This is the final day of the 2017 Balloon Fiesta. Chilly morning as we head for the launch field. Beth made an appointment at the Canon tent for a free camera/lens cleaning at 6:30AM, so we arrive there a little early and hand over the camera. The yellow flag is flying this morning, so we wait with coffee and hot chocolate.
Pick up the camera and all is well, but the winds are persistent. Beth hangs out in the New Mexico tourism trailer along with lots of other folks trying to stay warm. We talk with some balloonist folks who say it doesn't look good for flying today... as they put it, "we'd much rather be on the ground wishing we were flying, than in the air wishing we were on the ground." We decide to give it up and head back to the Trek, feeling sorry for folks who only showed up for today's Mass Ascension finale! We were fortunate to have several GREAT days!
Today's alternate adventure is a visit to the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History.
We are greeted by the periodic table, then on to the history of the discovery of at the atom. Amazing that scientists way back were suggesting that things were made of tiny particles...
There was a 30 minute introductory film, and the parts I saw were interesting, though it was dark, warm and comfortable and I didn't actually see the whole film...Zzzzzzz.
This is a model of "Gadget", the code name for the atomic bomb tested at the Trinity Site in New Mexico in July of 1942. Sounds much nicer to say they were testing a "gadget" rather than a nuclear bomb, eh?
It was developed at the secretive Los Alamos, which we drove through earlier in this trip, which is still a center of nuclear research.
There were films and discussion about Truman's difficult decision to use the bombs, as well as the aftermath in Japan. And then nuclear proliferation and the Cold War, with shelters and the general atmosphere of the cold war. The Bay of Pigs, Berlin and the eventual treaties and end to the Cold War. The current situation with so many nuclear-armed countries is just touched upon briefly.
There were areas dealing with more positive aspects of atomic energy, such as power, nuclear use in medicine and science, and another area which featured books, movies, comics and other media that dealt with atomic energy.
Outside were B52 bombers like those that delivered bombs to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a tower like the one used at Trinity Site and a few other missiles and planes.
Overall an interesting and educational place!
We have decided to stay in a hotel this evening near the airport, since Gwynne has an early flight tomorrow. So, about 2:00 we check into a Days' Inn, settle into a nice room and find their laundry room. Greg and Gwynne take time watching the machines and we find time for a little bit of football on TV. We've decided on a nice dinner and head for Saluto's in the Nob Hill area just a few miles away. It is a northern Italian restaurant and we enjoy a terrific meal! Great salads of kale, pears, almonds, pancetta and cheese. Then Gwynne and I had a chicken fettuccini dish and Greg had a pasta with hot italian sausage.
Nice soft beds and a good night's rest.
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