UP UP AND AWAY: 5TH ANNUAL LAKE HAVASU BALLOON FEST – 1-16-15

WITH A BURST OF COLOR, THE BALLOONS RISE INTO THE MORNING SKY.  STILL DARK, THE OBSERVERS BUNDLE IN WARM CLOTHES AND SIP HOT DRINKS.  THE DAWN PATROL TESTS THE WINDS AND THEN THE OTHERS FOLLOW.

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VINTAGE CAR SHOWS, CRAFT BOOTHS, FOOD VENDORS, LIVE BANDS,

 

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ULTRALITES, HANG GLIDERS, CROP DUSTERS, BALLOONS, BIRDS, AND DRONES – THE SKY IS A TRAFFIC JAM!

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BIRD’S EYE VIEW

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AS THE BALLOONS DIP INTO THE WATER BELOW THE LONDON BRIDGE, CAMERAS CLICK AND OBSERVERS GIVE APPLAUSE!

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AS THE BALLOONS DIP INTO THE WATER BELOW THE LONDON BRIDGE, CAMERAS CLICK AND OBSERVERS GIVE APPLAUSE!

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THE BALLOON GLOW IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT.  BAL24 BAL23 BAL21 BAL20

ON OUR BOATRIDE ACROSS THE LAKE TO THE CASINO WE PASS THE VW CAMP

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CANADA GEESE AND SNOW GEESE ARE AMONG THE THOUSANDS OF BIRDS AT THE CIBOLA WILDLIFE REFUGE OUTSIDE OF BLYTHE. WE ALSO SAW SANDHILL CRANES

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BURROWING OWLS NEST ALONG THE ROAD

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THANKS TO THIS SIGN, WE FOUND OUR WAY BACK TO CAMP IN QUARTZSITE WITH THE MOJAVE OFFROAD EXPLORERS

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DRY CAMPING IN QUARTZSITE WITH OUR FRIENDS FROM THE MOJAVE OFFROAD EXPLORERS!

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RELATED TO THE FIGURES ALONG ROUTE 66 AND THROUGHOUT THE U.S. COWBOY MAN IS FROM SAME MOLD AS HOT DOG MAN, MUFFLER MAN, CHICKEN MAN.

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KAYAKING THE SALTON SEA – AMONG THE FLOCKS OF WHITE PELICANS

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OUR FAVORITE PART OF SALTON SEA CAMPING IS THE GLORIOUS SUNSETS. SAD TO THINK THIS AREA WILL ONE DAY BE LOST TO US FOR CAMPING AND TO THE BIRDS.