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WBCCI Balloons Over Region XI Rally October 4th - 8th |
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Fall is in the air and Maxwell is packed-up and ready to go off to the "Land of Enchantment"
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Gotta love those big New Mexico skies! |
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If you have never been to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta we would strongly encourage you to put this on your "gotta do" list. It is a special treat that pictures just can't capture...the sights, the sounds, the chill of the early morning air at sunrise...just wonderful! Nothing like it! |
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The first morning we arrived at the balloon park as the balloons were beginning to lift off...awesome! Over 1000 balloons take off in several waves constantly for about an hour. Then it was down to the field... |
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Balloons in every shape & color...from all over the world....
The overall experience is unforgetable...the excitement in the air, the gentle rustling of the balloons in the morning breeze, the ever-changing visual effect against the New Mexican blue sky, the sound of the propane and launch teams with their whistles...even the smell of the dew-laden grass and vendors booths accented the chilly morning air...very sensual!
Colors & light...
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Some of the balloon teams go all out...with matching balloons, jackets & chase vehicles...
...and then there were the baskets!
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Sorry to bore you with so many pictures....really, I'm only showing my favorites! There are so many cool ones I'm not showing...if you don't like them, click away! On the otherhand...if you want copies of any of these images in a larger format, drop me a line via email & I'll send you the full-size images ~
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Up, up and away! |
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The second morning we arrived before sunrise...because Laura & I were going to take a balloon ride!!! This may not seem like such a big deal, but I am petrified of heights! So this was going to be a big challenge....if it wasn't for my dear friend's encouragement, I never wouldn't have done this...thanks Laura! I LOVED it!!! |
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The balloon arrived on the field...and then the set-up began! |
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The basket & balloon |
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Chilly sunrise...but beautiful! There were two groups of nine for the balloon ride...we were in the second group. So we pretty much watched the preparations on the field. |
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First they fill the balloon with air...
...then heat it with propane to give it lift.
Nah...I don't look scared...do I? |
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All aboard! |
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There they go! Now the chase begins... |
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The balloon pretty much goes with the wind currents. The chase crew is in radio contact with the pilot and trying to predict where they will touch down. This vacant lot looks like it'll do...
Here they come!
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Now it's our turn... It's lift-off time! Up, up & away.... |
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...we're off! |
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The things that amazed me most were 1) how quiet it was, 2) how calm it was because you are moving with the wind it doesn't seem windy at all and 3) I wasn't scared! And most of all how gorgeous it was from up above!
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The funny thing is, when you are up you see the same balloons because you are all traveling together...in that regard, there are many more photo ops from the ground. |
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Here's our trusty pilot...we got up over 2,000 feet above the ground. |
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A funny thing I noticed in the air is you don't see as many ballons as when you are on the ground because you are all travelling together as a pack...so you can only really see those around you.
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35 miles later, our landing spot is in sight...
...and our travel-mate's landing below...easier to photo!
The balloon ride was definately the highlight of the rally...I would love to do that again! |
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One evening there was a teathered lift-off at the racetrack, they called it an "afterglow"...the colors were phenominal! But really hard to capture with a camera in the dark...
...the flames only shoot on for a couple of seconds and you don't know which ones are going to go off next... so I only captured a few of them... |
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| This our first Regional Rally and
all in all we weren't really impressed...lots and lots of
people, I think over 200 trailers in all! That part was
cool, but generally the rally itself was a bit too much pomp
& circumstance for our tastes. The rally was held at the
Albuquerque State Fairgrounds and the layout was very spread out
and not very conducive to"hanging-out". We were fortunate
enough to park by some Denver friends though.
All that was fine, we were there for the Balloon Fiesta anyway!
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This was our maiden voyage with our "new to us" Yukon...It did GREAT! The Jeep never would have made it. We did much better on the passes...no more "30-mph uphills"! |
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