Okay guys, so yesterday I got this stupid idea stuck in my head. Been hearing about weather balloons forever right? But have I actually seen one? Nope. So figured, let’s find out what these things really look like up there.
The Starting Point Was Obvious
Grabbed my phone first thing. Typed “weather balloon launch near me” like an idiot. Spoiler: nobody tweets real-time balloon locations. Found some agency schedule PDF – looked like tax forms. Useless.
Changing Tactics Fast
Scratched the online crap. Remembered local news sometimes reports launches. Called the weather station – got voicemail. Left a rant about chasing balloons. Radio silence. Typical.
Decided old-school beats new-school:
- Dug binoculars outta my camping gear
- Slapped on baseball cap and shades
- Drove out to the biggest open field in town
Sky Staring Marathon Begins
Plonked myself on the hood of my car. Scanned clouds for hours. Saw:
- A billion planes (stupid contrails)
- Weird bird formations
- Actual plastic bag floating at one point – got excited for nothing
Sun started roasting me. Almost packed up when bam – tiny white dot moving weirdly slow near the horizon. Not a plane. Not drifting like clouds. Held binoculars so hard my knuckles went white.
There It Freaking Was
Through the shakes? Perfect teardrop shape. Like a fat raindrop but glowing white against blue sky. Bottom looked messy – probably that instrument package dangling. Crazy how small it seemed from the ground! Like a dropped aspirin pill way up there. Watched till it vanished into sun glare.
Biggest Takeaways?
Firstly, they’re way harder to spot than I thought. Secondly, the shape’s dead simple – just a floating teardrop. Thirdly? Next time I do this, I’m bringing:
- Lawn chair
- Cooler with drinks
- Industrial-strength sunscreen
Would I recommend balloon spotting? Yeah – if you got patience to burn. Honestly feels like winning the damn lottery when you finally spot one. Later.