MONROE - Hot air balloonists took to the skies early Saturday as part of Monroe's annual Balloon Rally.
The wind had slowed to about six knots per hour, giving pilots a brief window of opportunity, at about 6:30 a.m. That opportunity wouldn't last long - Friday and Saturday night's planned launches and balloon glows were canceled due to weather.
There was plenty of action earlier in the day Saturday, however, as 12 pilots, competing for points, inflated their balloons west of town and flew back to the fairgrounds.
Their task: hit one of two targets on the infield with a small sandbag.
Jeff Trzebiatowski, Appleton, was unofficially holding first place in the bag toss at 9 a.m.
Coming straight into the middle of the field in his balloon Midnight Rainbow, Trzebiatowski managed to place his toss just 2.75 meters from the target.
"It was a really nice drop on the second target," Trzebiatowski said.
Midnight Rainbow started its short journey from Richland Road, south of Monroe Airport.
Trzebiatowski said the ride, thought short, was a great.
"It was a very nice morning for flight," he added.
Kevin Schmoldt, Janesville, was also able to bring his balloon, Bright Idea, across the field.
Other pilots were not so lucky. Several balloons, including Cloudburner, Lin Air and Sky Ray, all from out-of-state, caught some quick upper level breezes before descending over the fairgrounds and slid past the grandstand bleachers, giving spectators a thrilling up-close view.
Two pilots opted out of competition to make a short flight from the field to the west side of Monroe. Mark Leibelt, Friendship, Wis., inflated Kahoots, and Jon Peterson, Racine, Wis., sent up Earth, Wind & Fire.
Friday night plans for a launch and a balloon glow had to be canceled because of winds. Pilots met for a briefing at 6 a.m. Saturday, but the winds were still too uncertain at that time.
Matt Urban, organizer of the event, had told pilots there might be one of three possible chances to inflate that morning, labeling them "a, b, and c" - a tethered inflation, a short flight out of the field, or a short inbound course for competition.
"Never did I imagine we'd be able to do 'd - all of the above', " Urban said.
The wind had slowed to about six knots per hour, giving pilots a brief window of opportunity, at about 6:30 a.m. That opportunity wouldn't last long - Friday and Saturday night's planned launches and balloon glows were canceled due to weather.
There was plenty of action earlier in the day Saturday, however, as 12 pilots, competing for points, inflated their balloons west of town and flew back to the fairgrounds.
Their task: hit one of two targets on the infield with a small sandbag.
Jeff Trzebiatowski, Appleton, was unofficially holding first place in the bag toss at 9 a.m.
Coming straight into the middle of the field in his balloon Midnight Rainbow, Trzebiatowski managed to place his toss just 2.75 meters from the target.
"It was a really nice drop on the second target," Trzebiatowski said.
Midnight Rainbow started its short journey from Richland Road, south of Monroe Airport.
Trzebiatowski said the ride, thought short, was a great.
"It was a very nice morning for flight," he added.
Kevin Schmoldt, Janesville, was also able to bring his balloon, Bright Idea, across the field.
Other pilots were not so lucky. Several balloons, including Cloudburner, Lin Air and Sky Ray, all from out-of-state, caught some quick upper level breezes before descending over the fairgrounds and slid past the grandstand bleachers, giving spectators a thrilling up-close view.
Two pilots opted out of competition to make a short flight from the field to the west side of Monroe. Mark Leibelt, Friendship, Wis., inflated Kahoots, and Jon Peterson, Racine, Wis., sent up Earth, Wind & Fire.
Friday night plans for a launch and a balloon glow had to be canceled because of winds. Pilots met for a briefing at 6 a.m. Saturday, but the winds were still too uncertain at that time.
Matt Urban, organizer of the event, had told pilots there might be one of three possible chances to inflate that morning, labeling them "a, b, and c" - a tethered inflation, a short flight out of the field, or a short inbound course for competition.
"Never did I imagine we'd be able to do 'd - all of the above', " Urban said.