Sometimes, balloonists need patience. A damn lot of patience. At the first Spring
Balloon Festival at Altenburg on the Easter weekend 2003, the teams had to wait for
almost three days until they could put up their balloons at least for a night glow.
Up until then, rain on Friday and Saturday and a strong east wind blowing on Sunday
made it impossible to launch the balloons. Eventually, on Sunday evening, the
spectators all around the launch site got to see some balloons.
And it wasn't easy for me to handle the penguin which danced around wildly in
the wind.
After the night had come (and the land was dark *g*), almost 30 balloons lighted the launch site and rewarded the audience for their long wait.
During the balloon festival there was also a youth camp. The youths had brought along the balloon of the German-French Youth Welfare.
On Easter Monday, the Guinness Book record attempt could finally take place: 99 skat players in 33 balloons held the highest skat tournament of the world over the city of Altenburg.
The idea of that world record attempt didn't come for no reason: The playing card
factory of Altenburg produces the world-known skat cards.
The balloons take off on their way westwards.
The balloon of the German-French Youth Welfare over 'Skat City' Altenburg.
Special thanks for the photos go to Michael Behring from
www.heidelberg-ballon.de
and to Christian Köhler from the Chemnitz Aviation Club.
More information and pictures about this event you can find on
www.altenburger-ballonfruehling.de.
It's in German, however... ;-)