Balloon Fiesta!!!!!!!

October 7, 2013

We arrived in Albuquerque at the American RV park on the West side of Albuquerque on the 7th and visited with a few folks who were early arrivals like us, and then on the 8th, All the rest of our RV Club friends arrived for the OFFICIAL beginning!  We had Appetizers and other refreshments as we blocked off the street and had a "Meet and Greet"!  We had a GREAT time, seeing folks that we have not seen for a year or so, and also meeting several others for the first time!  So fun to catch up , and get tours of the NEW rigs for the first time!  

The "Groaning Board" of foods before we began!!!  It was dark out when we finally called it a night... tomorrow will be an EARLY rising for the "Dawn Patrol"... That means getting up at 4:00 in the MORNING, to get to the Fiesta Park by 5:30 or so, before the sun comes up!!!!!!!

 Oct 9, 2013

This was one of the sights we saw shortly after we arrived at the Fiesta Park!  I was SO surprised that we were allowed to wander among the balloon pilots and helpers while they were rolling out the BIG balloons and beginning to fill with cold air to start the inflation process, and then as they begin to stand upright, hot air (below) is used to get the balloon off the ground... The balloon is tethered to a rope till it is fully inflated and ready for liftoff..  Pilot and passengers (or helpers!) jump into the basket and OFF THEY GO!!!!!

 Here are MANY being slowly inflated with the assistance of headlights from the trucks.

Several lined up, as they are filling...

 The FIRST 2 to have LIFTOFF!

Here I am looking like the MICHELIN MAN!  I had SO many layers of clothes and coats on, trying to get warm in the 34º weather!!!!!!!

Our friend, Santa Don and one of the "Wagon Masters" of this Rally and our friend, Robert, getting tips from Santa!!!!

Beginning to see the "Specialty Shapes" which were originally planned for tomorrow's launch, but it is predicted to be too windy for safety tomorrow, so some launched today...

Fireplug

Court Jester

Buzz Lghtyear

An Alarm Clock.

an ELF???

Fireman

A HUGE Creamland Cow!!

Masses of COLOR!

A Deep Sea Diver

A Panda

My MOST Favorite!!!!!  I collect hearts - rocks, jewelry, Christmas ornaments.......

Milling among the balloons as they prepare for liftoff.

About to see my Second Favorite Balloon!!!!

 Spidey Kitty?????

Bee's Behinds!!!!

Better shot of my 2nd Favorite Balloon!!

 Wrestling the balloon down and ready to deflate

Here are several of us! Cathy, Me, Mike, Susanna, Den and over to the right is our friend, Santa Don... Rob, (Cathy's hubby) was taking our picture!

This guy needs NO introduction!

And last, but not least,  I have no IDEA who this guy is!!!  LOL!

More activities planned at our Rally, working around the Balloon Fiesta -

We had a few pot lucks, dinner out as a group to Santiagos, and another night at Garcia's, both Mexican food and WONDERFUL!  Then Pizza night and drawings for gifts - I won SEVERAL things!!! I am SURE I will forget some of them, as I packed them away in the (Shrinking) storage space in this 29 Foot Camper!!!!  I won a bottle of wine, travel bottles, and several items with Cardinals on them: Spoon rest, plate and cup, journal, coasters... Also a photo frame  shaped like a 5th wheel!  I am sure I have forgotten to list some things.....

As the days ticked by, we got together when we had free moments to visit with friends who were leaving on the 13th, and said our Goodbyes!

OUR trip is not over yet, so:  STAY TUNED!!!!!!