[Leica] Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

[leica at jayburleson.com (Jay Burleson)]

Magnificent, Aram!
The year I lived in Albuquerque during a college stint, it was raining / 
snowing the whole weekend for that years fiesta. Really wish it'd been 
nice, I was all set to go see it.

Jay

On 10/20/2015 1:30 PM, Aram Langhans 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