The balloonists were straining at the bit - they were ready to go after missing two launches. Balloons fairly leapt into the sky.

Suddenly, a balloonist's worst nightmare began to unfold. The balloon dropped precipitously out of the sky in a couple of minutes. It lost lifting pow (...)

"Scotty, I need more power!" "Och Captain, I'm giving her all she's got !!!"

It wasn't long before the sky was once again full of balloons. The slight breeze had everyone drifting dreamily down the Ottawa River towards Buckingh (...)

The balloon had begun to brush the tops of the weeds and large river pike were circling below. The breeze was pushing them further from shore. Rescue (...)

There was no stopping the balloon. It hit the river with a splash and the basket began to drag in the water. The heroic pilot finally got the burner g (...)

An ominous silhouette. They had no idea what was about to happen next.

Poor little Daisy. For reasons unknown, this balloon came down early. It was a sign of things to come. Eventually this balloon re-launched and went sa (...)

The tacks were a particular hazard as they blew off steam into the air. The balloons went this way and that as they dodged the stacks.

So ends another Balloon Festival as the survivors drift off into the heart of the sunrise.

Other balloons were having problems too. Many suffered from low altitude sailing and were looking to bail out. Unfortunately, they were over the indus (...)

Finally, everyone got airborne again and it was time to "get out of Dodge".

It was getting dicey over there.

The balloons began to regain some lift. I waited until this one seemed to be perched atop the stack.