Galena Balloon race

[artistic rider]

Sorry I'm so late posting this but if anyone is interested Galena illinois is having its annual balloon race June 20th thru the 22nd. I'm going to try and ride up there this Saturday or Sunday to grab a few sunrise shots. Just throwing it out for anyone that might want to go. I haven't got the nack of posting a link on here so you will have to copy and paste for more information. https://www.greatgalenaballoonrace.com/ My bad, the link does work. Go figure.

 

[madmike2]

Posting pictures here is easy....if you have a hosting account like Photobucket. You can't post them from your PC.

If I can do it, ANYONE can do it!

The primer posted by Ignacio is actually "step-by-step". Linked Here.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Let me know when you're heading out...I might head out there with you. I love early morning rides.

 

[TriggerT]

Sunrise shots you say? I guess you are planning on being up early. I can tell you for a fact that sunrise is getting to be real close to 5:00 am. My commute to work isn't entirely in the dark anymore.

 

[RiderCoach Lar]

Darn it, Victor. If I wasn't teaching next weekend, I'd be all over that. I'm with Mark, early morning rides are fantastic. And the payoff here....sunrise over the hills of Galena during the balloon fest....VERY cool indeed.

I hope others can join you for that ride and please, SOMEONE post some pics!

 

[artistic rider]

I hate to bring up this ride and then back out. Looks like I won't be able to make it. This pulling to the left has really got me bothered. It seems to me that it makes cornering a little unstable. Not much but it doesn't seem to hold the line like it did before. So maybe I will try and make the one in Centrallia August 15th thru the 17th. Saturday would be best for me.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Well...I am still planning to head out there on Saturday morning. I won't be there for sunrise...but I will probably head out at 5am on the backroads 'till I get there.

 

[artistic rider]

Well...I am still planning to head out there on Saturday morning. I won't be there for sunrise...but I will probably head out at 5am on the backroads 'till I get there.

Now that I'm not riding the wife wants to go . If you see a man staring at your bike and crying its me.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I might be riding two-up Saturday morning...my wife loves balloons. :yahoo:

 

[wheatonFJR]

Looks like wifey and I are leaving Wheaton at 5am...plan to get out to Galena about 8am or so taking the backroads mainly..

Not sure where the balloons are launching...cuz the website wasn't clear on that...maybe the Eagle Ridge resort?

edit: oops...looked again and yes it's the Eagle Ridge Resort.

 

[RiderCoach Lar]

I can't believe nobody else is jumping on this: an opportunity for an AWESOME ride.......with wheatonFJR, nonetheless......and a good possibility of meeting artistic rider!!! Anyone who's met either one of these guys knows what they're missing. If you HAVEN'T met them yet, take advantage of the opportunity.

If I weren't teaching this weekend, I'd be ALL OVER THIS.

(Don't forget pictures)

 

[wheatonFJR]

...If I weren't teaching this weekend, I'd be ALL OVER THIS.
(Don't forget pictures)

C'mon Lar...bring the wifey and lets go. Time to get out of Dodge... :clapping:

 

[artistic rider]

Sitting in garage looking at the FJR front end in pieces. This truely sucks! :angry:

 

[airboss]

I can't believe nobody else is jumping on this: an opportunity for an AWESOME ride.......with wheatonFJR, nonetheless......and a good possibility of meeting artistic rider!!! Anyone who's met either one of these guys knows what they're missing. If you HAVEN'T met them yet, take advantage of the opportunity.
If I weren't teaching this weekend, I'd be ALL OVER THIS.

(Don't forget pictures)

Wish I could go, but I already promsed Ninjaette, that I would help her with riding practice this Saturday. Besides I've seen Wheatie and in the nude too. Remember the aerostich theard :shok:

 

[wheatonFJR]

I can't believe nobody else is jumping on this: an opportunity for an AWESOME ride.......with wheatonFJR, nonetheless......and a good possibility of meeting artistic rider!!! Anyone who's met either one of these guys knows what they're missing. If you HAVEN'T met them yet, take advantage of the opportunity.
If I weren't teaching this weekend, I'd be ALL OVER THIS.

(Don't forget pictures)

Wish I could go, but I already promsed Ninjaette, that I would help her with riding practice this Saturday. Besides I've seen Wheatie and in the nude too. Remember the aerostich theard :shok:

Well, I wasn't nude...had riding shorts and gloves and boots on...but that's another story.

See y'all later...Galena here we come. :clapping:

 

[wheatonFJR]

330 miles today with wifey. Weather was great...just dodged a few drops east of Mt. Carroll...otherwise sunny and pleasant. :yahoo:

Left Wheaton 5:40am...got to Eagle Ridge about 8:15am via Elizabeth road and US20.

Thought we'd see balloons in the air once we got towards Elizabeth. Didn't see a single balloon. :huh: We stopped in at the launch site...was told by some balloon chase crew that they launched about 6am. Anyways...they must not have been up in the air long ... cuz you can see forever at some of those ridge roads out there.

Well, we shook the balloon thing off and headed into Galena...ate breakfast at the Desoto House Inn about 9am yummm. We walked the main drag...then got on the bike and cruised around the town and ended up at the park across the river with the US Grant statue...hanging out for awhile in the good weather. :clapping:

Then we took Blackjack Road -caution- many 100 ft sections of gravel on Blackjack. Still okay if you just are cruising with the wife and enjoying the scenery as opposed to some serious corner carving. I did end up taking Hanover Road east of Hanover to a road south that ends up being Scenic Ridge Road. This road rocks :yahoo: I gave wifey a taste of some SPORTtouring on that road...she did pretty good with it. We meandered the backroads all the way back home at +25 on the desolate county roads. Corn country looks better at higher speeds.

All in all a great day for wifey's annual ride. Even got to wick it up to hyperspeed on a long straight countyish road east of I39 in flatland. Wifey didn't appreciate that so much.

We ended up having a sandwich in Sycamore...took the back ways home and got home about 4:45pm. 11 hours of good times. :clapping:

Sorry nobody else could make it...you missed a fine day.

BTW, Fox and Rock Rivers were pretty high...

Artistic rider should post photos of the balloons since we missed it.

 

[artistic rider]

Still at home myself. I have the front end back together but no fender. Not arriving until Wed. :angry2: As soon as I tighten it to specks I will give it a ride but not planning on doing any distance until I get that fender back on. It would be just my luck to put a rock in the radiator. The good thing about today, my son and I had our first ride in the rain (in the Ural). It started coming down as we left the barbershop. We just returned home from another ride. It felt good watching him fall asleep and knowing he wasn't going to fall off. Anyway tonight is the balloon night glow flight. That should be beautiful. Still wishing I was there. But I am definately catching one later this year!!!!

 

[TriggerT]

Sorry I couldn't make it. At 5:40 this morning I was just finishing up a 2nd TBS in the last 2 weeks. Since I was able to keep a loner carbtuner a little longer than I thought I would, I wanted to take the time to get things REALLY dialed in. Besides, I have with NW IL 3 times already this year. it is still the best show in town, but I need something new.

Glad to hear you and the wife had fun Mark. See you on the 6th!

 

[griff]

Wheaton: Glad you and the wife had a good time. Sorry I had to bale at the last second. Got to keep those guys in DC happy with reports. Got out a little bit about mid-day for 100 miles. Sure was nice today. Gona take the Vrod out tomorrow for a little stretch.

griff