How the hell do you post up a "ride-report" about a sunrise and not drown in a sea of pics, where each one is a "Jeezaz!! Look at THAT!!" shot?
Out of nearly 300, there's a 130 left of which I just can't throw out any more!! :bang::bang:
It couldn't have turned out any more perfect, even though we finished up being at the wrong place at the wrong time for the actual "Balloons"-bit of the affair...
The blurp on the website promised some spectacle....
...and here's how it turned out for us.
A 3.15 wakeup for a 4.45 arrival in Yarra Glen, crawling through the thick fog of the Yarra Flood Plains around Coldstream.
Setting up on the ridge above Yarra Glen after letting the 4WD's and trailers with the balloon-baskets and gear get away in town...
The very, very first bit of the New Day....
....and the cameras are struggling, turning all grainy..
There just isn't enough light around for a decent shot...and the flash only paints up the nearest object.
VEEERY slowly things are coming around....
Early visitor on the ridge
The little Fuji-camera is popping the rivets to come up with this
No sun on the valley-floor yet....
Going for a stroll....Mt. Dandenong's comm-towers in the background
Sloooowly, colour and definition creep in....
....and HURRAY!!...there they are!!.....right across the valley.
Balloons creeping out of the rolling paddocks. Again, the cameras are straining.