Probably any hot air balloonist asks the same question: Will my balloon fly today or not? Up ’til now, we’ve had little experience with hot air balloon launches, fiestas, flights, etc. But Balloon Fiesta 2014: Spirit of the Winds changed all that.
Waiting to see which ones will fly: Balloon Fiesta 2014, Albuquerque NM
In an enormous field in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from October 4 to 12, balloonists and watchers asked the same question: Will it fly? Here are a couple that did . . . and a couple that did not!
Did Fly!
Humpty Dumpty filled right up, sucking in enough hot air necessary to puff up and fly! Even upside down, he was ready for lift-off, cheered on by a supporting crowd of students out of school on holiday and their parents who were kids for the day!
Filling Humpty with hot air: Will he fly?
And up Humpty goes.
And Humpty takes off — Balloon Fiesta 2014!
Yes, even cows fly as this entry named Airabelle from Creamland joins the skies — up, up, up and away!
Cows fly, too!
Didn’t Fly
But, alas, not all balloons ascended. A big, brown sailing ship — one of the largest balloons on the field — struggled just to right itself.
Aiming the heat to fill the sailing ship balloon at Balloon Fiesta 2014
And then it just “hung out” with the crowd while its buddies took to the skies.
Just moving with the wind, but not lifting off. No sailing for this ship today.
Even filled with hot air and in the upright liftoff position, Yoda never made it beyond the field. Didn’t matter. He owned that field!
May the Force be with you!
May the Force be with you next year, my friend.
Early morning balloon rise at Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2014
For more information on the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2014, click here.
Want to help name Balloon Fiesta 2015? Click here to submit your idea!
For more entries in A Word a Week Photo Challenge: Fly, check out Sue Llewellyn’s blog A Word in Your Ear. You’ll be flying high!
Photography Journal Blog
I love Humpty Dumpty and Yoda, what a great collection of balloons.
Oh, the Places We See
As soon as I can sift through the other thousand or so pics I snapped excitedly, I’ll write more. It really was a fantastic experience! Thanks for taking a look.
Wandering Iris
Oh Wow…..I have a Humpty Dumpty in my photo Archive! It sailed over my house a bunch of years ago! http://irisgreenwald.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/wordless-wednesday-23/
I love your photos of all the different balloons.
Linda Arthur Tejera
I’ve heard of this festival for years. What a fun thing! 🙂
Oh, the Places We See
It was a terrific experience. If I didn’t have so much work to catch up on this week, I’d share more pics. (I’ve got hundreds! 🙂
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Sherry Galey
Fun post!
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much. It was an even more fun event!
goannasnake
What fun. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much for reading! It was fun, and if you ever get a chance to go to the annual event, get there early. It’s worth it!
suzjones
I’d love to see that one day. I have read so much about it. 🙂
Great photos. Shame about Yoda though. 🙁
Oh, the Places We See
We had never seen this event either. But once we got out of bed and the crack of dawn and trudged the long way from the parking lot to the field, we were rewarded with a spectacular show! Have a great day!
Terry Farrington Frost
Humpty Dumpty is my favorite!
Oh, the Places We See
We loved Humpty, too! And if I ever get time to download more pics, there are some others I think you’ll like, too. Thanks for reading!
Shelley @Travel-Stained
Haha, these balloons are fantastic! Upside Humpty is hilarious.
Oh, the Places We See
There’s a lot of humor in these fun shape balloons, as they call them. I hope to post more in the future. So colorful — and many with a great sense of humor! Thanks for reading!
Curt Mekemson
Glad Humpty Dumpty didn’t fall. And the cow apparently jumped over the moon. Fun blog. Thanks. —Curt
Oh, the Places We See
So glad you liked the balloons. We were snapping pictures quickly, turning from one side of the field to the other trying to capture it all. I’ve always heard of this event, and if I lived closer, I’d be a regular!
Curt Mekemson
The event has been on our bucket list for a long time as well. But we haven’t made it yet. Yours is the second blog this year to remind us about what we are missing. –Curt
Amy
Wow, what a fun fly post! Must be a spectacular view when all the balloons taking off 🙂
Oh, the Places We See
Amy, this was truly one of our favorite all-time events. From the host of volunteers who made it all happen to the many balloonists who start pre-dawn to put on a great show, it was well worth leaving the hotel at 4:00 AM to see! Thanks for commenting!