4-13 October 2017
ABQ, Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico
Dry Camp on grounds
Remember 1967 and the 5th Dimensions? Hold that thought….
We arrived here four days before the fiesta starts and it was good fortune in that we got a really good spot to park, with the Alamedia Cemetery right behind us. Nothing like quite neighbors.
Our stay cost $35 per night (steep for dry camp), $25 for a pump out, and $30 for them to fill up fresh water. We got pumped out once, and I filled up with water twice using our 30 gallon water bladder. Lots of sun for the solar, and we used the genset some.
Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?
A couple advantages about staying at the Fiesta site :
(1) There is a shuttle bus that picks up around the campground (of over 1000 RVs) and goes straight over to the Balloon Fiesta traveling on their “own” road. So no waiting in traffic, with the same for returning. It was very convenient and worth $$ if we had to pay extra, but it was included, so that was a plus.
Would you like to glide in my beautiful balloon?
(2) Each morning assention began at 0530, and it was in the mid 30’s each morning at that hour. It warmed up to the high 60/low 70 in the afternoon. But if we did not want to go the Fiesta, we could put our lawn chairs behind our home, look over the cemetery fence and watch as the balloons floated right over us. In some cases they were within a couple feet of my satellite dish on the roof, as they skimmed across to land on the field in front of our house. So it was an ideal spot to watch them land also. It was really cool.
We could float among the stars together, you and I.
Our first night there they had the “After-Glow” at 830pm. They don’t fly at night, but they do inflate all the balloons, and the sky is illuminated with every color you can imagine. All 650 balloons, of which 92 are special shaped balloons, are positioned in a checkerboard pattern on a field as large as 36 football fields put together.
The balloons, which are all laid out flat, begin to take shape. Each balloon uses one or two gasoline powered engine 30 inch fans to blow up the balloons. Once the balloon begins to take shape, the pilot gets into the basket, which is laying on its side, and aims the burner in the center of the balloon, and lights it up… As the hot air enters the balloon, it rises and the basket stands upright. All the while, there is a tow rope connecting the basket to the chase vehicle, so it does not float away… Pretty cool to watch this whole process as we were walking through this forest of multi-colored balloons. Amazing…
It is dark, and as the pilot inflates his balloon, the “glow” from all the balloons is like something we have never seen. Imagine, being a kid at Christmas, watching your town light the community Christmas tree. Before the “Mayor” flips the switch, you climb into the middle of the Christmas tree half way up. Then, when all the different color lights are illuminated, you are surrounded by glowing colors everywhere you look it is awesome!! You feel the warmth from the burners just as if the lights were warm and burning bright. Get the picture? Now get down from that tree 🙂
So the next morning, by 0600, the “Dawn Patrol”, which consists of the first 10 balloons would fill up, and if conditions are right, would lift off. They illuminated the early morning sky with their gas burners as their balloons slowly lifted off the ground just a glowing. The Dawn Patrol consists of the more experience pilots, as they relay the wind conditions at certain altitudes back to the officials on the ground, so they can determine if the rest of the balloons can take flight safely.
For we can fly, we can fly.
The wind conditions here at ABQ (Albuquerque) are unique due to their topography. When conditions are right, they can lift off and land in the same area. The wind changes directions at certain altitudes, so as the pilot gains/loses altitude the balloon will travel in different directions. This is called “The Box” effect.
Up, up and away
Once the Dawn Patrol gives the green light, then it is organized chaos on the ground. The balloons all begin to take shape and slowly checker the sky with awesomeness.
My beautiful, my beautiful balloon
Get your favorite beverage and enjoy this 20 minute video ! This starts at the Air Force Academy and the drive to New Mexico.
Ann Marie’s sister, Karen, and husband, Troy came to ABQ to visit us from their home in Andover, MN. It was their 30th wedding anniversary and we had a great time exploring and enjoying the Fiesta together. Karen and I went up in a balloon and it was a blast! We traveled over 10km, for an hour and half and at an altitude of up to 1200 feet. It was really kool!