Babs Young was in Traverse City on Friday, with perfect weather, for the Grand Traverse Balloon Classic. She writes, About 7:30 the balloons took off and floated south, then they returned to the Open Space, inflated again and lit up the area but did not ascend. I believe they did this again on Saturday, but without me. This image is from the “glow” after sunset. You can see more of my images from the event on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/11738344@N00/
The Open Space–a big, welcoming public park right on Grand Traverse Bay– is one of the nicest things about Traverse City. It’s the natural place for grand gestures and community gatherings, the sort of place where you’d ask someone to marry you, or make sand castles, or marvel at flying balloons all aglow. Happy Fathers Day.
Posted in: Babs Young photos
Torch Lake Views 
Dawn
June 20, 2011
How pretty!!!
Fee
June 20, 2011
Flying in a hot-air balloon is one of my (so far) unfulfilled ambitions. Lovely pictures.
Joss
June 20, 2011
Oh wow! I love those balloons. I love all the autumn celebrations of light and colour, like halloween, guy fawkes night and divali. But here is one smack bang in the middle of summer. Wonderful. Any more pictures of this beautiful event?
Gerry
June 20, 2011
‘Morning, Joss. There are more pictures–just follow that link to Babs’s Flickr stream. I get a kick out of the titles she’s given the images, too.
Gerry
June 20, 2011
Thank you Dawn and Fee. They are pretty things, aren’t they! Years ago the Lady Alicia’s mother arranged a balloon ride to celebrate a flock of family birthdays. It was every bit as much fun as you’d expect.
uphilldowndale
June 20, 2011
How beautiful they are, and what an adventure to fly
Gerry
June 21, 2011
It was an adventure, but on the whole I think I’d prefer to ride in a little airplane. Or, of course, in one of those personal anti-gravity propeller things that I always thought would be invented any day now.
Robin
June 20, 2011
How beautiful! I’ve always wanted to see (and photograph) a hot air balloon glow, but usually end up missing the opportunity due to travel or other plans. I’ll have to check the dates this year for the Football Hall of Fame Festival. They have hot air balloon races, and that usually includes a “glow.”
Gerry
June 21, 2011
I can’t imagine how a person could possibly have a Football Hall of Fame Festival without a hot air balloon race. That would be like having a National Cherry Festival without fireworks. It just isn’t done.
Scott Thomas Photography
June 22, 2011
I wish our balloonfest would do the glow. They put it on the schedule but, since it is optional, none of the balloons participated this year. I guess I will have to enjoy Babs fabulous photo here instead. Not a bad alternative. 🙂
Gerry
June 22, 2011
A photo by Babs is often a wonderful alternative to being there. Sometimes even preferable.
harpersfarm
June 22, 2011
How beautiful! I definitely need to get the family to a balloon festival, and soon!!