（４６６） ａ ｄｏｇ ｉｎ ａ ｈｏｔ－ａｉｒ ｂａｌｌｏｏｎ （２）
文字数 3,599文字
In this chapter, I'll tell you about my ride in a hot-air balloon.
At Koga Kubo Park, the Koga Balloon Club is holding hot-air balloon test rides only during the Koga Peach Festival (3/16-3/31).
The club usually flies hot-air balloons at Watarase Reservoir, which is located on the opposite bank of the Tone River, 5 kilometers away from Koga Kubo Park. The direction of flight of a hot-air balloon is dependent on the wind. The area of Watarase Reservoir is 8,588 hectares (383 times that of Koga Kubo Park), so hot-air balloons can land within Watarase Reservoir area.
On the other hand, the area in which hot-air balloons can be launched is limited at Koga Kubo Park, so it's not possible to leave the hot-air balloons to the wind. For this reason, during hot-air balloon test rides at the Koga Peach Festival, the hot-air balloons are tied to the ground with ropes to prevent them from leaving the park. The flight altitude is not very high, and the flight time is 4 minutes.
I'm an excellent guard dog, so if there's someone I don't know and I sense danger, I'll keep barking. Mom and Dad thought, "as the ride is only 4 minutes long, Merci can handle it even if she keeps barking.''
A hot-air balloon generally consists of a bulb, a burner, and a basket.
The lower part of the bulb is open. At the top of the bulb, there is a "parachute panel" that can be opened and closed. A hot-air balloon uses a burner from below to heat the air as it rises, then lowers a parachute panel at the top to release the heat before descending.
① A hot-air balloon has come into view.
② I was held in Mom's arms and boarded the hot-air balloon.
③ The burner lit up and the hot-air balloon began to rise.
④ We're going up and up.
⑤ I'm looking at the ground.
⑥ You can see the field. People look smaller.
⑦ Furthermore, the balloon rose and reached the highest point.
⑧ You can see the Nikko mountain range.
⑨ You can see Mt. Tsukuba.
⑩ This is the balloon seen from the basket. You can see the burner on the right and the "parachute panel" in the center. From now on, the staff will lower the "parachute panel" and descend.
⑪ The hot-air balloon began to descend.
⑫ The wind is blowing.
⑬ The basket tilted, and Mom switched her hand to the left pillar.
⑭ The balloon is shaking a little.
⑮ In no time, we reached the ground. The staff members are putting their hands on the basket.
⑯ The wind is blowing again. The staff members are desperately trying to hold down the basket to prevent the hot-air balloon from going up.
⑰ The basket is too tilted!!
⑱ The wind has gone, and and the basket has returned to a straight position.
⑲ I’ve returned to the ground safely.
⑳ The next passengers have boarded, so we’ll disembark. When the basket gets lighter, the hot-air balloon rises, so we have to disembark after the next passengers get on board.
㉑ The basket door is closed, and the next passengers are ready to take off.
㉒ It was a little chilly while descending, but it was a lot of fun. Somehow, I forgot to bark!!
㉓～㉖ are explanations of hot-air balloons. ㉓ is a hot-air balloon just before takeoff.
㉔ This is a hot-air balloon that has risen a little.
㉕ This is a hot-air balloon that has risen considerably. The slack in the rope connecting the hot-air balloon to the ground has been reduced.
㉖ This is a hot-air balloon that has reached its highest point. The rope is taut.
㉗ There is a panel for commemorative photos of Yoshitsune (義経) and Shizuka Gozen(静御前).
㉘ I am Shizuka Gozen.
㉙ I am Yoshitsune.
㉚ This is the boarding certificate I received.
At Koga Kubo Park, the Koga Balloon Club is holding hot-air balloon test rides only during the Koga Peach Festival (3/16-3/31).
The club usually flies hot-air balloons at Watarase Reservoir, which is located on the opposite bank of the Tone River, 5 kilometers away from Koga Kubo Park. The direction of flight of a hot-air balloon is dependent on the wind. The area of Watarase Reservoir is 8,588 hectares (383 times that of Koga Kubo Park), so hot-air balloons can land within Watarase Reservoir area.
On the other hand, the area in which hot-air balloons can be launched is limited at Koga Kubo Park, so it's not possible to leave the hot-air balloons to the wind. For this reason, during hot-air balloon test rides at the Koga Peach Festival, the hot-air balloons are tied to the ground with ropes to prevent them from leaving the park. The flight altitude is not very high, and the flight time is 4 minutes.
I'm an excellent guard dog, so if there's someone I don't know and I sense danger, I'll keep barking. Mom and Dad thought, "as the ride is only 4 minutes long, Merci can handle it even if she keeps barking.''
A hot-air balloon generally consists of a bulb, a burner, and a basket.
The lower part of the bulb is open. At the top of the bulb, there is a "parachute panel" that can be opened and closed. A hot-air balloon uses a burner from below to heat the air as it rises, then lowers a parachute panel at the top to release the heat before descending.
① A hot-air balloon has come into view.
② I was held in Mom's arms and boarded the hot-air balloon.
③ The burner lit up and the hot-air balloon began to rise.
④ We're going up and up.
⑤ I'm looking at the ground.
⑥ You can see the field. People look smaller.
⑦ Furthermore, the balloon rose and reached the highest point.
⑧ You can see the Nikko mountain range.
⑨ You can see Mt. Tsukuba.
⑩ This is the balloon seen from the basket. You can see the burner on the right and the "parachute panel" in the center. From now on, the staff will lower the "parachute panel" and descend.
⑪ The hot-air balloon began to descend.
⑫ The wind is blowing.
⑬ The basket tilted, and Mom switched her hand to the left pillar.
⑭ The balloon is shaking a little.
⑮ In no time, we reached the ground. The staff members are putting their hands on the basket.
⑯ The wind is blowing again. The staff members are desperately trying to hold down the basket to prevent the hot-air balloon from going up.
⑰ The basket is too tilted!!
⑱ The wind has gone, and and the basket has returned to a straight position.
⑲ I’ve returned to the ground safely.
⑳ The next passengers have boarded, so we’ll disembark. When the basket gets lighter, the hot-air balloon rises, so we have to disembark after the next passengers get on board.
㉑ The basket door is closed, and the next passengers are ready to take off.
㉒ It was a little chilly while descending, but it was a lot of fun. Somehow, I forgot to bark!!
㉓～㉖ are explanations of hot-air balloons. ㉓ is a hot-air balloon just before takeoff.
㉔ This is a hot-air balloon that has risen a little.
㉕ This is a hot-air balloon that has risen considerably. The slack in the rope connecting the hot-air balloon to the ground has been reduced.
㉖ This is a hot-air balloon that has reached its highest point. The rope is taut.
㉗ There is a panel for commemorative photos of Yoshitsune (義経) and Shizuka Gozen(静御前).
㉘ I am Shizuka Gozen.
㉙ I am Yoshitsune.
㉚ This is the boarding certificate I received.
