When we left Colorado, our destination was Albuquerque and the 2016 Balloon Fiesta. After a 2 night stay at Enchanted Trails RV Park just west of the city, we headed down I 40 to pick up I 25 north to Alameda Blvd and Balloon Fiesta Park......
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| Our home for the next 10 days |
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| We became part of a small city of 1800 Plus campers |
We were part of the Boomers Group of Escapees and had a nice section of the park adjacent to landing field where many of the balloons landed during the course of the event.....
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| Good view of our location |
A view of our spot ......
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| 5th Wheels were all together- this is looking east towards the Sandia Mountains |
We got settled in just in time for our first Boomers Happy Hour and discussion about crewing, crew/pilot assignments and the general schedule.
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| One of our many Happy Hours disguised as Briefings |
Mary and I were VERY fortunate to get teamed up with old friends David & Kathy to work on a balloon called Laughy Taffy out of Castle Rock, CO.
Steve was the Pilot and Donna, his wife, the Crew Chief. We could not have picked a better balloon to work with. Besides the 4 of us, we also got to work with Sid, their son, and Kaylin, their daughter in law. They treated us just like family the whole time. And speaking of time, when Saturday morning rolled around(the Official Opening Day of the Fiesta), we got settled in to our schedule - one that would not change too much for the next 9 days: Up at 4, to the bus shuttle for a ride to the field at 5. And then to the Sid Cutter Pilot/Crew Pavilion for breakfast before heading to the field and our launch site, which for the entire event was either R6 or R8.
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Every morning this place was packed
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| Kathy & Dave got here early enough to save us a table- always a challenge with this size crowd. Check out the pilot dress in the background-guess where he's from? |
Our first day with Steve and Donna and our first launch was a genuine experience. It was neat! I'll let my pics do the talking here.....
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| Steve getting a briefing from one of the Zebras |
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| getting the basket ready |
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| Donna getting equipment out |
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| Lots to do |
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| Sid securing one of the posts |
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| Steve helping to secure the posts |
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| Testing the burners |
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| Inflation- Kaylin on fan, Mary & Steve at throat |
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| Sid on the crown |
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| We had quite a view |
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| Vertical |
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| Almost ready to go |
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| Dave & Kathy holding the basket for Steve |
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| Our neighbors |
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| Steve and Donna on the first flight |
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| another view of Steve & Donna |
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| In the meantime, all this was going on all around us |
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| That's us, lower right center of the frame |
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| The Laughy Taffy crew getting ready to go in to Chase mode |
When the first morning Mass Ascension was done, next on the Agenda was the night Balloon Glow Event. At Dusk, balloons are taken out, and inflated. No launch, just tethered to the trailer/tow vehicle. Propane ignition for glow of the balloons and the delight of all the fans attending- which I am told is in the vicinity of 800,000 for the event. Prior to the "work" part of the night's event, we got a pleasant surprise when Steve and Donna showed up at our site with pizza!
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| Pizza for the crew |
Our pilot Steve was really great with us. On Day 1, he and Donna went up. On Day 2, one of Steve's old friends got to go up with him and Sid, Day 3 was Dave & Kathy, and on Day 4 it was Dave and me. What a thrill. Actually I got to go up twice and I'll share some of my pics and experience here....
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| Our Zebra giving us the thumbs up, which is the OK to launch. My first balloon flight! |
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| And a salute as we passed over |
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| The View from above |
After the first balloon flight, there is a certain ritual that one must endure, and I was no different.
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| Yes, champagne. And yes, the water was cold! |
We had a great time as crew for Laughy Taffy. Not only did we get Laughy Taffy Crew Tee Shirts and pizza, we also got to participate in the after successful flight tailgate parties, which always included champagne, snacks, beer and good times.......
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| Doesn't get much better than this..... |
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| We did have good times |
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| Did I mention that we did shots too? |
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| Party breaking up to go for a ride to town for lunch |
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| They had to take us to their favorite Burger place |
When we left the restaurant, it was time for some local sight-seeing. And what else? A Breaking Bad tour which included the Car Wash and Walter Whites house......
I mentioned earlier that we fell in to a schedule- up at 4, on the bus at 5, breakfast at Pilot Pavilion and departure to our launch site to arrive at around 6. A couple of those mornings were a little "nippy". To say the least. And when you have to stand around and wait for the Dawn Patrol, National Anthem, Rainbow Riders Commercial Flights before you can begin to get the balloon ready for flight, it gets a little trying. On the bright side, it was a good time to make the long walk to the Porta Johns to get rid of that early morning coffee before things got started. And I mean a good thing, because, especially if you were flying. There is no john in the basket.
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| Rainbow Riders Commercial Flights always went up first |
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| The morning wait and trying to stay warm - with some Tai Chi led by Mary |
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| Just a little nippy |
Our last day with Laughy Taffy was on saturday. The weather for saturday was not good, nor did it look good for sunday, so Steve and Donna decided to "put in an appearance" on sunday and then head back home to Colorado. Before they left though, on saturday morning, we made a presentation of fa couple of gifts that we(Dave & Kathy and Mary & I) chipped in on. First to Sid and Kaylin who announced a few days before that they were expecting their first......
And then a gift to our Pilot and Crew Chief...
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| It was actually a pic of the 2 of them in basket together on a curved glass |
The Crew........TEAM LAUGHY TAFFY
The Fiesta was not entirely spent with Laughy Taffy. There was so much to see and do....
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| Balloons of all shapes and sizes. This balloon, Scorch, was out of New Jersey |
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| Balloon fans came in all shapes and sizes too |
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| A view from our launch site |
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| another view from our launch site |
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| Scorch |
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| Quilt Raffle- Mary was not happy to learn that she didn't win it |
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| The mounted police were always a presence on the grounds |
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| One of the foreign pilots |
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| This balloon always drew a crowd. It is a Balloon out of Belgium |
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| One of the first balloons we worked on last year- Squirt |
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| Squirt is HUGE |
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| Amazing what you will see- if you just look |
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| Another Balloon that we worked on last year- Kermie |
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| The Bright Yellow balloon is known as "Sunny Boy" but better known as Festus |
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| A herd of Zebras |
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| Seen along the midway |
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| Kathy & Dave with our Canadian Friends JF and his crew chief |
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| NM State Police had a presence here |
Balloons over Boomers was a constant, as we were surrounding one of the preferred landing areas. Again, I'll let the pics speak for themselves.....
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| Seen flying over us |
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| Seen peeking over us |
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| Seen looking at us |
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| Seen over us |
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| Seen over us |
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| Balloons over Boomers |
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| Long Winded? |
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| Up close and personal |
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| Almost looks like he is coming in for a landing on our trailer |
The Boomers Group was a great one to be involved with. Besides the crewing, there were activities for those so interested that included dining out, and Brewery & Winery visits/tours. Also included, besides the regular Happy Hours was a Pot Luck Supper and the CARE Auction, which I am told, raised over $1600 for the cause. And a great time was had by all.
And then it was time to leave......The Balloon Fiesta was officially over on Sunday morning, but we elected to stay over until Monday to miss a lot of the traffic. Mid morning on monday, the place was quite empty.....
We left and headed to Enchanted Trails RV Park where we began this 10 day adventure, for 2 days of R&R- empty our tanks, restock, clean up, get ready for the next move. Actually met up with some of our Boomer friends for yet another Happy Hour......
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Balloons over Boomers. And then it was all over for this year. But what a great time it was. Didn't think anyone was allowed to have to have this much fun. Now we start heading west in to Arizona with stays in Holbrook(and a visit to a certain corner in Winslow), Flagstaff, Kingman, and possibly either Lake Havasu or Quartzsite, before settling in to Yuma for the winter. Until then.......
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