Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (Oct. 7 - 11)

This was Jerry and Anna Lee’s third time at the Balloon Fiesta and it was the best.  To bring Bennett, Cheryl and Dave proved to be a delight.  We were also joined with Mark and Ellen,

friends from home.  Cheryl, Dave & Mark got to have a turn in a balloon basket.

All of us were part of the Monaco International Rally.  We all had a great time as you will  see from the sample photos below (together we took thousands of pictures, most of them worth keeping but we will limit those here.)

On our first evening, during the appetizer hour, one of the balloonists gave us the history of ballooning.  The first flight, in France, had a sheep, duck and rooster up in the air for fifteen minutes before crashing.  Two months later, on November 21, 1783, a balloon built by the Montgolfier brothers carried the first human balloonist.  We enjoyed learning more about the science of ballooning.

The Balloon Fiesta began forty-four years ago with a celebration of a radio station’s fiftieth anniversary.  The director of the station asked Sid Cutter if he would bring his hot air balloon to the event.  Cutter asked some friends to join him and thirteen balloons soared over Albuquerque.  From this event the biggest hot air balloon fiesta in the world grew to having six hundred balloons soar for nine days filling the skies with bold colors and beguiling shapes which were easily  seen from the windshield of the motorhome.

Each morning we arose at 6:30 to see if the six hundred hot air balloons would take off.  The Dawn Patrol, a group of balloons go up first to test the wind patterns.  All was good so off they went each day.  We went onto the field to watch the crew fill the balloons and then watch them ascend.

 Bennett’s favorite was the Angry Bird balloon but Jerry and Anna Lee are particularly fond of the pair of penguins, of course.  We all assume penguins can't fly and these almost didn't.  The shipping company responsible for getting them to Albuquerque lost them.  After a bit of a push from a solicitor in their homeland, England, they were found in Los Angeles.  A quick flight to New Mexico put them in the hands of their human friends who happily took them aloft.

 There were six hundred balloons aloft and we got photos of most of them.

 Many of the participants in the Rally enjoyed different ideas of where to stand to get the best shot.

 Two days we had wonderful luncheons as part of our group rally.  Bennett found the first one rather dull.

 He did enjoy watching the chili being roasted at the second luncheon.

During the day, we also like visiting the many booths, especially those with things to do or prizes to win.  Bennett won this truck.

The Parabatix Sky Racers zipped around an obstacle course.

 Cheryl and Dave had an appointment at the Albuquerque Botanical Garden so we all tagged along strolling the lanes.  Bennett liked the trains, especially Thomas.  He also liked the animals in the farmyard.

Each evening we went onto the field for the Balloon Glows.  The balloons are alight with the gas used to raise them but they do not fly, they gleam.  On our first night the wind was too strong for the glow so we went from balloon to balloon collecting cards that picture the special shape balloons.  The other nights were spectacular with the glowing balloons.

  Bennett also enjoyed the view from the interior of a balloon basket at one of the night glows.

 The AfterGlow Fireworks displays each evening capped off our wonderful days.

 For his evening book time, Bennett liked to read Curious George and the Hot Air Balloon.