I was up at 5am to walk to Ashton Court to see the first mass ascent at Bristol Balloon Fiesta.

At 6am after weather conditions were deemed safe the balloons all began to inflate.

I rather liked the koala bear balloon.

I wandered about looking at the various balloons.

It really felt as though the panda balloon was looking at me!

Shaun the sheep was there!

I decided to find somewhere quiet to watch them float off into the distance.

A beautiful sight…

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta takes place every year in August.

Horace the Alresford Bear 22/8/26