was on Saturday, September 18th with the Balloon Glow on Friday night before the race. Last year we tried going to the event but got stuck in traffic for 2 hours. We never got to where the Balloon Glow took place. This year, we did not even try because I was still recovering from the root canal on Monday.
This year we got to Forest Park and found a great spot not too far from Central Field where all the balloons would take off from. I took many photos of the Energizer Bunny Hot Hare Balloon to make up for what I missed last year. 
More than 60 hot air balloons filled the sky. The temperature was in the high 80s and sort of comfortable. Sadly there was no wind, not even a light breeze. At times, the balloons just stood still in the sky, almost as if they were held-up by an invisible giant.
One of the items on my bucket list is being at the International Balloon Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The event takes place in October of each year. I wonder if Busboy (www.bus-stories.blogspot.com) would be at the Festival and post some real nice photos of the balloons. Do you have Hot Air Balloon Race/Festival in your town?
As promised, for this St. Louis Friday series, photos from The Great Forest Park 2009 Balloon Race. We had to rush to St. Louis Blues Fanfest, so we did not take photos of the Energizer Bunny, hopefully next year, including the Balloon Glow on Friday night! 
Here are a few interesting facts - The Great Forest Park Balloon Race is the most well-attended, 100,000 plus spectators, in the United States, and the largest sporting event in Missouri.
The Balloon Race started in 1973 and only cancelled twice - in 2001 after September 11th and in 1983 due to high wind. This year there are 70 hot air balloons took to the sky. 
Here is a saving tip for the family budget - You can fly a balloon for approximately 3.5 hours on 44 gallons of propane. The cost of a flight is seldom more than a few dollars. Hot air balloon "engines" are the burners that heat the air inside the balloon. Because hot air rises, the heated air lifts the balloon and makes flight possible. I am considering selling my car, purchase a hot air balloon as my mode of transportation to work. I have plenty of hot air and I know people I could get hot air from, it is the wind that I am a bit worry. Any suggestions?
