Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 10/7/2013

Adventure Caravans Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Rally Day 4

Monday, October 7, 2013

It was another great day for Ballooning here in Albuquerque.  Today, there were contests for the balloonists who wanted to participate.  Of course, there were a lot of pilots who just wanted to ride in the "box".  Albuquerque has interesting air currents that allow the balloons to lift off, float in one direction (south over our trailers) for awhile then rise to a higher altitude to catch a current going north.  They continue north as far as they want then drop altitude and fly south again.  We tried taking a movie of that, but they move so slowly that it is difficult to capture the effect on a movie.  We have taken so many pictures that I can not decide which to pick to put into the blog.  I think that I will try to just feature some of the ones that I haven't shown yet.


Panda



Sushi the fish



Betty Jean the butterfly

Yellow Jacket (See the stinger)






The Bee Family
(L-R Lilly Little, Joey Little and Joelly)

After the balloon mass ascension, we were taken, by bus, to Sandia Peak.  We took a tram tide to the top of the mountain for some spectacular views of Albuquerque and the surrounding valleys.  The tram starts at the altitude of 6559 feet and goes to 10,378 ft. in about 15 min. 

Here comes our tram

All along the way up we saw some beautiful scenery.


This formation looks like a cannon 

We are about to pass the other tram

The cabin on the top of the mountain was made to
 house the workers building the tram

The fall colors are beautiful

 After we reached the top of the mountain, We had lunch at the High Finance Restaurant.  The food was very good and the view was beautiful.  The restaurant is shaped in a semi-circle with seats in three levels surrounding this area and windows all around.

Center piece of High Finance Restaurant

There was time after lunch to walk around and look out over the valley.  There is a ski lift on the opposite side of the mountain from the tram where hikers and mountain bikers were using trails that are along the ski trails.  We could see the town below but pictures didn't do it justice.

After we got back to camp, there was a Margaritas and nachos social. 

The staff are having making Margaritas

Tomorrow is another active day of touring.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 10/6/13

Adventure Caravans International Balloon Fiesta Rally Day 3

Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013

There was another mass ascension of balloons this morning.  I took a picture out of the door of our trailer, looking over the motorhome next door to give an idea of what a perfect location we are parked in.

Pirate parrot and other balloons

Here is another example of how immersed in the festival we are.  These balloons have landed very near our group of trailers.  The people with maroon jackets and hats are with our rally.  There are a couple different shapes.

Sea life balloon has landed, but the others are still going

And Darth Vader landed in another RV camping area across the field.

There are over 541 balloons, from all over the world, registered in the Fiesta events so I will show you a few of the ones that I didn't see yesterday.


Smokey bear



Beaver



Scuba diver, fireman, fire hydrant, witch on broom, clock



Bee blocking the sun

The Adventure Caravans had a champagne brunch for us today.  It is tradition to have a champagne brunch after a balloon flight, although we did not take one ourselves.  They do try to get us into the spirit of things.  It was delicious.

This evening, we went back to the launch area for the balloon glow.  Yesterday was too windy for the gas filled balloons to take off, so tonight, they launched off on a race to see who can go the farthest from the balloon fiesta.  I am actually writing this on the 7th, so it has now been 28 hours since they left.  There were 5 gas balloons in the race.  As of my writing, one has already landed after going 257 miles and the other 4 are 350 - 405 mi. away.  Gas balloons are filled with hydrogen instead of hot air and are used for long distant flying, so they are expected to possibly reach Canada before they finish the race.

Five gas balloons ready to launch 

Launching

Look closely.  There are 4 flying and 1 ready to go

We watched the hot air balloons inflate and glow.  The balloons are tethered to keep them from flying off.  This is the process of inflation.



Preparing the envelope for inflation

Everyone helps -see the little helper pulling the lines

Filling with air

Ad a little heat



Almost up



Success and glow 

Everyone gets to walk among the balloons.  It is nice and warm from all of the burners going off to keep the balloons inflated.  There is a second type of burner that is used for the glow, but both are very hot.  Here are two views.

Wells Fargo Stagecoach

Mass glow

After the glow and the balloons were put away, there was another fireworks show.  Again, we didn't take photos.  Maybe the next time they have a glow and fireworks show, we will get some pictures of them.


Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 10/5/13

Adventure Caravans International Balloon Fiesta Rally Day 2
Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013

This morning we got up very early, for us, at 6:30 AM so that we could watch the mass ascension of the balloons on the first day of the International Balloon Fiesta.  The balloonists start getting their balloons ready for flight around 4:30 - 5:00 AM.  They send several balloons, the Dawn Patrol, up to check the wind conditions before giving the "go ahead" for the mass launch.  We opted to sleep a little longer and forego that experience, although we heard from some in our group, who braved the 40 degree weather to see the inflation and launch up close and personal, that there were thousands of others there on the field and in lines for food and souvenirs at that early hour.  That fact was born out when we tuned into the local TV station's coverage of the event.   After we got ourselves up and ready to brave the cold, we got our cameras and tripods and went to the end of our row of trailers where there is a huge open field that is used for the ballooning events and landings. The Dawn Patrol was up and soon gave the word that launch was ''a go''.  Notice the sun just beginning to rise above the mountain.

Sunrise at balloon fiesta

At first only a few balloons began rising above the tree tops in the distance.  Then, we found out what they meant by mass ascension...  The general direction of the balloons was over the RV Park area.  You can see how we stood at the end of the drive to take our pictures.  We were surrounded with balloons. 

This is our trailer and truck

These balloons landed in the field where we were standing

Here are some of the interesting shapes we saw today.


Clock, hummingbird, bee and more beautiful balloons

Humpty Dumpty

Zebra and other beautiful balloons

Pink elephant

We took so many pictures that we decided to download and sort out the bad ones and try to pare down the quantity.  After all, it is just the first day. 

The rally participants have been divided into three groups and today was our turn to go to the International Balloon Museum.  We walked over to the museum which has displays of the history of non-motorized manned flight and ballooning, hang gliding, soaring, and there is an international ballooning hall of fame honoring all of the key pioneers in the field.

Fruit lady



Hang gliding and parasailing display and videos

Jules Verne basket that was attached to a balloon

This evening we went to the launch field where a balloon glow was supposed to happen.  It is where the balloons are inflated, but are tethered so they don't launch.  The burners are fired to make light inside the envelope (fabric of the balloon).  Well, the wind was a little brisk and there was a delay to wait for calmer winds.  So, since it was over an hour and no one was getting their balloon out, we decided to go back to the trailer and wait for the fireworks show.  As we were riding back to camp, it was announced that the glow would happen, so we missed it tonight.  Hopefully, we will see it on another night.  We could see the fireworks from where we were camped, but did not take pictures of the them.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 10/4/13

Adventure Caravans International Balloon Fiesta Rally Day 1
October 4, 2013

This is the first day of the rally.  We had an orientation reception in the big tent that is set up in the Adventure Caravans' area of the Balloon Fiesta RV Park.  There are 77 RVs at this rally and 155 people in all.  We have been told that when everyone arrives there will be about 1800 RVs, either as individuals or groups of various kinds, in this camping area. 


Adventure Caravans' Tent

Orientation reception

After our orientation, some people, from the balloon flying school, brought a basket/gondola to tell us about ballooning and explain some of what to expect during the next week of ballooning events.  They even fired the burners so we could see, up close, what happens when the balloons fly.  It was a very big flame and the heat radiated to the audience.

Getting ready for ballooning talk

Getting up close to see all the details

Two of three propane tanks inside the gondola

Those three large tanks of propane will only provide about 2 hours of flight.

Preparing to fire the burners

Very large flame

This evening there was an Oktoberfest style dinner that the staff prepared for us.  It was a buffet including bratwurst, chicken, red cabbage, sauerkraut, potato salad and more.  All very good.

Oktoberfest buffet dinner 

Tomorrow is the first day of the Balloon Fiesta.  We are anxious to see all of the balloons.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 9/30 - 10/3/ 2013

Travel from Home to Albuquerque, NM
Sept. 30 - Oct. 3, 2013

We left home on Monday and traveled to Barstow, CA where we spent the night at the KOA just east of town.  Tuesday, we traveled to the Meteor Crater RV Park just west of Winslow, AZ.  It was all freeway driving and mostly desert terrain with some mountains.  Then, today, Wednesday, we were in eastern Arizona when the landscape changed to some very interesting rock formations.  Here are a few pictures of scenes that we saw along I-40 heading though eastern Arizona.  First we started seeing interesting eroded rocks.

Scene along I-40, AZ

Then the cliffs were larger and more dramatic.  You can see how large they are compared to the buildings.

Scene along I-40, AZ

If you look closely, you can see the cars parked under the trees at this rest stop.  Arches are eroding into the layers of rock.

Scene along I-40, AZ

Then, after we entered New Mexico, this was the terrain.  The various layers of rock are definitely very obvious.

Scene along I-40, NM

Here are some more natural arches.

Scene along I-40, NM

We spent the night at the American RV Park west of Albuquerque, NM in preparation for arriving at the Balloon Fiesta RV parking area for the Adventure Caravans Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Rally on Thursday.  We decided to go out to dinner at the Genghis Kahn Mongolian BBQ, tonight.  This was the third time that we had been to this restaurant.  We discovered it on one of our previous visits here, so now it is sort of a tradition that we go here when we are in town at meal time.  We had the "make it yourself stir fry".  You go along a line and pick what raw meat , vegetables and seasonings you want in your dish.  When you finish your selection, you give the bowl to the cook and he adds your choice of noodles or rice and cook it for you.  It was delicious and such a treat.  Here we are at the American RV Park.


Campsite at American RV Park

Our new truck, a ford F-350 diesel super duty, handled the trip just great.  We are really pleased with the mileage that it gets, too.  

We arrived at the Balloon Fiesta RV Park around noon today, Thursday, and are getting settled in for the nine day Adventure Caravans Balloon Fiesta Rally.  We arrived a day early to be ready to enjoy all of the activities that are planned starting tomorrow.