Author Topic: HOT AIR BALLOONS - - - LIVE  (Read 4180 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Albuquerque Weather

  • Senior Contributor
  • ****
  • Posts: 265
    • Albuquerque Amateur Weather
HOT AIR BALLOONS - - - LIVE
« on: October 10, 2009, 08:37:50 AM »
Paste this link in your browser

mms://a739.l3309830738.c33098.n.lm.akamaistream.net/D/739/33098/v0001/reflector:30738

This is LIVE from CH4 TV . They do the mass launch at about 7am mtn time

Weather perfect
expect 550 balloons to launch

We are  lucky - flight path is right behind our house this am - so we have a hundred or so above us
« Last Edit: October 10, 2009, 02:54:01 PM by ABQWX »

Offline wxtech

  • Weather Equipment Technician
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 1698
  • USAF Weather Equipment Maintenance Tech (retired)
    • Lexington, Ga. Weather
Re: HOT AIR BALLOONS
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2009, 08:54:30 AM »
For some who don't know.  Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is the most photographed event in the world.  It runs from the 1st Sunday in October through the 2nd Sunday in October every year.  This year Oct 3 - Oct 11.  Starts before dawn, until - -.
Don't try to get hotel reservations for this event because all beds in Albuquerque are reserved for several years advance.  4AM traffic is a nightmare.  100,000 people get up and are on the field before dawn.
http://www.balloonfiesta.com/
It hosted daily launching of 1000 balloons each morning in 4 waves.  The air over Albuquerque is filled with color and people talking over your head.  They're so quiet that balloon to ground conversations are possible.
I owned a Dodge club cab truck in 1982 and had a balloon chase crew.  Been on other chase crews over the years.
In years past it also hosted a helium balloon long distance race cross country.  A dozen balloons went from NM to states north east or east and almost to the Atlantic.
It's a participant event.  No grandstands to sit in.  You walk amongst the balloons and help inflate them.  They'll give you a rope to hold on to and you help the pilot.  Coffee and fry bread for breakfast.  You can buy a ride.
I wish I were back in the Land of Enchantment.
« Last Edit: October 10, 2009, 08:58:56 AM by wxtech »
Al Washington, Lexington, Ga.,  NWS Coop station=LXTG1, Fischer Porter, SRG, MMTS. 
CoCoRaHS=GA-OG-1. CWOP=CW2074.  Davis VP2+ WLIP 5.9.2, VP(original) serial, VWS v15.00 p02. ImageSalsa, Win7 & Win8 all-in-one.

Offline Albuquerque Weather

  • Senior Contributor
  • ****
  • Posts: 265
    • Albuquerque Amateur Weather
Re: HOT AIR BALLOONS - - - LIVE
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2009, 01:20:24 PM »
Thx wxtech you summed it up right
The video went off line at end of launch but is back live now and you can see them getting ready.
Tonight is Balloon Glow.

Offline wxtech

  • Weather Equipment Technician
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 1698
  • USAF Weather Equipment Maintenance Tech (retired)
    • Lexington, Ga. Weather
Re: HOT AIR BALLOONS - - - LIVE
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2009, 01:32:42 PM »
Wow, you're at Montgomery & San Mateo, the busiest intersection in New Mexico.  Balloons everywhere today, I suppose.
I lived on Nob Hill, Hermosa Drive SE.
Al Washington, Lexington, Ga.,  NWS Coop station=LXTG1, Fischer Porter, SRG, MMTS. 
CoCoRaHS=GA-OG-1. CWOP=CW2074.  Davis VP2+ WLIP 5.9.2, VP(original) serial, VWS v15.00 p02. ImageSalsa, Win7 & Win8 all-in-one.

Offline Albuquerque Weather

  • Senior Contributor
  • ****
  • Posts: 265
    • Albuquerque Amateur Weather
Re: HOT AIR BALLOONS - - - LIVE
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2009, 02:03:37 PM »
LOL

Isnt it a sad state of affairs when you wakeup go outside and see this coming at you......

The link is live again and probably will be till end of tonights show. Which we are off to.
Balloon glow starts around 5.45pm mtn

Wouldnt swap it for anything ........
« Last Edit: October 10, 2009, 03:06:09 PM by ABQWX »

Offline JOE

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 390
    • Centralia IL Weather
Re: HOT AIR BALLOONS - - - LIVE
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2009, 11:03:28 PM »
Here's a couple shots from my town's balloonfest .  Every August for the last 20 years.









Joe
www.centraliaweather.com
DW1376
KILCENTR2
K9RJN


Offline Albuquerque Weather

  • Senior Contributor
  • ****
  • Posts: 265
    • Albuquerque Amateur Weather
Re: HOT AIR BALLOONS - - - LIVE
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2009, 09:10:55 AM »
Final day has been called off - due to high winds
BUT if you have pics why not post them

Offline wxtech

  • Weather Equipment Technician
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 1698
  • USAF Weather Equipment Maintenance Tech (retired)
    • Lexington, Ga. Weather
Re: HOT AIR BALLOONS - - - LIVE
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2009, 10:01:56 AM »
I have boxes of old balloon pics.  Just found these souvenirs from 1981 & 1982.  A 1982 Fiesta program book and a chase crew parking pass from 1981.
My last Fiesta was about 1998.  I moved to Ga in 2001.
Al Washington, Lexington, Ga.,  NWS Coop station=LXTG1, Fischer Porter, SRG, MMTS. 
CoCoRaHS=GA-OG-1. CWOP=CW2074.  Davis VP2+ WLIP 5.9.2, VP(original) serial, VWS v15.00 p02. ImageSalsa, Win7 & Win8 all-in-one.

Offline George Richardson

  • WxElement panel
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 1391
    • Smith Mountain Lake Weather
Re: HOT AIR BALLOONS - - - LIVE
« Reply #8 on: October 11, 2009, 01:10:03 PM »
My sister was my Mother's caregiver for the final 8 years of her life. That took a lot of worry from me. As a thank you, after our Mother passed, I gave my sister a Hot Air Balloon ride. While it was quite expensive, I will recommend the experience to anyone that can find the opportunity. I have uploaded several pictures if anyone wishes to see. Beware, they are 2 to 4 megs each so a slow view. I would suggest the picture given in the link but if you would like to see others, just substitute the number.

LINK =>  http://smlweather.com/Photos/IMG_1040.jpg

Picture numbers => 0969, 0972, 0975, 0984, 0993, 0997, 1000, 1002, 1009, 1015, 1021, 1023, 1027, 1034, 1036, 1047, 1054, 1057, 1061, 1065, 1068, 1072, 1074, 1075, 1077, 1081, 1085, 1086, 1090, 1091

Enjoy,

George

Offline Garth Bock

  • Table Rock Lake Weather
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 2745
Re: HOT AIR BALLOONS - - - LIVE
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2009, 10:16:04 AM »
Here's a couple shots from my town's balloonfest .  Every August for the last 20 years.


I didnt know Centralia had a balloon fest. Guess I need to get down state more often.

Offline lddaly

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 490
Re: HOT AIR BALLOONS - - - LIVE
« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2009, 10:38:57 AM »
Here's a couple shots from my town's balloonfest .  Every August for the last 20 years.


Plano celebrated their 30th year a few weeks ago. Good times! I forgot the camera though #-o and the cell phone cam just doesn't cut it.
http://www.planoballoonfest.org/fest-facts.html