Hi , I am Jim Duell of Perry, NY and I am a great fan of Hot Air Balloon Festivals Across the state of New York. This being our 6th time at the Adirondack Balloon Festival and taking about 1500 to 1800 pictures each good year that we come using both digital and 35mm camera's. I want a new Konica-Minolta 7D Digital DSLR Camera this year. I have 6 different AF Lenses to use with it that I really don't need a new lens at this time. Just a 7D body will do. I was hoping that this camera would be out by now. I see enough ads about it comming but, it is now set for a November 19th release. Price isn't definate yet. While at the Balloon Fest I talked with the Chairman Mark Donahue about putting of my pictures to work in their annual festival book. That may be down the road a bit. I am making him a CD of all the 6 festivals of pictures the I have attended. He says that he never gets to see anyone's photos of the years events. I am scanning my prints which is 20 rolls of pictures to put on CD's. I am looking for a year 2000 festival book that I thought I had got but, I don't have it with all of the events and pictures of all the new and different balloons in this years schedule. He sure has done a great job each year in putting this all together.

It Sure Was A Beautiful 4 Days For A Fall Balloon Festival. This Is Our 6th Year Attending The Festival And This Is The Second Year In A Row With No Rain. Last Year There Was The Threat Of A Hurricane And Had Just Shut Down The Friday's Events But, Only A Little Wind And The Rest Of The Weekend Was Super. There Was A Lot Going On This Year. On Thursday, Opening Day Ceremonies Were In The Crandall Park In Glens Falls Which Was A Beautiful Evening. We Got There Around 3:30 To Grab A Good Parking Place And Pulled Out The Lawn Chairs And Relaxed Till The Balloons Lifted Off At 5:30 PM. Carol Used One Of My Digitals While I Used The Other Digital Along With My 35mm Maxxum 5 Camera. After The Show Was Over I Had Taken 4 - Rolls Of Film And Over 100 Digitals. This Is Just The First Day. From Here We Went To Pizza Hut For Supper At Around 7:30 PM.

After having 4 nice days and balloons lifting off each day it sure was hard leaving to head back home. I would just love to be able to move there forever and ever. The cold winters would probably play it's toll on me but, I would sure give it a whirl. This year was great!! The Weather held off and I got some really beautiful sunset pictures on Thursday and Friday evening. Having being there from Wednesday to Sunday and such great weather I can't wait for next year. The power boats and wood antique power boat races were something that I have never seen only on TV. This was super and to be able to check out all of the boats on display at the docking area I, got lots of pictures and will be scanning them to this website. WOW!! What a WEEKEND IN THE ADIRONDACKS it was.

THE BALLOONS ARE THE MAIN REASON FOR GOING

On Friday We Checked Out The Adirondack Outlet Mall In Queensbury For Great Deals. Then Come Back To Lake George Village And Walked Both Sides Of Main Street Hitting Each Shop As We Passed. I Purchased A 3 - Piece Trunk Set With 3 Different Sizes For Blankets Or Pictures & Picture Albums. The Two Of Us Carried It Back To The Motel And Continued Shopping. There Was A Lot Of Nice Things Here But, A Bit Pricey. There Was Going To Be Speed Boat Races On The Lake On Saturday & Sunday So, They Were Starting To Move In.

HYDROPLANE BOAT RACES AT LAKE GEORGE

There are a lot of fine looking hydroplane power boats and antique wood speed boats that have come to Lake George for the weekend. Check out Photo Page # for some of the spectular boats. I will be putting them on soon. We went down at the shore and took about 4 - rolls of film of all the boats racing around the lake.

The Benihania Balloon is a new balloon for 2004 as is Old McDonald's Farm Balloon. These are quite the crowd pleasers at the festival. There was also an American Eagle and The Kissing Bees which are 2 balloons of Yellowjackets and when they are all lite up it is a great picture. The Purple People Eater has a brand new balloon which is a darker purple that the previous balloon. There was a few new balloons this year with real bright colors that look fabulous in the sky.