Photography
Up Up and Away
By Isambard Kingdom Come
7, Sep 2009 - 00:27

Bristol on the River Avon hosts a famous festival each year. Earlier this 'summer' some intrepid denizens of Castlebar ventured eastwards to our nearest neighbouring nation aboard a Knock to Bristol airliner . Crowds gather on a hot summer's afternoon Hot air propelled the airliner across 'Namaland' and then finally, successfully, across the Irish sea.  Some 'hot air' even announced the airliner's landing on terra firma: "Da de da DaaaH" - a trumpet reveille waking up sleeping passengers - 'RyanAir had once again arrived on time' - didn't stop them enjoying the trip. The 'hot air' being targeted by the visitors from Castlebar was the butane-heated hot air used to create crafts that really are much lighter than air. Balloons galore The photos can't do justice to the spectacle of seeing some 20 to 30 to 40 balloons in the air all at once passing beyond the suspension bridge designed by a famous engineer rejoicing in the name of 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel' (building began in 1836 after much huffing and puffing). The flotilla (if that's the correct collective noun for hot air balloons) in full flight His bridge is in itself an engineering marvel, suspended in the air high above the mudflats of the Avon River. It's so high up in the air that it has a plaque posted on its abutments by the Samaritans with a number to ring in case you are tempted to behave like the jilted young woman whose hooped petticoats floated her gently down onto the mud over 100 years ago (she lived into her 80s and became a grandmother if not a great grandmother). No talk about anyone leaping from the balloon baskets though thankfully.

Lighter than air - literally - the basket cases take to the air - primary colours all

Calling all hot air balloon fans as a flotilla passes over Brunel's famous bridge built over the River Avon.

© Copyright 2009 by Castlebar - County Mayo -