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(Message started by: Hirvimaki on Oct 5th, 2004, 12:46pm)

Title: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (photos)
Post by Hirvimaki on Oct 5th, 2004, 12:46pm
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is underway here in Albuquerque. Lil'E and I went this past Saturday morning for the Mass Ascension (about 700 balloons). I snapped a few piccies that I thought I'd share.

http://www.textamerica.com/user.images.x/2/IMG_423802/_1004/T40410040744140.jpg

http://www.textamerica.com/user.images.x/2/IMG_423802/_1004/T40410040747320.jpg

http://www.textamerica.com/user.images.x/2/IMG_423802/_1004/T40410040748590.jpg

http://www.textamerica.com/user.images.x/2/IMG_423802/_1004/T40410040752110.jpg

http://www.textamerica.com/user.images.x/2/IMG_423802/_1004/T40410040758130.jpg


There are more piccies on my Moblog (http://hirvimaki.textamerica.com/) if you care to check them out. I'll prolly add more in a few days.

Enjoy.

Hirvimaki

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by Jeepgun on Oct 5th, 2004, 12:52pm
Beautiful! We're getting ready to have a hot air balloon festival here, too. :)

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by john_d on Oct 5th, 2004, 1:23pm
very cool!  :)

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by Charlie on Oct 5th, 2004, 6:30pm
Very purdy.  Thanks.

I want a ride.

Charlie

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by broomhilda on Oct 5th, 2004, 6:40pm
Oh that looks so pretty and fun!!! Wish I could be there, thanks for all the pics!!!!!

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by Tiannia on Oct 5th, 2004, 6:53pm
I miss the one from Reno. The Dawn Patrol was amazing to watch every year.  Have to look for some pics.

http://www.photoexplorations.com/POD/030906.jpg

http://www.iisi-usa.com/imgs/mainpage/RenoBalloonRace030906-dawnpatrol.jpg

http://www.garlic.com/~lta2sum/foto/dawn-dj.jpg

And here is a site that talks about the baloons and the race itself.
http://www.garlic.com/~lta2sum/dawn.htm

edit to add photos

-Tia

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by BlueMeanie on Oct 5th, 2004, 6:56pm
Love the pics Hirv. Thanks for posting.

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by nani on Oct 5th, 2004, 7:02pm

Quote:
We're getting ready to have a hot air balloon festival here, too
At your house Frank? Who's coming over - Jonny, Charlie, Don, Bob? [smiley=laugh.gif]  Seriously, though, great pics! I had just moved to Albq in 1972 - the first year of the fiesta. Except for the traffic problems, it gets better every year! :)

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by Karla on Oct 6th, 2004, 8:35am
My brother in law and his family lives in Alburqueque.  We have visited once and missed the wonderful balloons.  He keeps inviting us back to visit.  Next time it will be when the balloons are out and about!

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by Hirvimaki on Oct 6th, 2004, 8:42am

on 10/06/04 at 08:35:25, Karla wrote:
My brother in law and his family lives in Alburqueque...He keeps inviting us back to visit.  Next time it will be when the balloons are out and about!


You'll have to let me know when you get out this way since I have yet to meet another Clusterhead face-to-face. NM Clusterheads appear to be the skitish, shy type... :( What is up with that???

If you have never seen 700+ hot air balloons in the sky, it is worth the effort to get out here to experience it. And the typical day at the balloon park is: Mass Ascension at 7 am, watch balloons until 9 am, wine tasting until 7 pm. :)

Hirvimaki

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by nani on Oct 6th, 2004, 3:26pm

Quote:
NM Clusterheads appear to be the skitish, shy type...  What is up with that???
 Actually - I'm not at ALL shy - but skittish-yes. Sorry dude - I don't want you to take it personally, I'm just one of those people that does not set up meetings with internet friends. Actually - I've never had internet friends before now. You know you hear all these stories... (I'll PM you with the rest... ) :)

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by Jeepgun on Oct 6th, 2004, 3:41pm

on 10/05/04 at 19:02:36, nani wrote:
At your house Frank? Who's coming over - Jonny, Charlie, Don, Bob? [smiley=laugh.gif]



That would RULE!! :)

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by Hirvimaki on Oct 6th, 2004, 5:11pm

on 10/06/04 at 15:26:19, nani wrote:
I don't want you to take it personally, I'm just one of those people that does not set up meetings with internet friends...


No worries! I was not trying to single you out as the skitish one. There are actually quite a number of Clusterheads here in the ABQ area, but getting together with them is next to impossible. It was to them I was referring.  I've tried in the past, to no avail.

Perhaps some day I will get the chance...

Hirvimaki

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by Jonny on Oct 10th, 2004, 9:07pm
Hey Hirv,

Fill us in on what went on at the balloon thingy!

Something about a radio tower?

.......................jonny

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by nani on Oct 10th, 2004, 10:09pm
Smokey the Bear (may he rest in peace) a lovely balloon with a terrific personality perished today on a local radio tower. :( His three human guests (the pilot and two boys ages 12,14) survived and are only shaken up :) The wind can be a very dangerous thing...

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by Jonny on Oct 10th, 2004, 10:57pm
Thanks Nan,

I would have had a heart attack just looking down a 700 foot ladder......LOL

............................jonny

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by nani on Oct 11th, 2004, 12:09am

Quote:
I would have had a heart attack just looking down a 700 foot ladder
No shit -me,too - I saw video of the first kid - he got 2/3/ of the way down and a cherry picker got him. Rescue crews got the other two tethered before they had to start down. When the TV guy spoke to him he could barely speak...

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by Hirvimaki on Oct 11th, 2004, 9:25am
Nani, a fellow New Mexican, beat me to the punch. But here is a bit more info and the only photo I have of the Smokey balloon from this year:

http://www.textamerica.com/user.images.x/2/IMG_423802/_1011/T40410110620210.jpg


A 69-year-old Albuquerque balloon pilot says a shift in winds is to blame for an accident that forced him and two young passengers to shimmy down a 670-foot radio tower.

The accident Sunday morning came on the last day of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Bill Chapel says he held onto 10-year-old Aaron Whitacre and 14-year-old Troy Wells as the Smokey Bear balloon went into the tower.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene.

The trio then slowly made their way down during an incident that played out for more than an hour.

Rescuers met the three about 100 feet up the tower and secured them with safety gear. A Public Service Company of New Mexico bucket truck plucked Chapel and his two young passengers off the tower from about 50 feet off the ground.

Chapel calls the boys brave and says he's glad no one was hurt.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

Hirvimaki

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by Jonny on Oct 11th, 2004, 9:37am
Thanks Hirv dude,

One look down and my ass would have froze right where it was......LOL

Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Oct 11th, 2004, 9:47am
I just watched them interview the pilot and the two boys - talk about a couple of cool customers in those two kids.  The young one said he wasn't scared once he got onto the tower because he knew someone would rescue them then.

Think I'd be keeping both my feet on the ground after that one.


Title: Re: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (phot
Post by nani on Oct 11th, 2004, 10:21am
Thanks for all the details, Paul. My reply is one reason I never pursued journalism as a career. I don't get details down. :-[ The 10 year old said on the Today show that he's ready to go up again - his parents aren't so sure...



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