Last month was the annual balloon festival. This is our second year in attendance. Next year, as part of my “Oh my god I’ve graduated and have more than two pennies in my pocket” reward to myself. I’m going for a ride. I’m going to cough up the 180 bucks and go up. Now, I’ll be going alone as everyone I’ve asked has said “Naw huh!”. I’m not a fan of heights either, but the thought of what the views have to offer? So going there.
So this year, we had an added bonus. My sister was going with her two kids, our nephews, Tyler and Ryan. We don’t spend nearly enough time with them as we’d like. Face it, I’m a full time college “kid” and when I go home I study, spend time with my wife or write. We all met up and went for a walk around the staging are and we saw it. The General Lee. Eyes got wide and my sister and I smiled. My brother, we’ve always said, is named after the General Lee.
That’s Tyler, the oldest to the left and Ryan, the younger to the right. The car really looked great.
We walked some more and went to the bounce house. Wasn’t a huge hit. I think they preferred to check things out instead.

They look nothing alike.
And then, they took off. One of the best parts of the day.
While the whole taking off thing is pretty darn cool, hot air balloons do something just as cool on the ground.
They glow.


The festival come around every year, opening part of August, if you’ve never been, I suggest you plot and plan for next year. It really is worth it. There are food venders, cotton candy (whooo hoo!) and a small craft fair. And it doesn’t cost a thing to get in and watch. Bring a sweat shirt for the chillier evenings, we do still live in Maine, you know. And just enjoy.