Thursday, 9/29/11: Nothing scheduled for today until 2:30 p.m. at which time all gathered for a Rally Orientation. We ran a few errands in the morning, had lunch in and took a short nap before heading over to the WIT Hospitality Tent for the orientation. There are 46 Winnebagos/88 persons attending this Rally. A good hour or so was spent going over the schedule for the next 8 days and the rules and regulations to be followed. We then had a very interesting presentation on ballooning, both helium and gas (racing) by a couple that has been ballooning both types for more than 30 years. We were then served a catered light supper. The Rally really gets underway tomorrow, the Balloon Fiesta on Saturday. Some interesting facts about the Balloon Fiesta:
• It started as an anniversary party event for KOB Radio in 1972. 13 balloons lifted off from a shopping center parking lot. One police officer was assigned and overwhelmed as over 10,000 spectators showed up for the event.
• This it is the 40th annual running of the event which will feature 580 balloons from 22 different countries.
• There will be Mass Ascensions, Flying Competitions, Morning Glows, Special Shape Rodeos, a Gas Balloon Race and Evening Balloon Glows followed by AfterGlow Fireworks
• There are over 8,000 RV’s in our field with many others located around the event area.
• Attendance expected to exceed 800,000.
• The balloon launch field is the size of 82 football fields.
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