If you are lucky enough to get a spot next to the water you might see the balloons dip down and touch it. This photo was taken by my friend Linda Clayton who had such a spot.
In the background is London Bridge (which yes, did come from London) that you cross to the island where the balloon fest is held in Lake Havasu City. On the left is a restaurant where Sandi, Anita and I had lunch after hiking the slot canyon trail.
Javalina Cantina
Good Mexican food with a view.
Anita and I were parked in the Good Sam lot at the end of the island. We had some great views of the balloons from the roof of my RV.
The first day was windy, so the balloons didn't go up. Sani and I took the free shuttle to the festival grounds and strolled through the vendors booths. (Sand was parked at the Marina Lot, a little closer to the festival grounds than I was.
The only balloon aloft was a tethered one. I considered paying for a ride until I saw that it didn't go very high at all.
It wasn't too windy for other sports however, so we saw parachutes and ultralights in the air.
Sandi and I rode the ferris wheel to get some pictures from the top.
View of the grounds with lake and mountains in the distance.
Ultralight buzzing by.
Lake Havasu is ringed by over 20 lighthouses. They're designed as 1/3 scale replicas of famous lighthouses and serve as navigational beacons for boaters on the lake. I walked to a few from my RV.
Lake Havasu as seen from the shore.
This one is for my sister-in-law, Carol. It is a replica of the Alpena (MI) lighthouse, where she was from.
The ATV gives you an idea of the relative size of these tiny replicas.
Sunrise Saturday morning was spectacular, and the wind was calm.
We enjoyed the changing colors as we waited for the mass ascension of the balloons.
The first balloon aloft carried the US flag.
View of the Good Sam lot from the roof of my RV.
Just a few of the balloons as they rose...
And soon the sky was full of them!
Some of the character balloons began to appear...
This Dragon was sponsored by a local Chinese Restaurant.
We were not the only people watching from a roof! Notice the baby behind the dog.
There were all these...
And then this other one...
Owlbert.
This is the view from the ground. We went to the free breakfast a little late. All that was left was doughnuts. So I had to eat a doughnut.
My RV and some balloons.
Thistle watched from inside.
Every now and then a new one rose.
Across the street only the dogs are watching from the roof.
What could they be waiting for?
Oh, of course!
