The Winthrop Balloon Round Up happened this weekend. We stayed home and watched the balloons go by from here. I did sort of miss the action of the balloon inflation and take off but didn’t have the energy to get up early and go to town to watch that part. The weather was perfect and people had long rides, drifting up and down and then most came down valley to land at or near the airport.
The annual Winthrop Balloon Roundup was this weekend. Luckily, I went Friday morning. It snowed yesterday and today so the balloons did not go up as planned. Someone said a few went up yesterday afternoon and last night they had the big balloon glow with four of the hot air balloons inflated and lighting up downtown after dark. I missed that too.
They aim to start inflating about 7 am. Before that, there is a lot of work to do, unpacking the balloons and getting the lines straightened out, hooking up the baskets, testing the burners and so on. There were lots of spectators armed with cameras and cell phones. Many people were signed up for rides too. Once the balloons were up in the air, they did not move very far as the air currents were slow on Friday. A couple made it as far as the airport to land in the nearby fields.
Hot air balloons graced the skies of the Methow Valley this past weekend. They launched in Winthrop, surrounded by spectators and photographers on three picture perfect mornings. Each day their flights were a little bit different. Friday morning, they drifted quickly down valley to the airport. Saturday was a little slower with some balloons landing before they got as far as the airport. And Sunday was very different. Most balloons seemed to linger above Winthrop for a while and some never did go down valley and two later ones went up valley and then down valley on our side and both went right over us, with one landing on our neighbors’ place! It was all very colorful and fun. Even after fourteen years, I do not get tired of the Winthrop Balloon Roundup.
The annual Balloon Roundup in Winthrop happened last weekend. In 2020, it may have been the last big event that happened in the valley. So maybe it’s fitting that it’s the first big event as we begin to see the end of the pandemic. Masks were required to enter the viewing area and attendance was limited to 200 viewers. The weather was not the most cooperative. Friday morning, the balloons hovered over Winthrop and never really got out of town. Saturday morning, they did drift down valley to the airport as usual but the sky was not blue. And Sunday they didn’t go up at all with a threat of snow showers.
The hot air balloons came to town this weekend. Yesterday, while the skies weren’t perfectly clear, the balloons got off to a 7 am start and soon filled the sky with their colors and patterns. Unfortunately, the air was not moving down valley very well and only a few got as far as our house. Still, it was a pretty sight and fun to watch them get ready and lift off. Today’s weather was worse and we didn’t see any balloons go airborne. Maybe tomorrow. The forecast looks pretty nice.
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