Our camping trip at the Dansville Balloon Fest - Preparing to launch!

The wind died down about 6 pm Sunday evening, and the balloonists raced to get their hot air rigs airborne.

Here's a sampling of the hectic prep-work at Dansville's Festival of Balloons (NYSFB at Dansville). More pics to come, later in the week.

Team USA takes the foreground. At least eight others warm up for launch.

Primary colors crowd out the tulip balloon. The rest struggle to catch up.

"Fire in the hole!" It takes a big burn and lots of helping hands to get these monsters aloft.
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No less than 40 hot air balloons launched on a spectacular Sunday evening at Dansville. For once, the weather cooperated for the entire Labor Day Weekend. More pics soon.

All photos copyright 2009 - reprints available on request.