Travels Post Balloon Fiesta

The Balloon Fiesta was everything that it was cracked up to be. At the very least, a bucket list item. At the most, it was an unbelievable experience and one that I will always remember. I am sure the same goes for Mary. It was that good. While we were camped with the Airstream Group(150 trailers for a fact), we really didn't spend that much time with them. Most of it was spent with the Boomers Group from Escapees and particularly with friends we made at Enchanted Trails RV park, who just happened to be owners of a Mobile Suites trailer. The Boomers Group was tasked with providing help for the balloonists. We became part of that help.

Here is a pic of the pilot on day 1 for the balloon Clown......

His name was Daniel and he was from Australia. That is me in the background

And finally here is what Clown looked like all inflated....

This was the group of balloons that we worked on over the 4 days that we were there...

From left: Clown, Kermie the Frog, Squirt, and the Fireman

We took hundreds, perhaps thousands of pictures. It was just totally unbelievable. Just about all are now in Picassa web albums for future viewing.

And then it was time to leave Albuquerque. The frustrating thing about leaving was that there were still 6 days left of the Fiesta, unfortunately, that was just the way it was. Next year will be a different story however.  We will definitely be there for the whole thing.

And then the adventure began. A 2400 mile adventure that would take us from Albuquerque to Jackson Center, Ohio to Chanute, KS. Jackson Center to meet up with Jerry and Paulette the purchasers of our Airstream trailer. Our travels across the country found us staying overnight in Amarillo, TX at AOK RV Park,  Oak Glenn RV Park in Chandler, OK and then to RV Express 66 in Marshfield, MO.....

Our spot at RV 66 Express

Along the way we had a few stopovers.....

One of the many rest/pit stops along the way. 

Last stop for us was New Lisbon Family Campground in New Lisbon, IN. We did 2 nights there. Mostly to catch up and rest. I did get to take advantage of the nice pond they had there and managed to catch 6 Largemouth Bass and 1 Crappie. Nothing of any size, but who cares. It was still fun.

A nice little fishing pond - and one that I took advantage of

Finally on 10/11 we got to Jackson Ctr and the Airstream Factory. Found ourselves a spot to park and hook up and then it was off to Lima, OH to pick up a U Haul trailer to load all of our stuff in to. What a job. What a project. We both never realized just how much stuff we had in that Airstream trailer. It is a good thing that we got the next size bigger trailer or we might not have fit everything. We did though and on Monday bright and early, Jerry and Paulette showed up - we signed papers, exchanged check and title and then we were off for Kansas and our new Mobile Suites trailer. The trip back was not without excitement as just after we got through St Louis, we experienced a flat on the U Haul trailer. Lucky for us it happened just as we were getting off I 70 to fuel up the truck. To U Haul's credit, from the time I called then for roadside assistance until the time we had the tire changed and were back on the road - 41 minutes. Unbelievable.

The big wrecker had to drop off correct tire for us. The van in the pic was for the guy actually doing the repairs.

And then we were back on the road. Kansas, here we come. Not as easy traveling with a U Haul trailer. We had to stay over 2 nights in motels. Molly did just fine.....

Making herself right at home

In full sleep mode

Then it was time for Kansas

aka NuWa Industries- Formerly manufacturer of Hitchhiker 5th Wheels

 We stayed at City of Chanute RV Park right in town and right down the street from where we picked up our unit. Stayed a total of 6 days there. 3 spent unpacking/packing/arranging our STUFF. And 3 days just getting used to our unit and making sure that everything worked. Our unit is awesome. We've named her Toto, as in, I don't think we're going to be in Kansas anymore either.

Us getting ready to depart Chanute, KS for Liberal, KS

Lunch and pee/poop break for Molly and lunch and fuel break for us in Goddard, KS, just west of Wichita, KS

We have to park out back with the big guys

We ended up driving just over 340 miles this day with our destination being Western Star RV Ranch in Liberal, KS. This is definitely a nice little rv park. Clean and plenty of room.

While in Liberal, we made a trip in to town and had breakfast at the local "hot spot" The Pancake House(yes it was a busy place) and then did a trip down Yellow Brick Road

and there we found Dorothy's house....and coincidentally, Mary found her own Yellow Brick Road

Back at the RV Park, we made acquaintances with neighbors - Real South Dakotans - Loren and Bonnie from Sioux Falls. They and their friends are heading out tomorrow and going to the same RV park that we are headed to - Enchanted Trails in Albuquerque. We'll meet them there and talk about Yuma, which is where they spend the winter, and where we will be in January. Their park is right next door to the one we will be staying at. Definitely a small world. All 3 of us it turns out, stayed at this park an extra day because of bad weather. Amarillo, TX was looking at potential for 5" of rain.

Our neighbors from South Dakota

Tomorrow morning we will pack up and head out early. But first tonight, we are headed in to town to the Liberal Inn for a steak dinner and to celebrate the new trailer. Looking forward to that.