Word: balloonfuls
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...party of fiscal responsibility. Yeah, there's a war and a recession to fight, but Republicans fret that when Bush opens the door slightly to a deficit, the Democrats will open it wider to pour in money for all their spending programs. The budget deficit could balloon and GOP congressmen would catch as much heat for the red ink as the Democrats...
When I signed up for a hot air balloon tour of Australia's Hunter Valley, famed for its wines, I had visions of a romantic Loire Valley-style adventure transplanted Down Under: festively colored, majestic balloons awaiting me with jets of golden flame roaring into their bellies and liveried waiters serving flutes of champagne. But this is no-frills, no-nonsense Oz, after all, and visitors to the valley can expect, instead, 4:30 a.m. wake-ups for the predawn launch, a dress code of jeans, caps and collared shirts to protect heads and necks from the heat...
...sudden roaring blast of the burners shatters the morning peace, as our pilot John forces the balloon higher. By now, a brilliant sun has burned off the early morning chill. We sail over Cessnock, an old mining town laid out like a chessboard, as a 75-carriage coal train snakes through the countryside. Another blast and we lift to 300 m. From that height we can see a 40-km stretch of the valley?a lush strip running east to west. To the north flows the mighty Hunter River and on the southwestern horizon rises the magnificent Brokenback Range. Tawny...
...Back at Balloon Aloft headquarters we finally get our champagne, as we toast the success of our 30 minute ride. It's only 8 a.m., plenty of time still for a country breakfast of bacon, eggs and freshly brewed coffee, the better to prepare for a day of rambling in the vineyards or touring wineries to sample some of the fine vintages the Hunter has to offer...
...want to experience the Hunter Valley from aloft, book Balloon Aloft's $250- per-person tour at (61-2) 4938-1955 or www.balloonaloft.com...