Sunday, April 19, 2009

Kentucky Derby Festival

Let me start this post by saying that this is just a small portion of the view from my boss' living room. He invited Mike and I, along with several of his other friends to come up to his apartment on the riverfront to view the "opening ceremonies" of the Kentucky Derby Festival that is called Thunder over Louisville. Just let me say, if I lived here, I would do nothing but sit and watch the river roll on by all the time!
They start the day at 3 p.m. with an airshow, which over the years has gotten a bit sparse due to military deployment and financial reasons. However, every year they have the B-1B's and F-somethings, which are my favorites. Very fast and very loud!!! If anyone knows how I can get a ride in one of these planes, let me know. I love these planes because you not only hear them, albeit after they have passed you, but you also feel them, right down to the soles of your feet.



Amy, check out this picture below, if you click on it and zoom in you can actually see the pilot's head in the cockpit!!! These guys are awesome and I am an IDIOT!!!. Why are you an idiot Linn??? Oh, because, my husband wanted to go into the air force and I whined and cried because I couldn't imagine staying behind without him so that he could go learn to fly some of the coolest air craft in the WORLD! I'm literally kicking myself right now! ;o)







Below is a picture of Michael's newest desire of a lens. Remember that post about DSLR cameras and what an addiction they are??? Well, this is exactly what I was talking about and this lens costs more than the camera!
We didn't actually get any pictures of the fireworks display that is "Thunder over Louisville". Fireworks pictures are pretty hard to capture and near impossible when you forget to take along the tripod. I can't possibly describe the spectacle of this fireworks display, but I'll at least give it a try.
Think of your all time favorite fireworks show. Now, take that memory and pull out the "finale". Take that finale and imagine that it is LITERALLY 20 minutes long. Then once that is over, there is a small break in the action and then they put on their version of a finale. It lasts approximately 10 min. and the whole time the fireworks explode with so much percussion bouncing off of the Louisville skyline that you can feel it in your chest and it actually takes your breath away.
I have seen almost every year of this display by going to the riverfront and watching it. Several years were from the top of a building at Colgate Palmolive in Jeffersonville, IN. It is an awesome experience. You are up as high as the fireworks and it looks like you can reach out and hold them in your hand.
I would have to say that the best place to watch, before they built up the riverfront with restaurants, was on the lawn between the second street bridge (I forgot to mention that they shoot canons off that bridge during the day and turn the entire length of the bridge into a waterfall of fireworks) and the Kennedy Bridge, aka I-65. That is where you get the most impact and the breathless feeling. If you want to get a seat there these days you have to "win" them in a contest or pay a pretty penny for them at one of the tree restaurants that now occupy that space.
This is the one time of year that I tolerate the big crowd and go see what there is to see. I know that if there are strangers reading this post they will say I can't possibly be a Southern Indiana/Northern Kentucky native with the next sentence, but I'm OK with that because I know the truth. I don't really care about the Kentucky Derby. I love the horses. I think they are beautiful creatures, but I have seen to many years where a horse gets wounded on the track and the poor thing has to be put down. I know that it doesn't happen that often in the actual derby race, but it has happened, and one time is to many.

5 comments:

  1. Girl, if you love airshows, have I got some pictures for you! We went to at least 3 or 4 during our 6 years in the AF. I have some amazing shots!
    By the way, those are probably F-15s or F-22s.
    LOVE your descriptions!

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  2. PS did I give you the link to my blog? www.myrubyredslipper.blogspot.com

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  3. I have NEVER been to an airshow. I would love to go one day though. Also, here is a website for free blog backgrounds because I HATE the white.www.thecutestblogontheblock.com

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  4. Ps. I clicked on all your ads an now after looking at some of them I want to go to the Derby. I have never done that either. Kim Kardashian is hsting something there on May 1st. We should totally stalk her and take pics like paparazzi. I think I should come early now! LOL!

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  5. Thanks. Now I have a pretty background too!

    They used to have a big air show in Dayton Ohio every year. Michael used to go with his dad. I'll have to see if I can find out if they still do it.

    I can't wait til you guys get here!

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