Day 4 ( 3 in Off Fiesta park field ) Awaiting Visitation rights.

And off we go again.

 

I set the ( Pat Pending. TM. R. Registered awesomeness ) LINDSTRANDUSA.com GoPro Crown camera mount camera in place again today. I faced it backwards and at a higher angle. I also had a GoPro on the side.

 

The crown Cam caught a good lot of fun. The video is much more interesting and it will make a good video. Lots of balloons all over. The top coming down is good too. Good goodness.

 

Today's flight was novel to say the least. The upper winds were hauling and there was a box.. it just was not there when I got up to where it WAS. No.. It had fled. I was at the same altitude that other balloons who were heading North and I was going West. West not being in the cards today I decided it would be better to go down.. try to hook East and land in a nice big open area.

 

None of that happened. Descending... to not get knocked farther West I had to hurry a bit down. Going  between two other balloons.. Darth Vader and a Goldfish. Now why the Goldfish was chasing Darth I do not know nor am I asking.. but between them I did go.

 

We leveled out and followed Darth but he was veering off right and for some reason I was not following... lack of dark side force or Highperactive was on a toot.. who knows. We did get a nice straight line on a tiny corner just before the Paseo Del Norte roadway. Dropping over a few trees and missing a sapling we popped down nice as you please as the Goldfish rushed by in close chase of DV. How that story came out is still.. yes .. a mystery.

 

The crew were there before I could say .. howdee dooddeee and had me over and laid out sweet. We helped two other balloons lay out safely and cleanly then off we went. Stopping by the side of the road I switched vehicles and rushed off to work. No tailgate.. no fun.. just more free work.

 

Here are a few clipped shots from today.. some side some crown.. enjoy.

 

 Launching off the field....

Flyby.

Goldfish attack!

Rowwwww.... after Darth Vader.

Many Loons!

Top Out!

 

And down... The location of the mount protects the camera.

off to some other things.

Links I found.

 

Not going to the first place and New York.. wow....

 

http://www.neatorama.com/2013/10/07/The-10-Most-Dangerous-Places-In-New-York-City/#!k64TL

 

Yes.. Getting messages that reading your govt email is breaking the law.. can we please get a cup of sanity over here?

 

http://gizmodo.com/unpaid-members-of-the-nsa-probe-refuse-to-meet-because-1442071204

 

Supper awesome.. super big. super far out in the desert....

 

http://gizmodo.com/explore-the-very-large-array-the-massive-observatory-f-1441974023

 

Very cool information on rivers..

 

http://www.neatorama.com/2013/10/07/The-Origins-of-River-Names/#!k65ux

 

Go and do something!

 

 

Fiesta Day 2. Long and winding road.

And it was. First we would go one way then the other way. It was wonderful to have such soft winds, though we did get up to 11 mph at one point..it was in no ways a direct line or even a twisty route. Up, down all around. 3 dimensional sailing. If I picked a landing spot and found a wind going that way as soon as I would setting the balloon into it, it would change. But we did have a great flight and we did land softly into the hands of our loving crew. Granted I had to spiral up about 300 feet then "Lawn Dart" it in with a directly down 600 foot a minute descent... Looking directly down when your dropping at that speed is a little stomach twisting. But I had control with the dual burners. The crew just grabbed up out of the sky.

So.. today I was going to talk about the LindstrandUSA GoPro camera mount.  It sits right at the top of the balloon envelope attached to the crown ring. It worked great. The camera sat tightly and it didn't wobble. I do think I need to set it looking up a little more. It worked exactly how it was supposed to and very secure. Here are some clips from the video....


Here I am talking to Kelley about the mount. Rory looks on. nick is on the end of the crown line and Andrew, Kelly Husband is cut off LOL. Nice view.

Standing up at last. The red cable is the camera mounts safety teather. Not needed as the LindstradUSA pad mount was secure. Puffy crown.

Off we go. All the balloons are ahead and behind. A dual camera or triple camera mount might be very interesting.

The Sandias!

The water treatment plant just over the right of the balloon. Looking for a place to light. Very hard.

After out descent.. pulling the crown down to let out all the hot air.

Nick and Andrew pulling the crown line and balloon down. Wayyy down there.

So for a mount for the GoPro or pretty much any camera the LindstrandUSA Crown Mount is perfect! I am going to put the camera up tomorrow. The mount can stay up there as the mount is all pad and fabric. The camera itself is Velco Strapped So it comes off and on easily. The video should be cool as soon as I have time to process it.

Two days of Fiesta... Both excellent. Wonderful crew were there and very athletic too....!!!

Here are a few links...

Music... from the other side.... Not bad...

http://www.neatorama.com/2013/10/06/Sweet-Child-o-Mine-on-Ghuzeng/#!k4Bfe

Massive beer chart... How you relate to the beer you drink..LOLOL

http://lifehacker.com/this-massive-beer-chart-guides-you-to-a-great-drink-an-1440894861

A wooden Vespa.. I think I could afford a cardboard Vespa...

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/another-look-at-the-stunning-fully-functional-wooden-vespa

Excellent. lost episodes!! Who?

http://www.neatorama.com/2013/10/06/Long-lost-Doctor-Who-Episodes-Found/#!k4A7K

Off to go look at the photographs I took while flying today.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Day 1

What a day!

What looked to be a un-flyable ( for me ( over 8kts ) really ) day turned out with a little waiting to be most excellent. I wanted to fly a friend of my Dads and if it was fast I wouldn't be able to.... but it calmed down quite a bit so I was able to make someone very happy.  Oh and she was too... We launched with only one hitch.. I forgot to release the tether on lift off.. we did not really go far. Just about to taxi out..stopped and then got off the ground smoothly. The ascent was great but the winds were very variable. Since ballooning is something like 3 dimensional sailing you watch for winds going the way you want to go... but it was like a slow speed rapids with stacking. You could see balloons around you going every which way. You could not guarantee that you would get the same direction some one else was. So it was hit or miss.. working with what you had and that meant changes.

I think I called the chase crew four of five times on the radio to tell them where I thought I was going to land. Nothing was going the way I wanted but what I had was usable. So I used what I had to avoid the power lines and other balloons and land us right on the frontage road and into the hands of my Son and some nice people who love to catch balloons. The crew were there and there then there..lol. On our final I was watching two other balloons on the right of me come across to the left of me.. I was going straight! Crazy. But fun as all get out. I did take pictures while I was flying .. and few below... and both video cameras worked great. So now I have lots of things to play with.

I am batch processing the pictures as we speak.. then I have to send a "clear" one to a friend then I will post them here.

Hang on a sec....


Dawns glow.

Up and over.

Balloon Museum Traffic.

Darth to the right of me.

In the way.

No editing or processing. Ill get to that later.

Albuquerque.... Breaking bad. I have not watched a show but ... Albuquerque

http://www.neatorama.com/2013/10/04/Walter-White-in-Albuquerque-Newspaper/#!kZ6MZ

The Shutdown is going to affect more and more.

http://gizmodo.com/11-tech-and-science-programs-being-killed-by-the-govern-1441333719

Um....... no comment...

http://www.neatorama.com/2013/10/05/Furloughed-Employees-Secret-Message-Please-Pay-Us/#!kZ6dP

Chocolate Chip!!!! Hahahahahaha

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/20-unintentionally-literal-pictures-that-might-surprise-you

Day 3. Desperately short of water.

Its day 3 or Registration and also Albuquerque Aloft! We went out to Emerson Elementary to stand up the balloon but it was so windy we didn't even try to get the basket out and to some candlestick burns. The children were great. had a lot of fun talking to them and I handed out every coloring page I had. I think about 150 cards that Fiesta supplied. In all my voice is a little strained. Or I should say my throat is a bit sore.

 

We went to breakfast after but by the time I had my coffee I had to get going. See, the earlier I get to work the faster those 8 hours I am required to put in get done. Next week is going to be pure hell. I only hope I can get off the field early and land after an hour.. race to work. These blogs my become very brief. depends on how tired I am at the end of everyday and how much I have to do to get ready for the next day.

 

it is saddening that I am not on leave for this one as it does not exist. I fueled the truck. going to load the cooler. set base camp near the back gate. Hopefully the pack animals can be found we will have something to eat in the morning. Until then we will stay warm, wait for sunrise, try to get ready for more oxygen. or atmosphere... or in the AIR!

 

Some wide’s for you to look at.

 

Towering!

up Up UP!

Pennant Skies

Chained.

Diamonds.

Likeable links.

 

 I need my pizza!!!

 

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/5-of-the-most-creative-uses-of-quadrotors

 

Ohhhh.. Train... and Art... what could be wrong with that...

 

http://gizmodo.com/tour-the-art-train-that-traveled-from-new-york-to-oakla-1440854448

 

I can already thing of four ways immobilize these before they come in any type of contact... move on....

 

http://gizmodo.com/russias-unstoppable-terminator-is-now-even-more-deadly-1429947736

 

Well the big bang theory was wrong!!! Oh so disillusioned.. hahahahaha

 http://www.neatorama.com/2013/10/04/Woman-is-the-REAL-Siri/#!kVo8P

Nincompoop's!

Day 2 of Registration. I wanted to be there but since the truck battery died this morning it took me longer to get to work and so I will not be getting off in time to do that and get the battery checked. It was on a trickle charger. I am hoping it can hold through Fiesta. NOPE! I had to get a new Fiesta Battery. yes.. it came out of my pocket. Also... every road if full of total IDIOTS! One winner just HAD to stop right next to a fender bender in an intersection. No reason.. just stopped dead. TOTAL and yes I am going to say it.. MORON! Be aware out there.... Its Stupid on wheels.

 

Tomorrow we are standing up at Emerson Elementary, North of Gibson and West of Louisiana. I already had a call from the Principal who is very excited. I called back and left a message that we were excited too. If its too windy to inflate the balloon.. I plan on sitting there and burning for an hour for the kids. Show them the difference between burners, whisper and main blast valve in sound and radiated heat. Plus teach them as much as possible about the aspects of ballooning.

 

I also have about 100 coloring hand outs so the kids can color in their own racer type balloon with information on it too. We did a stand up there last year and the kids and teachers were fantastic.

 

After that I will be heading to propane and then to work. Since I have a flexable daily schedule I will be working from 10ish to 6ish. I used to work that when I first moved here. It was a good schedule to get the kids to school and make work on time. Well..There ya go.. The show must go on. I expect to be near exhaustion and lack of whats left of my hair come the end but hopefully I can take some leave when the govt in DC gets back to work. Maybe a week.... Maybe Thanksgivinng.

 

I posted some shots of registration on my facebook site and here are some that I had some fun with.

 

The Beginning

AAAA

Awesome Volunteers Ala Pink!

75 Feet!!

Goin to the TOWER!~

Far from home?

Oh.. it feels like it already!

Links

10% off.... Can we get some of that over here? I think it should be more than double.

 

 http://www.neatorama.com/2013/10/02/DC-Businesses-Respond-to-Government-Shutdown/#!kRbKL

Its round and purple and freakin cool. Good job to the designers.

 

 http://geekologie.com/2013/10/the-worlds-first-inflatable-transportabl.php

Yeah.. NO.... not a darn thing seems to move.. its like a movie set.

 

 http://gizmodo.com/explore-the-ghostly-cityscapes-of-north-korea-in-this-c-1440744942

 

Balloons and planes and artificial Islands... Oh such ideas....

http://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/the-artificial-islands-that-would-have-let-us-leapfrog-1440394911/@barrett

Registration! El Fiesta!

Starting at 0530 this morning and ending at 1930 at the house... and at 2020 I am sitting down. Whew. Registration was excellent... Thanks Elisa.. great job again. Quick... right through.. enough time to chat..

Can I get a camel or small burro to carry the water? I really liked the water and I drank two before I left the tent... LOL... And yes!! Its all water weight...

For those that do not know.. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta's Pilot registration started tonight at 5pm. I got there a bit early to take pictures and get in the way. Then I snuck back out to stand in line. Its a massive amount of fun. So tonight's blog is going to be short. I have ( Invader Zim voice ) Many Things To Do!!! and zip time to do them in. So .... anyone expecting a clean house and a weed free yard.... So sorry... no time. You will find a clean bed and bath and food around somewhere... but dusting... and getting past the crazy tree/bush thing at the front gate... well we don't have Sherpa's either so your on your own. Make base camp near the post box and shoot off a flare.. or text. Your choice.

Here are some pics if they come out....

 Pilots Registration before the crowds.

This is a Pibal which will be spaced around the field to tell the Pilots where 75 feet is ( its not at 75 feet yet ). No going below until over the scoring area. Not the bottom of the balloon.. the top of the red balloon.

 Captain Spectacular and moi... Snarking it up with our awesome table sigh... ala Elisa! LOLOL

Things to do.... Banners for basket... tags for propane.. tags for launching... tags for baggies.. Even a tag for the Pilot... what we need is a .."If this person seems lost..check card and point in right direction" sign.

Okay.. I have to get up early tomorrow morning.. so I will try and put up a few links.... Tomorrow.. Work.. Field if possible and shopping for crew victuals.

Well since the Govt closed and everyone is furloughed the Navy had to stop where they were and get off the ships... well.. Oops..

http://gizmodo.com/this-giant-submarine-destroying-a-city-street-is-actual-1440279930

I am not sure this is a good idea or a bad idea... Its very worrying that a lake has changed location due to the bulge..

http://gizmodo.com/miners-want-to-ignite-an-inferno-deep-beneath-wyoming-1440318037

I was asked today what my next type editing was going to be for 2014... Since I am beating the heck out of Polars... maybe....

http://gizmodo.com/shooting-challenge-blurred-backgrounds-1440076246

I never knew and wow... I know who creates art that is way over the top amazing too...

http://gizmodo.com/how-a-screenprinting-nun-changed-the-course-of-modern-a-1412576274

I am off to pass out. Tomorrow only has 24 hours and I need 36 per day. Thanks...

Saved again!

Well, since last evening we have been dealing with insanity here. So close to Fiesta and the water heater blows! Water everywhere and soaked carpets and water everywhere! So remembering what our good friend, fellow balloonist and all around amazing plumber / ac man I turned the heater off, ran the hot water...showers... washer run... water tap off... call Greg in the evening!! One shop vac and a load of towels later it was drying out. All the water was out of the tank and stopped making my hallways a lake.

Greg got over here lickity split and with my son swapped out the heater with a fantastic new one. The old one was a beast and probably used a massive amount of gas to heat it and keep it hot. New.. no... old rusty, smelly, and probably 20 gal usable tank.. Nice new 40 gal fresh, clean and efficient water heater. YAY! If you need someone you can trust call Greg... if you need his number... email me. Twice now he has been there and done an excellent job. Its funny but I open the door just to look at the heater.. LOL.. like its going to disappear.

Well whew... what a day.... again.. not like yesterday but not what you would say something I would like to repeat. Prayers answered.

Here are some cool shots I stretched out.


Stratos mosey...

Snickers.

Racing Checks.

Solar sail.

Bagging it.

Up and over.

Volunteers.

The last one was a one handed shot over the side of the basket from up on high of some of the volunteers at Fiesta Park.

Let me go look for some links...

Fresh install win 8.. nice post for such creations.

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-create-custom-windows-8-install-and-refresh-disc-1433371693

One Upped!!! America has the Bait Car.. England has the BAIT HOUSE that sprays you... LOLOL

http://gizmodo.com/fully-furnished-fake-houses-in-uk-run-solely-to-trap-bu-1429599161

Lock it down... lock it down NOW!! Or... well.. I'm far too boring to have someone look at my old posts.

http://gizmodo.com/how-to-lock-down-facebook-privacy-now-that-old-posts-ar-1431103763/@whitsongordon

A nice lens needy kinda thing... yes.. you want one.. yes you do....

http://www.gizmag.com/camera-lens-buying-guide/29141/