9 March 2014: WOW WOW WOW…words can’t begin to describe how good it was this morning. Initially the balloons were silhouetted in the Canberra skies, but it quickly transformed into a truly wonderful spectacle as a HUGE rainbow formed perfectly on cue as the balloons were hovering all around the National Museum. There were balloons sailing across the lake dancing amongst the rainbow and at one point I was playing a game of chicken with a hot air balloon as it drifted directly towards me. I was having conversations and saying hello to everyone in the baskets. I could’ve just reached out and high fived a few of them as they cruised by me while I were sitting in my kayak. The scene was sheer perfection as the sun illuminated the vibrant colours of the balloons and the Canberra landscape provided a fantastic backdrop and then to top it all off, it was perfectly framed by a glorious rainbow. How good is this, I have been waiting all year for this festival and I’m loving it!

It just doesn’t get any better than this!

6.50am: The balloons haven’t taken off yet and already I was being treated to a wonderful lightshow

6.56am: The beginning of another beautiful day.

Synchronized Ballooning. The Sky Whale was having an early morning dance

The Sky Whale was leading the way.

7.06am: The balloons are in flight and are now filling the skies.

Nothing like playing a game of chicken with a hot air balloon.

What a blast of a morning

Truly magical

What skill these pilots have, there fly with such pin point accuracy.

I just loved how the balloons hovered all round the National Musuem

There were huge smiles all around this morning

It just doesn’t get any better than this!

The reflections were superb

Now that was a fantastic experience that will be etched in my mind for ages.