As promised here's the real deal
By rebelann1949
@rebelann (117211)
El Paso, Texas
October 22, 2016 9:01am CST
Yesterday I had some fun with old photos on my SeaGate and this particular one is a favorite of mine. I took this in either 1997 or 1998, the only 2 years I ever got up early enough to go see the balloons at the local balloon fest, well I did have to drive about 20 miles to get there at 5:30am on our Memorial day weekend in late May.
I never actually went into the actual take off area, instead I watched from a vantage point on access road to the park then followed this one in particular. It was windy that morning so I knew I'd be heading in a southwesterly direction so I had to head east on I10 then exit on a road heading west. This is my prize though which happened because the balloon was floating too low and would have hit power lines so had to land right in front of a local laundermat.
The balloon fest isn't held there anymore so I have not been out to see them since. Maybe next May I will be since I have been waking up really early lately, usually around 4:30am. Just need to find out where the balloon fest is being held these days.
So, how surprised are you that the photo on the left is a balloon fashioned to look like Smokey?
6 people like this
11 responses
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
23 Oct 16
not surprised 't all :) i'd love to go to balloon fiesta'n albuquerque...if'n 't t'weren't fer all the other folks there, the high crime rate, etc.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117211)
• El Paso, Texas
23 Oct 16
Oh yeah @crazyhorseladycx I've heard a lot about it, so many people here like to go to that one whereas ours is a pale comparison.
1 person likes this
@AkoPinay (11496)
• Philippines
22 Oct 16
Oh I never thought it was a balloon but I see the round and dark brown object so I thought of burger 
We have annual hot air balloon fest in the Philippines. That's every February at Clark, Pampanga. 
We have annual hot air balloon fest in the Philippines. That's every February at Clark, Pampanga. Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is an airshow at Clark, Pampanga. Now on it's 20th Year of celebrating a weekend of everything that flies™!
2 people like this
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
22 Oct 16
That's a really neat balloon. My friends grandpa was one of the park rangers that started the smoky the bear campaign
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
22 Oct 16
Well, to be honest I'm totally shocked LOL
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117211)
• El Paso, Texas
22 Oct 16
Well who wouldna thought it was a balloon that big, right?
@rebelann (117211)
• El Paso, Texas
24 Oct 16
I thought so too. I followed that thing for at least 3 miles but then it floated where there weren't any roads.
