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Laura Love at the Twisp River Pub

What a fun show! Laura Love’s voice always brings people to their feet. I can remember the first time I saw her – at Telluride in 1997. How long ago is that? I still love to listen to her sing and play bass. Last night she played with Orville Johnson on guitar and Chris Leighton on drums. Orville’s guitar playing and singing are really outstanding and the three of them have formed a tight trio. The area was soon cleared in front of the stage and dancers crowded the dance floor.

 

 

 

More about Laura here.

Picture Perfect

Today was picture perfect weather for the last day of the hot air balloon get-together in the Methow Valley. Clear cold skies got the balloonists up early and fanning air into their enormous nylon envelopes. Parking lots were full and balloons popped up all over the outskirts of Winthrop. The air conditions must have been perfect as most of the balloons stayed up for a long time and passengers seemed to be enjoying themselves. Everywhere people were photographing the sights with all manner of cameras. The colorful balloons are a wonderful foil to the snow-covered landscapes we’ve had for months now. I think that’s why I enjoy this event so much.

Last night there was a ‘balloon glow’ in downtown Winthrop. The striped balloon is from our local balloon company, Morning Glory Balloon Tours.

Nice moon too.

Balloons in the morning mist

Filling a balloon is a time consuming practice

This balloon had a new pilot and they were trying to land the basket in the river and let the current take them downstream. It’s a delicate balance to keep the balloon inflated and upright and let the water move them along.

That just didn’t look good

Someone else got their balloon in the main channel of the river and set down easily

They had to lift the balloon over the log and still figure out how to get to the other side of the channel

Cameras everywhere

Nope, still not moving downstream

Hmmm, what are they looking at?

Well now they are moving again.

They got down the little riffle

What’s the next obstacle?

More trees to clear

Up, up and away they go!

 

Drones and a Bride and a Hot Air Balloon

Drones and a Bride and a Hot Air Balloon in Winthrop. What a combination!

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with the big balloons. There were some winds, not that we could detect on the ground, that kept most of the hot air balloons stored in their trailers. However, the couple from Oregon was here to get married in a balloon today and Captain Krystal was not going to let them down, so to speak. Keeping the balloon tethered in a church parking lot, the ceremony went on, complete with flying drones doing the wedding photography! The bride was radiant in her long white coat and furry white hat. The groom was dignified in his black stocking hat and Carhart jacket.

Normally when I am doing wedding photography, I am getting paid for my work and it is very pressure-filled. You can see examples of that at Reflected Light. Today was fun to simply be taking snapshots of the happy occasion without worrying about disappointing clients.

The two drones were provided by the Roswell Test Flight Crew.

Here Comes the Bride!

 There were LOTS of cameras!

Thirty feet in the air with a drone hovering closeby, the two exchanged their vows.

I always love the wedding flowers – even fake ones.

The couple did their ‘formal’ portraits inside the balloon envelope!

 Gotta have a dog picture.

 The Radiant Bride!

Winthrop Balloon Round Up – Day One

Lots of colorful hot air balloons dotted the landscape and skies this morning as the Round Up got into full swing. Yesterday we saw two balloons out; today there were more than a dozen! The big parking lot didn’t get fully plowed so balloons were launching from various sites on the edges of town – behind and in front of the Red Apple Market, at the Friendship Church and rumour has it tomorrow they will launch from Town Trailhead too. All for fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This post needed a dog, don’t you think?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe two dogs.

 

This is a drone. Rumour has it that it will be making a video of a wedding to be held in one of the balloon baskets tomorrow! How exciting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still Winter

But Spring is just around the corner. Skiing conditions are highly variable but when they are good, they are very, very good. We still get intermittant snowfall but also warm temperatures are lessening the snowpack in the valley. More animals are moving about. My neighbor even claims to have seen a chipmunk already! Seems to early for them to be out and about.

 

Making first tracks on the Community Trail near Browns Farm

 

Big Valley, seen from the Community Trail

 

Lots of squirrels are enjoying the warm afternoons. This one is perched just above its burrow in the snow.

 

The Methow River from the Suspension Bridge

 

Winter still has a pretty good grip up in the Rendezvous area.

 I know, it looks like I have been playing a lot; however I’ve also been doing some serious work. You can see that at Reflected Light.