Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/10/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Great set of photos of the festival. We have a somewhat smaller balloon festival here in Plano, TX. I missed it this year, but plan to attend next year. Gene On Tue, Oct 20, 2015 at 11:40 PM, Herbert Kanner <kanner at acm.org> wrote: > Outstanding! > > Herbert Kanner > kanner at acm.org > > Question Authority and the authorities will question you. > > > On Oct 20, 2015, at 1:30 PM, Aram Langhans <leica_r8 at hotmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > We just got back from our second Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. We finally > got > > to see the evening Glowdeo after the weather cancelled three last year > and > > on this year. 5th time is a charm. > > > > > > > > The day starts off with the Dawn Patrol, weather permitting. Get up at > 4:30 > > to get dressed, eat breakfast and then head out to the balloon launch > area > > from the campground. You are treated by the sights and sounds of > balloons > > getting ready. > > > > > > > > View them large if you like > > > > > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/Dawn+Patrol+Balloon+Fiesta-6448 > . > > jpg.html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/o5s3ecj > > > > > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/Dawn+Patrol+Balloon+Fiesta-6470 > . > > jpg.html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/q5m92ub > > > > > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/Dawn+Patrol+Balloon+Fiesta-.jpg > . > > html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/pwefsmy > > > > > > > > > > > > If the weather holds, then just before the sun rises, there is the mass > > ascension. Under the watchful eye of the field umpires, the balloons > begin > > to inflate and are directed skyward. The neat thing about this event is > > that the spectators are allowed to wander right out on the field amongst > the > > balloons. You can watch them lay them out, test their burners, inflate > and > > finally lift off. > > > > > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/AM+Ascension+Balloon+Fiesta-6513 > > .jpg.html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/ppzwnxe > > > > > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/AM+Assention+Balloon+Fiesta-5987 > > .jpg.html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/ndo6qol > > > > > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/AM+Assention+Balloon+Fiesta-6008 > > .jpg.html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/paon7fy > > > > > > > > Just mind the umpires when they tell you to move or you might get hit by > the > > gondola of an ascending balloon. > > > > > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/AM+Assention+Balloon+Fiesta-6224 > > .jpg.html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/q65s5u5 > > > > > > > > There are over 500 balloons and the launch area is over 61 football > fields > > in size. Sometimes they drift over the campground where my father-in-law > > decided to sleep in one morning. > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/AM+Ascension+Balloon+Fiesta-3683 > > .jpg.html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/qxc5tlc > > > > > > > > IF the weather is OK, they have competitions where balloonists compete > for > > prizes like cars and things. They come back over the field and drop > rings > > and bean bags at targets. Then it all shuts down after the balloons are > > launched, maybe 11:00. > > > > > > > > The Glowdeo starts close to sunset, and if the weather cooperates, > hundreds > > of balloons inflate, and anchored to the field, they fire their propane > > heaters with I am guessing low air, so the flames are yellow, and the > > balloons glow. As I stated above, this event was cancelled my first four > > times to see it. The last evening we were there this time, the weather > did > > not look promising, again. Too windy. But the winds calmed down so that > > many of the balloons did put on a show. And it was really a fun thing, > > wandering around through the crowds with the sounds and cheers. > > > > > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/Glowdeo+Balloon+Fiesta-3576.jpg > . > > html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/qx7n629 > > > > > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/Glowdeo+Balloon+Fiesta-6398.jpg > . > > html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/qg67pur > > > > > > > > Then the laser show begins > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/Glowdeo+Balloon+Fiesta-6406.jpg > . > > html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/o2xhd4d > > > > > > > > Followed by an awesome firework display. > > > > > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/Fireworks+Balloon+Fiesta-6425.jp > > g.html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/npnusjl > > > > > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/Fireworks+Balloon+Fiesta-6421.jp > > g.html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/nwx5ghc > > > > > > > > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Aram/f15/a/Fireworks+Balloon+Fiesta-6441.jp > > g.html > > > > http://tinyurl.com/okvaex6 > > > > > > > > Then everyone finds their way home and comes back the next day if they > like. > > > > > > > > Hope you enjoyed this rather long tour of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. > > Hope you can see it yourself one day. > > > > > > > > Comments welcome. > > > > > > > > Aram > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Aram Langhans > > > > (Semi) Retired Science Teacher > > & Unemployed photographer > > > > "The Human Genome Project has proved Darwin more right than Darwin > himself > > would ever have dared dream." James D. Watson > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >