Wyoming Breezes

Up, Up and Away socks October 2021 I love hot-air balloons! This pair of socks reminds me of the brilliantly colored balloons that fly over Riverton every summer during the Rendezvous Balloon Festival.  These were knit with one of the sock blanks I dyed a few weeks ago.  The vibrant colors in these socks will lift my spirits every time I wear them. In fact, I might even skip down the street. Anyone remember the Fifth Dimension’s Up, Up and Away from 1967? 

Love Birds balloon Riverton Rendezvous Balloon Rally July 2018 The 38th Rendezvous Balloon Rally was held last weekend. My niece, Brenda drove up from Denver again this year to see the balloons. Last year, I ambled among the gentle giants with a cane, as it was less than a month following my knee surgery. This year only 19 balloons were featured because Casper's rally was moved to the same weekend because of a scheduling snag with their launch field. Reportedly, half the original balloons went to the Casper balloon rally. Even though the launch field at CWC had fewer balloons, it was a fun event. I was surprised three of the balloons were from Canada: they proudly flew the Maple Leaf. The "character" balloon this year was the adorable love birds, shown above. It was massive. While waiting for the love birds to be inflated, Brenda and I watched two gentleman playing frisbee with some young boys. It wasn't so much the game that caught our eye, but what the m...

Cloud Kisser Riverton, WY official balloon ( source )

inflating a hot-air balloon for the Night Glow Riverton, WY July 2017  During the Rendezvous Balloon Rally in July, Brenda and I went to the launch field just before sundown to see the Night Glow. Four hot-air balloons were selected to inflate and "glow." Other balloonists simply surrounded the field and "candle-sticked" which is just igniting their burners without the balloon attached. Cloud Kisser glows on the launch field It was difficult to "time" when to snap photos. When the burners were turned off, the "glow" disappeared. As dusk approaches a small crowd gathered on the field. Many more spectators stayed in the vehicles that lined the perimeter of the launch field. The huge Humpty Dumpty balloon required a lot of people to anchor the gondola so Humpty wouldn't take off. He was also anchored to a nearby pickup.  This was the first time I had attended the Night Glow portion of the rally. I will definitely go again.

Aww, what a flirt! he even waved to us as we stood watching Humpty Dumpty July 2017 Humpty Dumpty visited the Riverton Rendezvous Balloon Rally again. He draws a crowd of admirers of all ages. His previous visits can be seen here  and here the crowd enjoyed milling around the launch field on a near-perfect morning for flying a hot-air balloon. 

July 2017 My niece made a trip from Denver on Thursday: she came to see the annual balloon rally in Riverton. This is the 37th year that the Riverton Rendezvous Rally has been held, and it didn't disappoint. peeking over the Wyoming balloon "Steamboat" The weather was gorgeous on Saturday morning - perfect for seeing the balloons up close and to see them fly, and fly, and fly. I've been to the rally numerous times, and this is the first time, that the weather (wind currents) allowed the balloons to circle the field and sometimes land and change riders. All of the balloons hovered in the area for over an hour. Brenda (my niece) It was Brenda's first time at the rally, but I have a feeling she'll be back. owl balloon July 2017 Riverton, WY I think this was the first appearance for the owl balloon. We didn't get to see it inflated because it was hiding behind some other balloons. owl balloon in flight  However, we were near when the ...

July 19, 2015 Riverton, WY Doesn't this look like he had a looong night and has done a "face plant"? This penguin balloon was really cute! Shades are nice to have when facing the morning sun! Appropriately, he flew east into the bright, rising sun!

Riverton Balloon Rally Riverton, WY July 19, 2015 Early yesterday, I went to the Central Wyoming Soccer Field to watch the hot air balloons inflate and hopefully take flight. The balloons were grounded Friday and Saturday mornings due to unsafe flying conditions. The patchwork design on this balloon caught my eye and made me wonder if the pilot was a quilter or knows a quilter. Isn't it colorful? I'll be sharing photos later of a couple more unique balloons.

Hot Air Balloon Rally Riverton, WY July 20, 2013 This was the 33rd year for the  Riverton Rendezvous Balloon Rally , and out of those 33 years the balloons have been grounded only 2 years (last year was one of the two).  This year, the sky was a brilliant blue and cloudless. . .nearly perfect for hot-air balloons. You may remember that I was disappointed that Humpty Dumpty did not fly last year , so I was delighted to see that he was back this year and that his feet actually left the ground. Humpty Dumpty FLEW and SOARED and had LOTS of company. . . even those that came from far, far, away! Previous posts and photos of the rally can be seen here .

Humpty Dumpty piloted by Rich Lawhorn Louisville, KY Last weekend was the annual Riverton Rendezvous Balloon Rally, but sadly, the weather conditions were not conducive to flying . Based on weather reports, the Balloonmeister grounded the balloons Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. The winds on the ground and aloft were shifting, making flying too dangerous. The featured balloon (Humpty Dumpty) was inflated on Saturday and Sunday for photographs only. Two other balloons inflated but were quickly reduced to a mound of nylon when the envelopes began to whip in the winds. It was great to see Humpty Dumpty; however, one balloon does  not  a rally make. I look forward to walking among the puffy giants as they are inflated, so this year I left the field feeling like Humpty Dumpty when all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put him back together again -- nothing could be done to salvage the experience except the anticipation of next year's r...

Bucking Horse Balloon Rendezvous Balloon Rally Riverton, WY July 2011 The bucking horse and rider and Wyoming are nearly synonymous. The emblem is the registered trademark  for the State of Wyoming. Our license plates have used this logo since 1913, and the University of Wyoming is also associated with the emblem. The history of the logo was recorded in the 2009 issue of the Wyoming Library Roundup.  Here is the text: During World War I, military units were ordered to design an identifying symbol that could be stenciled onto its equipment. George N. Ostrom, a Sheridan, WY cattle rancher and a Wyoming Army National Guard supply sergeant was with E Battery, 3rd Battalion, 148th Field Artillery Regiment, 66th Field Artillery Brigade and his unit was right, smack dab in the middle of the fight in France. “At this time we were in intensive combat and my battery commander asked me how we could possibly comply with this request,” Ostrom wrote in a letter dated 1913...

Rendezvous Balloon Rally Riverton, WY July 2011  "Jack N D Box" was the only character balloon at the rally this year and  was piloted by John Harlow from Springfield, MO. The crowd was patient as Jack's arms, hair, nose, and even the toys,  surrounding him were inflated.  The local paper reported that Jack required a team of 10 people and as well as four times as many tanks of propane to fully inflate. Jack is a HUGE balloon, stretching 110 feet, twice as long as a regular balloon. He looked like Gulliver reclining on the field.  Slowly, Jack began to rise. . .  and rise. . .  and rise. . . until he was fully upright.  Jack was impressive on the field; however, I can only imagine  how he looked aloft since Jack remained on the ground the day I attended.