This balloon emerged over the treetops in Hadley...
...and in the mood for an easy distraction, I found myself driving down back roads and playing catch, trying to intercept the balloon's course for a good photo shot.
A couple lefts and a couple rights, a quick u-turn in a disgruntled homeowner's driveway, a zoom down a farm road and I was finally close and nearly under it. But alas on the wrong side, with the low sun right behind it and sillouetting.
...zooming back and around, onto route 9, losing sight of it and scanning the sky while impatiently waiting for a traffic light, then up another main drag and back onto farm roads with no sign of it and just about to give up, when suddenly the floating orb reappeared over the trees again. I pulled over on the grass and it slowly lolled right to me. This time the sun was positioned correctly behind, the balloon reflecting it's brilliant colors before me, and even the moon hung behind it, for added effect.
Gotcha.
Between other gravity defying activities like sky diving, para gliding and bungee jumping, I'd think I'd rather be in one of those baskets slowly bobbing along high above the trees. No need for adrenaline, just a good view; and I suspect balloons must be like moving mountain summits. Blogger Mary Carey took a recent ride on one, to great blogging effect...
That mission accomplished, and the sun now just about out, a quick recheck of the nearby dike on the Connecticut river was in order...
They appear to have done a fine job, and you can hardly tell where the broad section of dike was repaired, unless you look over the side where fresh rocks line the embankment. This guy made the most of the bare slope...
On the other side, what looked like a rafting trip gone awry was just a floating swimming platform that had been tied to the rock and hung up in the currently low water levels.
The Corona box centered on the platform speaks to the use it's been getting...
Onwards. To Northampton where the corn stalks are high, under the coming appropriately named 'Full Corn' moon.
This was in the meadows area near the airport, where I positioned myself at the end of the runway hoping to catch a plane coming in, as I had caught the balloon earlier...
But instead the lights were suddenly and unceremoniously turned off. Leaving me in the darkness, with just the small camera power-on light blinking at me for answers.
No matter, diversions were achieved, and September found.
Time to head back.
5 comments:
Great photos of the river! and the fisherman's silhouette! You had perfect timing to get that great shot of the balloon and the moon, too.
Methinks I'd better work on my photography skills! Do you give lessons?
Thanks Mattenylou, timing is everything, isn't it...
Lesson 1: Take Pictures...lots and lots of pictures...
Lesson 2: Take Pictures..!
Great atmospheric follow-up to your last nighttime post. I'm proud to be mentioned in this fantastic post. Love the angle and atmosphere in the corn stalk photo. You've done it again.
Mary your great post cemented my resolution to try it myself, as soon as possible...
Yes, do it!
Post a Comment