Balloon launch was mainly the traditional shaped balloons today due to mild winds. Winds to strong for cartoon balloons but okay for others. Worked for me because I was plaining to only post the traditional balloons today to show that even there are beautiful. The winds are also causing some problems in landing the balloons. This is my last full day here, leaving tomorrow so this may be my last blog of the fiesta. Hope anyone who read this enjoyed it.
Tag Archives: aviation
Balloon Fiesta Day Four “Morning” ( RV field )
Today was great for the balloon launching, but because we went to see the launch the other day today we stayed in the RV park to watch the landings. Form 6:30 until 9:30 give or take we were surrounded by balloons of all shapes and sizes. I had a hard time watching everything that was going on and sure I missed more then one “great photo” .. It was fun and interesting to watch the balloons come down around the rigs and land in the field. Sometimes it was the end of the flight and then again it may have been to trade passengers and go right back up. I really need to find a way to return next year and become part of a crew.. ( ground crew ) ….
Only took 435 photos today to bring my total to 807 so far and I am not done yet.
I am doing this blog early and will do a second one about today tomorrow. Tonight we go see the ” Special Shape Glowdeo” hoping my camera will be able to get the shots after dark. I seldom take photos at night because of my eyesight, have problems focusing at night..
Truth or Consequences
Today we departed City of Rocks SP, and drove to Caballo Lake state Park. If looking at a map of New Mexico we are just off the I-25 about 20 miles south of the city of Truth or Consequences. This month I am setting up the State Parks I will visit in rotation, do not plan to visit any parks up north until early Spring of 2014 so will just revisit the ones I have been to before in the southern and center of the state.
First thing I noticed is the water in the lake appears much higher the last year and all the green surrounding it is unreal. Also love my site, it is nice and big and lots of green around to screen out the sun…
After walking around I could see that yes the lake is fuller, but it is also full of things washed into it. How much time will it take for the water to settle and for the color to change?? I will see when I return again in early Nov… Right now it is a dirty brown with some black that looks to be charcoal ???? That has been washed into it.. Only here for five nights before moving up the road all of 50 miles to Elephant Butt Lake on Monday..
Day is ending so is this chapter of my blog..
City of Rocks SP NM
Departed Low Hi Ranch around 9:30 am, short shopping trip at Walmart in Deming and off we went to City of Rocks SP. Not sure of the miles but we made camp before noon. Internet works great, my phone works, Suzanne’s phone is on rome, however no television reception at all.. Guess we play Yahtzee again…
I like this park and even without TV I will return, this time around it seems we have the place almost to ourselves. When I walked the road that goes around I only counted six other sites taken. Will hike the outer rim train in the morning when it is cool…
Photos from first walk…
Goings on At Bottomless SP NM
Interesting events have taken place since last night when I last posted.. Went from only five or six sites being used to ten. A large group came in last might and took up five spaces because of the number of cars, tents, and trailers in the group. Talking to the camp host it seems only one or two sites had been reserved, folks did not read the contract about max number of tents, trailer, etc allowed per site and ended up having to get extra ones. Then this morning the Rangers had to stop and talk to them about keeping the sites clean ( a big mess when I walked by ) and to turn down the music ( could hear it across the lake )… I have to admit it is nice to know I am back in a place that enforces the rules…
Next I took a long walk around the park looking for anything to get a photo of. Once again all I could find was dragon flies, butterflies, and a lizard or two.. Oh some pretty flowers as well.. I guess most birds are still up north, better photo hike next visit..
Update to large group…..****** Ranger must have said something to them because the whole bunch have pulled out*****
Never seen that happen before… WOW!!!!! and so the day is now coming to an end…
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Less then a stellar welcome back to Oasis SP NM
Pulled into Oasis SP NM around 1pm 8/29/13. At first things looked good, will be setup and relaxing before 2pm. Then it happened, when we drove the car off the dolly something caught the front bumper and all but tore it off. Not a clue what happened we did it the same way we have been doing for months now, but something was wrong.. Had to call the insurance company and get the car into a shop on a “holiday weekend “.. To make a long story short had to drive the motorhome to the shop as well so that we had a way back. Why not get a rental you ask?? Ever try getting a same day rental the day before a holiday weekend??? Let me tell yah, the best I was able to do was get on a waiting list as number 10.. SO do have to say progressive did a great job finding us a shop and taken care of things so that we do have the car sitting at the shop waiting to get fixed. So now seeing $$$$$$$ flying away… LOL… had to put that in, but shit does happen… Just wish I knew what went wrong …
Brighter side of the coin, during our first morning walk we spotted an Owl and it had its catch of the day. I can not say what that catch was because I could not get a good look. So welcome back to Oasis SP…
Catch of the day
Road Trip into the past…. ( sort of )
Hooked up with Laura and Herb for a road trip to Virginia City MT. From what I have just finished reading this is a living town of about 150 year round residents . The locals have been playing host showing off this 1860’s gold mining town to visitors from around the world. The folks who take the time to visit walk down the same boardwalks once used by vigilantes. You can see inside many buildings that have been furnished with artifacts from that time to look much as there would have then.
Over 100 buildings are complete with artifacts and furnishings. The stagecoach, tour is available or you can tour on an old firetruck. At certain times of the week in summer months visitors can attend a live theater show, stay the night in historic lodging. Shop for gifts, or enjoy a meal.
All in all it was a fun day, we did the tour of the buildings ( not the stage or truck ) looked inside the shops, ( did not buy ) enjoyed a nice lunch and the company of friends.
Once again off grid and on again….
Now in Lander Wy at an RV park that claims to have WiFi access, only problem is you can not get it inside your rig. Right now the wind is blowing and it looks like it might rain, so I am not about to sit outside the office ( only place I can find that internet works. ) to get on. From now on when I pull into a place that “has” wifi I will check it out before paying… Staying at this location until July 1st, will take a day trip to Yellowstone and maybe a Casino…
Day 2 ( July 30 )
Road trip to Grand Teton NP and Yellowstone NP… Would have been a fun day except all four dogs got sick from a treat we gave them last night. Ended up cutting the trip short and oh so much fun cleaning up after three of the dogs lost it in the car. Did get some nice shorts of the trip prior to the fun..
Day 3 Last day of July 2013
Went to the local casino and played for about three hours, almost won…. LOL…
Decided to break camp early and go about 100 miles so that I do not have to do 300 tomorrow. Now in Worland Wy for the night. Tonight we have cable, phone, and internet.. Tomorrow we should be in Reed Point Mt, and stay put for three weeks.. Looking forward to relaxing and not driving for a few weeks…
Photos and review of Grand Mesa “ Island Lake Campground” Plus some..
First off the drive from Denver going west on I-70 is not fun… The drive was done in three stages, first was getting through Denver during the early morning rush hour, then we had the mountains to cross, we had a bit of trouble on some of it. The rig could only do 20mph at times so it was nerve racking to say the least. Third and finale stage was not bad until the last 35 miles when it went straight up hill to the camp ground.
Once in camp we found out our site was possibly the worse one as far as getting it level. I used all the equipment I own trying to get level, and we are still over a bubble off ( Head down ) also leans to right ( driver side ).. Then I find out this camp does not have a dump station so we will have to drive out to the road and pay $6.00 at an rv park to dump.. SO we have decided to only stay four nights not the two weeks.. Oh yah, no tele, internet, of phone in camp… Does not help.
Good news is it is a good place to hike so hoping to get some photos in the next few days.. DAY 1 Ends
Day 2 July 25th 2013
6am took dogs out for a walk, then made breakfast before taken my first morning hike in weeks, maybe months. I have to say this may be one of the best places to hike that I have been to in years. Did a hike down an ATV trail ( Grandy trail ) Spencer and I walked it for at least 45 min one way. Stopped to admire the beauty and get some photos. I do not feel any of my photos do justice to what I was seeing. Only turned around to come back because I did not know just how far the trail was and did not want to go so far that I would have problems coming back. Tomorrow Spencer and I will do the Island Lake trail.
Went to town ( cedaredge ) to see what it looked like and to get a few supplies. Do not think we will be going back, steep climb coming back to camp. Did get Phone connection to lat sisters know we will be out of contact for a few days..
Day 3 July 26th 2013
Took an early morning hike around Island lake. When I got back to the rig Suzanne and I had a talk and decided we both had enough ( no showers, unleveled site, no dump station ) and broke camp for unknown destination.
“Finale note about Island Lake CG”
If you know about the dump, water, and stay the hell away from site #5 it is worth staying three or four nights. The scenery is worth the time and effort but only for a short time… So if you plane on going be ready… Also should mention park does not have showers, and only chemical toilets.. Have fun…
Night of July 26th…
Found a nice little RV park still in CO, but city unknown.. “ River City” Still no internet but do have showers, water, and can dump our waste… Hope to find a place tomorrow for two or more nights.. Might even get to WY.
Last Day near a Big City for a spell [I Hope ]
Tomorrow we head for Grand Mesa Co. and the “Island Lake Campgrounds”. Will be camped at the lake for two weeks and do not know if we will have internet, phones, or television. Even so we are both looking forward to leaving this rv camp, it is nothing but an asphalt parking lot with water and electric. I will admit it was nice to get things done like fixing the flat, getting cheese, restocking food and finding items to finish projects.
Speaking of projects, I have been looking for something to use as a spice rack so we could get them out of the cabinets and into a place I can find what I want when I need it. To make a long story short, we are using three napkin holders as spice racks, looks more like speakers then racks but I think it will work..
Before adding racks
New Racks
Only other thing we did today was take all four dogs in to Pet Smart to have claws cut, and a shampoo and brush…. Okay Spencer did get a full groom, after all he is the oldest of the four not to mention the most fur and most tangles when not brushed..
Old boy Spencer looking good after grooming
The youngest, Rosie the Menace of the group
Miller the barker, barks at everyone, but is getting better
This is the baby ( smallest ) of the group… May have to start calling her fluffy now…
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