Since first light on Friday morning, the 42nd international hot air balloon gathering has been launched. Several takeoffs are planned throughout the weekend.
On a farmer's meadow in Goudet, hot air balloons replaced cows on Friday morning. Around thirty pilots met for the inaugural flight of the 42nd international gathering, organized by Montgolfière en Velay. With ideal weather, the balloons were able to take off, follow the Loire and reach Polignac for the first flight of the weekend.The start was given Friday morning
This is the case of Carles Llado. Coming from Spain, he was able to take the start in the best conditions after 40 years of absence. “It was absolutely superb,” he noted upon arrival. This flight was the first in a long series, if the weather remains on the organizers' side. Three other departures are on the program for the weekend. The first on Saturday morning. The second should follow around 2:30 p.m. Finally, the last takeoff is scheduled for Sunday morning, around 7:30 a.m. To know where and when, you will have to be attentive… and responsive.
In fact, each departure location is only defined one hour before the balloons take flight, after the wind analysis. The only certainty is that the take-off site must be chosen from ten predefined locations: Arlempdes Castle (Arlempdes/Vielprat), Lac du Bouchet (Cayres/Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas), Cussac-sur-Loire (banks of the Loire). Brives side), Coubon (Le Chambon), the fortress of Polignac, Saint-Paulien (Le Versonne), the castle of Saint-Vidal, Saint-Vincent (Le Breuil), the Electric in Vals-près-Le Puy and Vorey (Brigols).
With nearly 50 hot air balloons from all over Europe, the spectacle should be there this weekend, around the most beautiful places in the Vella region.
More information. To find out the departure locations, you must go to the website www.mev43.fr. The precise locations are announced one hour before takeoff.
Guillaume Chorin
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