The Gas Balloon Launch

The Gas Balloons are all white (except for the one rebel yellow balloon) and they compete against each other by traveling the longest distance. Dennis remembers reading that one year a balloon went as far as Maine.
Unfortunately, the balloonist's worst fear happened - the winds picked up and it was too windy to take off.
We waited around until fairly late in the day, but the winds continued to blow and we finally called it a day around 8 pm.
This morning there was a 3 hour recap of the Balloon Fiesta on TV and I learned that the evening's activities had been cancelled, but this morning the balloons did take off. Also, this evening (Sunday evening), is usually the second most poular part of the fiesta so it will be interesting to see if the winds die down in time.
If I could sum up my first time experience at the fiesta I would describe it as enchanting. As we watched the balloons emerge from the darkness and into the air, we were all like little kids looking on in wonderment. How many times in your life do you have the chance to recapture that sense of awe you experienced as a little kid looking at all the unwrapped presents under the tree? That's what it felt like watching the balloons slowly come to life and rise into the air. It was like being with two football fields full of excited little kids on Christmas morning and you are one of them.
I highly recommend it.

Chainsaw Carving Competition

When I first read that a chainsaw carving competition would be held at the Balloon Fiesta, I could only imagine a group of lumberjacks competing to see how fast they could cut up a pile of logs. Also, I couldn't imagine why it would be held at the balloon fiesta.
It turns out that the competition is about ctreating works of art out of wood and the finished products are lovely.
I still can't figure out the connection to ballooning, but it was entertaining.

Midday Lull

The middle of the day brought a lull and lots of warm sunshine. After all the excitement of the launches, it was a good time to stroll almost a half mile of tents with food and every kind of balloon related item. As to the food - you can't imagine how many types of food can be served on a stick. A popular item was turkey legs, perhaps because you can eat and point with the same hand.

Peacefulness defined

Our Favorite Witch

Balloon Affectionatos

Moi in the middle with Camille and Dennis.

We Are Down There Somewhere...

The Zoo's Beautiful Entry

It can Get Surreal

The First Step in Getting Aloft

Bees Aloft

Cookie Break

The Bees From Brazil

These two bee balloons rose holding hands - and they did come from Brazil. Entries were from all voer the world, but were heavily represented by entries from the Southwest - where there is a lot of empty space to land a balloon.

Crowd Favorite

Surprise

Jack-in-the-box Waiting

More Balloons, Coming Up

Hearts Aloft

Next Row to Go!

From Directly Underneath

Shot from directly underneath the balloons, they look like Christmas ornaments.

Stars and Stripes

Next Line Ready to Go

Nemo Rising

Why it's called Fiesta

Photograper"s Heaven