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Ken J · 03-17-2010, 08:40 AM

Yup - check out post #2 and you will see a picture of how we line everyone up before going to the fiesta grounds - we kinda take over the freeway for about an hour.

So far the local police have not busted us....

I get rivets by spending way too much time on the forums...

Ken J.

TBRich · 03-17-2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twestover

And we look forward to meeting you and your cockers. We were thinking of bringing our labs but wondered what that would be like during the day. Actually, our oldest is 14 and going pretty darn slow, we might be down to one by October. Do you think it would work well to bring them?

Our brother and wife are renting an Airstream and will be joining us, we are meeting up in Zion for a few days first.

Do we, as a group, meet up somewhere before going to the actual fiesta grounds?

Terri Warren and Hal Hendrix

If your dogs do well around other people and dogs and don't mind being left alone in the trailer from time to time they should be fine... There is the fireworks aspect, too...ours didn't seem to even notice them. It's a fairly dusty environment for dogs so expect that...our cockers would rather roll in the dirt and dig little holes to nap in than lay on a rug anyway, so they were fine...dirty, but fine... I'd suggest bringing some of those doggie dry-bath wipes with you if you need to de-dust them from time to time...

Look forward to meeting you and your gang!

twestover · 03-18-2010, 08:32 AM

So is the area where we park the Airstreams dirt or asphalt or what?

Terri

**azflycaster** · 03-18-2010, 08:40 AM

The area is a hard packed dirt and gravel mix. It is kept watered and dust is never a problem. The area is relatively flat and in most cases side to side leveling is not needed.

Charlie M · 03-18-2010, 02:20 PM

Reminder to Richard and Jan;

Dorothy and I volunteered to do a meal at the 2010 Balloon Fiesta of deep fried chicken chunks and fixing’s. If we have a large crowd again, multiple deep fryers will be better to get hot food to all. Anthony and Tamara, would you consider preparing a fresh batch of hot chilies to go with the meal? Every time I think of last year’s fiesta I remember those fresh chilies. Yum!

CC: Ken Johansen
Anthony & Tamara Rodriquez

GoldFever · 03-21-2010, 10:09 PM

Just returned from an Airstream trip to Joshua Tree NP with some friends. Thursday night it blew like stink and made the underbelly metal layer rumble whenever the really big gusts hit. Not sure the kite flyers would have been able to control their kites with that much wind. Friday night it was perfectly still so out came the telescope.
Saturday night was hazy but it was the Equinox night with the moon and the Pleides overlapping so that was really cool.
Really looking forward to this trip to the Fiesta...
Question: So far how many Airstreams are going to see the balloons?

Jim Foster · 03-22-2010, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken J

Yup - check out post #2 and you will see a picture of how we line everyone up before going to the fiesta grounds - we kinda take over the freeway for about an hour.

So far the local police have not busted us....

Ken J.

We have been to two WBCCI Internationals, going in with the Vintage Club. They meet up the day before, have a nice evening and "Parade" into the International together. Folks there really enjoy the parade of silver.
I don't recall how it was handled at Burlington, but at Salem, OR, we had a police escort. Two motorcycle officers came to the gathering an hour or so before we were to leave. They had a great time talking with the Airstream owners and seeing the trailers. When we took off, they blocked intersections, helped us onto and off of the freeway, and to the fairgrounds, just like they do for funerals.
I have no idea who arranged this or just how it was done, but it was great.

Had a similar thing happen near Chicago when a large Street Rod gathering (Americruise) was leaving a hot rod shop and getting back on the freeway.

TBRich · 03-22-2010, 12:41 PM

A police escort for the caravan(s) would be wonderful! Last year we were in the 2nd of two 23-unit caravans from the Camping World to the Balloon Grounds with no escort... We were fine and pretty much stayed together until we hit I-25 from I-40 and then it really fell apart as we merged with the local traffic...we were afraid we'd lose someone...we didn't, but it would not have been hard to "get lost"... An escort would give us that much more presence...

twestover · 03-23-2010, 08:38 AM

That would be great. If we are going to meet up at a certain time and go together, it would be great to know what day/time ahead of time so we can plan our travels from Oregon (and I'm sure others as well) to coincide with our festival arrival. Somehow, I suspect that Ken is all over that and we'll find out when we need to know ;-) We're starting to make our reservations at national parks on the way down and local spots as well. Does anyone have any great recommendations for some place near Flagstaff?

Terri

Ken J · 03-23-2010, 09:56 AM

WE are professionals - do not try this at home...

We do desinate a meeting place and time. What we are waiting to see is how many of us there will be - I'll know that more next month. Normally we meet around noon - may want to do that a little earlier this year as they want us there as early as possible in order to park us - so stay tuned.

Police escorts are not free - as Terry said it is really hard to get lost - and as long as everyone stays together we are good - last year folks did not keep up and we got seperated - but it still worked well.

Stay tuned - it will be a great time for all....

I will be sending e-mail updates to everyone from time to time and by the time balloon fiesta happens you will be well informed... we try to give the impression of loose organization - but in the backround we (yes we do have an organizing committee for this) are highly organized...

Ken J.

TBRich · 03-23-2010, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twestover

That would be great. If we are going to meet up at a certain time and go together, it would be great to know what day/time ahead of time so we can plan our travels from Oregon (and I'm sure others as well) to coincide with our festival arrival. Somehow, I suspect that Ken is all over that and we'll find out when we need to know ;-) We're starting to make our reservations at national parks on the way down and local spots as well. Does anyone have any great recommendations for some place near Flagstaff?

Terri

Terri...

The KOA in Flagstaff is supposed to be nice...and centrally located, but we have not stayed there. Our favorite places in the Flagstaff area are:

(1) Pinegrove Campground in the Coconino National Forest...you can make reservations and about 1/2 the sites are first come first served...it's the nicest dry camping campground in that area and is busy, so you are best off to make reservations... It's about 15 SE of Flagstaff off Lake Mary Road on the way to Mormon Lake. It's open until 12 Oct this year. Pinegrove website.

(2) Bonito Campground also in the Coconino National Forest at the entrance to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument...this is 18 NE of Flagstaff on Highway 89...entrance to Sunset Crater Nat'l Monument also gets you into the Wupatki National Monument (both worth seeing) .. Bonito website. It's also dry camping, and there is no dump station

(3) We also liked the Kaibab Lake Campground... It's in the Kaibab National Forest near Williams, AZ about 40 miles west of Flag, just off Route 64 which goes to the Grand Canyon north form I-40. Kaibab Lake website. Williams is also the home base for the Grand Canyon Railway that runs to the Grand Canyon daily. The Train website. There is also a nice-for-what-it-is RV park with full hookups at the Train Depot.

We made a 12-day campground-hopping trip in Aug 09 to all these places...check our Aug 09 Trip for pics & details (or see link in our signature below for our travel).

Ken does a great job of giving us all the information we need to gather and make our grand entrance the day we enter the Balloon Grounds...and there are usually minor convergences of aluminum along the the way as folks head to ABQ ...the whole thing is a real "event!"

Have fun and travel well!

Ken J · 03-23-2010, 06:16 PM

I've stayed at the Flagstaff KOA - I thought it was fine...

Thanks for the kind words Terry - we have this down after several years of doing this..

Ken J.

**azflycaster** · 03-23-2010, 06:40 PM

We spent a night at the KOA in Flagstaff last year and thought it was very nice. It is not the easiest park to pull a trailer around it, the roads are tight, but doable. One of our favorite places to stop is a little east of flagstaff. Meteor Crater RV park is very large and is kept up very nicely.

twestover · 03-24-2010, 08:54 AM

Thanks for all those great tips about Flagstaff campgrounds, we'll start trying to book some this week. We're not sure how busy the fall campgrounds will be coming down, but I've been working on Zion reservations for several days now, and the really choice spots are pretty much booked already. I'm thinking smaller ones might be easier to grab.

Ken, you are a brave man, and I can't wait to meet you. This seems a significant task! If you need help with anything, we are both very good helpers, especially when it comes to food and drink. Just let us know what we can do!

Terri and Hal

Ken J · 03-24-2010, 09:21 AM

Thanks - its not just me - there are several on the committee. Food and drink are always - we have a big pot luck on Sat night - so be thinking of a great balloon dish.

Ken J.

Frank&Mike · 03-24-2010, 08:59 PM

We will be arriving from Austin, TX. Our plans are to arrive as close to Albuquerque as possible the night of Thurs. Sept. 30th so that we have a reasonably short/easy drive (within a couple of hour drive time to Albuquerque) the morning of Fri. Oct. 1st to meet up with the Caravan.

I checked RV Park Reviews for places within an hour or two of Albuquerque to stay the night of Thurs. Sept. 30th ... but I'm not finding many favorable comments on locations to the South and East of Albuquerque.

A couple of questions:

1. Does anyone have any suggestions for Campgrounds / RV Parks that would be South and East of Albuquerque?
2. RV Parks near Albuquerque indicate they have a 3 night minimum stay (and inflated rates) when reserving near the Balloon Fiesta dates. Are others that are trying to get as close to Albuquerque also staying in the outlying areas away from Albuquerque the night prior?
3. If "Yes" to # 3, where are you staying?
4. Is there anyone else going to the Balloon Fiesta from the Austin area (or traveling to Albuquerque from our same direction)?

Thanks for any input that anyone can offer.

**azflycaster** · 03-24-2010, 09:27 PM

For folks coming from the west.
We have stayed at the KOA in Grants for the past 3 years the night before the rally and we are going to do it again this year. It's a great place to spend the night and in the morning we have about a 1 hour drive to get to the gathering point for the drive into the fiesta. If you are going to stay at the KOA, I suggest you book your site now as things do fill up quickly. Make sure you mention that you are with the "Airstream Group" and they will do their best to keep us together.

We are going to try and get to the fiesta a little earlier this year, so we need to be pulling out of the KOA around 8am.

6PackCharlie · 03-24-2010, 11:19 PM

Frank&Mike,

I live 24 miles northeast of Tucumcari which is on I-40, 175 miles east of Albuquerque.
We will get loaded up Thursday and leave for the Balloon Fiesta at 7:00am on Friday morning (October 1st). There is a KOA located just west of Tucumcari. I have never stayed there, so I don't know anything about the RV park.
If you want to stay in Tucumcari, we would be willing to caravan with you to Albuquerque on October 1st.

Charles

kingfisher24 · 03-25-2010, 04:46 AM

I'll meet up with you in tucumcari and we can do our second caravan together...all we need in airstream 01 to lead the parade...

Ken J · 03-25-2010, 12:13 PM

For anyone who is interested, Enchanted Trails is right next to Camping World and is our staging place for anyone who wants to stay overnight prior to meeting up on Friday.

As Richard we are trying to take off a little earlier this year because the parking folks would like us there as soon as we can all get there - and we want to keep the parking folks happy (because they decide where we park...

)

The plan at this point is to try to meet up at Camping World at about 10 am and take off about 11 am

Ken J

Ken J.