Yes! For what now has been probably 30-35yrs, I have lived in the absence of horned toads. There was a time when I was a kid that we found them on a regular basis. Then for years I have not seen one.
From a friend, who turns out to be a bit of horned toad aficionado, I learned that there are some in New Mexico but they are not the Texas brand of toads. Emily saw a toad last summer in the Jemez while camping with the Grahams. It was her first sighting.
Sunday while I was walking back from a target at the shooting range a horned toad ran out right in front of me. I was very excited. It was smaller than the Texas toads I remember and its head was a totally different shape than the Texas ones. Wish I had a camera.
Turns out that there are about eight different species of Horned Lizards in North America. Sorta interesting to learn about the different Horned Toads. There is a Horned Lizard Society too...so check it out.
Showing posts with label New Mexico. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Mexico. Show all posts
24 June 2008
07 October 2007
Full Of Hot Air! ABQ Balloon Festival
The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Mass Ascension.
This is a small view of what was literally 100s if not thousands of balloons trying to lift off. We heard the number of balloons were near 7,000 that participated this year. Wow.
We got to the festival park and walked right up to this red balloon and watched as they prepared the balloon.
Then we watched it lift off and move into the mass of balloons heading south with the wind. With chase cars going to meet them when they land usually in ABQ itself.
The Little Bees
Joey and Lilly (l-r)
Their lift off brought cheers throughout the crowd. You could not miss their ascension if you can hear. :)
Later we realized it is not a given that you could get your balloon to lift off.
This is Darth Vader, from Belgium, who is making its USA debut right in front of us. Surprisingly depending on when you are allowed to start putting your balloon out then you may not get it to liftoff. Lord Vader was ready to go but the wind had picked up and the cool morning had warmed just a bit and they had to pack it back up literally right after this picture was taken. Too bad we were ready to go over and watch it ascend.
The Haunted Mansion too almost was ready to ascend but the wind and the amount of time and fuel it took to heat up the air in this huge balloon caused them to abort the liftoff. It too had to pack it in right after we took this picture.
Having to get up early and having a rough night at the hotel, More on the hotel later, we were a bit tried. It is about 9am but ALB was sleepy, cold, and congested. She was watching the Haunted Mansion while resting.
Stagecoach who also had trouble and did not ascend.
Not sure what this one is called. I call it Chickie. :)
Liftoff!
Let's watch a balloon get ready.
As we stood and watch them ready this balloon the Classic Car Show started coming by on the way to the parking area so that folks would have a chance to visit them after the mass ascension. Gwen got a lot of pictures with some real classics in them.
Liftoff !!!!!!!
It looks like he made it into the Ascension.
After all the balloons got up that could then we went back to the car and headed to the Aquarium for breakfast and a bit of fish watching. On the way there down in the southern part of town on Central Ave we watched as several balloons landed in parking lots and fields and so forth. Also there were a lot of chase cars driving around looking for their balloons. :)
We think Aunt TK, Marcia, and Rado Grandpa would really enjoy going to the Festival. Not that both Grandma's would not enjoy it but it is early, windy, and very cool. Not their usual cup of tea. If you are interested then you should start planning a trip here for next year. It is really cool.
More about breakfast and the hotel on the next post.
Mass Ascension.
This is a small view of what was literally 100s if not thousands of balloons trying to lift off. We heard the number of balloons were near 7,000 that participated this year. Wow.
We got to the festival park and walked right up to this red balloon and watched as they prepared the balloon.
Then we watched it lift off and move into the mass of balloons heading south with the wind. With chase cars going to meet them when they land usually in ABQ itself.
The Little Bees
Joey and Lilly (l-r)
Their lift off brought cheers throughout the crowd. You could not miss their ascension if you can hear. :)
Later we realized it is not a given that you could get your balloon to lift off.
This is Darth Vader, from Belgium, who is making its USA debut right in front of us. Surprisingly depending on when you are allowed to start putting your balloon out then you may not get it to liftoff. Lord Vader was ready to go but the wind had picked up and the cool morning had warmed just a bit and they had to pack it back up literally right after this picture was taken. Too bad we were ready to go over and watch it ascend.
The Haunted Mansion too almost was ready to ascend but the wind and the amount of time and fuel it took to heat up the air in this huge balloon caused them to abort the liftoff. It too had to pack it in right after we took this picture.
Having to get up early and having a rough night at the hotel, More on the hotel later, we were a bit tried. It is about 9am but ALB was sleepy, cold, and congested. She was watching the Haunted Mansion while resting.
Stagecoach who also had trouble and did not ascend.
Not sure what this one is called. I call it Chickie. :)
Liftoff!
Let's watch a balloon get ready.
As we stood and watch them ready this balloon the Classic Car Show started coming by on the way to the parking area so that folks would have a chance to visit them after the mass ascension. Gwen got a lot of pictures with some real classics in them.
Liftoff !!!!!!!
It looks like he made it into the Ascension.
After all the balloons got up that could then we went back to the car and headed to the Aquarium for breakfast and a bit of fish watching. On the way there down in the southern part of town on Central Ave we watched as several balloons landed in parking lots and fields and so forth. Also there were a lot of chase cars driving around looking for their balloons. :)
We think Aunt TK, Marcia, and Rado Grandpa would really enjoy going to the Festival. Not that both Grandma's would not enjoy it but it is early, windy, and very cool. Not their usual cup of tea. If you are interested then you should start planning a trip here for next year. It is really cool.
More about breakfast and the hotel on the next post.