Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/10/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Gorgeous colors. Cheers, Nathan Nathan Wajsman Alicante, Spain http://www.frozenlight.eu <http://www.frozenlight.eu/> http:// <http://www.greatpix.eu/>www.greatpix.eu PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws <http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws>Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/ <http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/> Cycling: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator <http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator> YNWA > On 20 Oct 2015, at 22:30, 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