Kent's Photos of White Sands Balloons

The next seven pictures are ones that Kent took Sunday morning.

Kent's Photos of White Sands Balloons

White Sands Hot Air Balloons

Kent and I had our first Las Cruces outing today. We are settled enough into our new home to consider entertainments other than unpacking and we went to White Sands National Monument at dawn, having lured friends out of bed even earlier than their early hours to watch the launching of a convention of hot air balloons across the snow-like sands.

The pictures that follow are mine. Tomorrow I'll try to post those that Kent took.

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White Sands Hot Air Balloons

Toward Sand Creek Falls, Wyoming

Soon in will be fall in Wyoming and we are taking some of our trips into the woods. A place we had never known before is the head of Sand Creek, where there are some falls and nice rocks in and near the water.

On the way there is an eagle's nest, but this year it doesn't contain an eagle.

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The clouds were nice, as is almost always the case in Wyoming.

Kent rock hops coming back from the largest of the falls.

Arty rock pictures follow.

Sundance and Wyoming Wednesday

On Wednesday during the annual, very large, Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, SD (about 50 miles from Sundance), many of the bikers ride into Sundance for an event named the "Burn-Out." The origins of this event are shrouded in the smoke of burning rubber. I have yet to discover a rationale for ever starting such a competition, but the rules seem to be simple. Drive your motorcycle onto a six-foot high arched ramp, bolt your front tire to a frame that keeps it immobile, rev your engine until the rear tire bursts. Apparently the one who does this the fastest wins. I'm not sure what he wins, except lung cancer, but there are any number of people who try this with expensive machines.

First, some views of Sundance as Kent and I walk downtown to view the festivities.

Main Street and a view of the ramp in the rear right of the photo.

The competition ramp and its attendents.

Critical maintenance.

The gals.

The guys.

The "Burn-Out"

Ready, set, and go. His tire is now bolted down.


The smoke begins. The fellow at the left on the ramp has done this for years. I think he will have an early death, although I see that this year he is wearing a dust mask.

The final envelopment and the tire pops.

The rider now comes down the front of the ramp with a flat rear tire. I cannot understand why he is smiling. And it seems odd that the American flag and the State of Wyoming flag feature so prominently in this event. Perhaps the tire industry finds providing new tires patriotic.

Sundance Scenes on Wyoming Wednesday

Leaving the Scene

We look back at another contestant as we walk home.

Below are three bucks who have been driven into our neighborhood by the roar of the bikes.

Rapid City, South Dakota's Art Alley

I liked the graffiti in Mexico and I like it in the States. These photos are of an alley in Rapid City, SD, which is devoted to wall art.

New Photos from Oaxaca

New and Old Photos from Mexico--Merida

Sundance Sky

Sundance Details