4CU 004 : 2011 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta!

[pmclemore]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Thanks for the kind words.

Jan and I do what we can to help out, but the real thanks go to Ken and his group that put this together every year.

Ken has raised the bar this year with 100 trailers. We stated this in 2007 with a couple of dozen and we were parked behind the Balloon Museum. It just gets better every year. This was our group in 2007.

Please cut-and-paste that good lookin' red rig into this year's photo. I will be there in spirit.

Pat

[Steelegood]

Zep[/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by Alumaholic

You will be drawn outside like a moth to the flame.
There is so much going on from dawn to well after dark,
You'll find yourself outside all the time.
Though you can see the field from our parking area, you really can't see much from inside the trailer, front or rear.
Balloons float upward and out of sight of those trying to watch from inside.

Have a safe trip down from Crawford.

[QUOTE=Zeppelinium;1049475]Well, duh, why didn't I think of this? You are absolutely right!

Well, when I take my afternoon nap, I will have every window open, AND THE "VISTA VIEW" windows open, so I won't miss too much.

If your handy, like CrawfordGene, you still have time to install some vista view windows, then, like me, you can lay on your couch and still see the balloons.

[Zeppelinium]

Originally Posted by Steelegood

...If you're handy, like CrawfordGene, you still have time to install some vista view windows, then, like me, you can lay on your couch and still see the balloons.

You obviously don't know my history. You will understand when you see the window modifications on my Sovereign... Zep

[Gene]

I'll see if I can get a carbide tipped chain for my chain saw and create convertible Airstreams. I do have Vista Views (aren't they the oval windows up at the curve between side wall and roof?), but I plan to do surgery just above the beltline. Instead of a cloth top, I'll put a big hinge at the front and a hydraulic lifts to open and close the top half.

The reason I wanted a window view from my dinette is so I can what is going on and decide what I want to go outside to see better (thereby risking my life because of previously stated reasons such as black widows and crazies). My biggest problem is being dragged out of bed at the hour of 5 am regardless of low flying planes and rowdies. I have bear spray for the latter.

Gene

[StreamRollin]

Originally Posted by pmclemore

Well, friends, I'm sorry to report that I cannot come this year. I had to have quick surgery to repair a detached retina - which went perfectly - but I will not have sight in that eye for some weeks. So I cannot make the trip from Virginia.../ See you on the road.

Pat

We wish you a speedy recovery, that does not sound at all pleasant. Sorry that it has interupted your plans for NM. Total bummer. Wendy

[Alumaholic]

We love the taste of chili peppers

[azflycaster]

This link is from an email from the Fiesta. It has some interesting information for people attending this years event...

Balloon Fiesta: September 2011 Newsletter

[airstreamhobo]

We are in the home stretch for the Balloon Rally, We are in Sedona till sat. then up to Rt. 40 for Enchanted Trails arriving on monday. We are excited to come this far to see the Balloons. See you all there!! Catch my Blog below, AirstreamHobo

[AirEPotter]

This is our first Ballon Fiesta and we are so excited! For those of you who are old pros, please tell me your thoughts on bringing bicycles. How spread out are things? Are bikes allowed pretty much everywhere? I don't want to haul 4 bikes if they are not really useful at the park. We have two kids ages 11 and 12.

[Alumaholic]

...you will be glad you did!

Though you won't be allowed to take them down on the launch field, you will find many great places to ride. In fact, I believe we will be parked adjacent to a bike trail that connects with an elaborate network of bike trails. Ken J. can verify (or refute) this. He is a bicyclist extraordinaire.

[Phoenix]

Yes, we saw people using bike trails, which follow a canal and go all the way downtown. I think some locals commute to work on their bikes. Not sure, but I think there was a vendor renting bikes near the entrance; although, this may have been bike parking for people coming to the Balloon Fiesta.

You can't beat the RV parking location and proximity to the balloon field, food and souvenir vendors and Balloon Museum. We didn't drive anywhere last year, although the field is much longer, end-to-end, than it looks from the corporate tent area.

Also, last year, there were storms almost every evening that cancelled the balloon glow events. You'll be glad you can walk back to your Airstream, when you see the lines of cars trying to get in and out of the park for hours!

[eubank]

I was just thinking about our bikes this morning. We'll probably bring them, but I think I'm going to take the big basket off the one in order to make it easier to transport.

Lynn

[Lumatic]

Pardon this minor hijack but if while you are in the area you might be interested in this unusual rally shortly following the Balloon Fiesta. BIG FUN guaranteed. I tried to talk the Balloon Fiesta into moving to Estancia so we can use them for pumpkin target practice but they did not go for it. So 2 separate rallies. See the rally listing for details

[Gene]

Supposed to be 89˚ in Alb. today, 79˚ Friday and 50˚ Sat. morning.

Maybe you could bring the catapults from Estancia to try them out.

Gene

[SilverPal]

We're getting closer.....down from Colorful Colorado and hanging in Chama, New Mexico this evening. Sky Mountain RV Resort is quite nice!

[Castaway]

After 3 days on the road we have made it to Amarillo, heading to Taos tomorrow for 2 days and then to enchanted trails. Looking forward to meeting everyone.


Gary and Edna

[aftermath]

We are camped at the north rim of the Grand Canyon and are looking forward to the Balloon Festival. We left Spokane, WA 9 days ago and have been through the Yellowstone area, Salt Lake City, Bryce Canyon and will hit the Flagstaff and Sedona areas in a couple days. We have seen some amazing territory.

Looking forward to seeing all of you.

[Zeppelinium]

Does anyone have or know how I can get the female part to the door latch, eg, the fitting that is riveted in the door frame and receives the latch tongue? Mine fractured in Yosemite (yay, going 35 mph, no additional damage as the door opened) and now I have to jam the door shut with a piece of wood.

I'll send a photo tomorrow if there is a question about what it looks like.

Zep

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

Now I'll have to lie in bed all day looking up through the fan instead of slumped over the dinette table with a mirror to see through that fan. I thought it would be nice to look out the front window and see when it is time to go outside, but I like the stay-in-bed all day option.

Gene

Hi, you might not want to do this. This reminds me of when we were there in 2009, I think. I was eating my dinner and the wind started blowing. I heard a FLAP from the rear of my trailer. I immediately went to the back of my trailer and looked up. What I found was that the wind had blown my rear vent lid off. In my trailer, this vent is dead center over our queen bed. [ this would have made a clear view while lying in my bed] Lee Lee didn't understand my urgency to forget my dinner and do something with this vent lid. I was able to borrow a ladder from one of the group and duct tape the broken lid back in place. That night it rain stormed by the gallons, but we stayed dry. Now you know one of the reasons that I installed vent covers on my trailer. Gene, you don't want that view. The best view is from outside.

Make sure you have plenty of memory in your camera/s and never leave your trailer without your camera/s. This is a great group of people/Airstreamers and they gave us memories that we will never forget, not to mention all of the pictures we took. This will be the greatest experience that you will ever have in one place. We are unable to go this year so please post a lot of pictures.


Have a great time.

[Ken J]

Airepotter - your question about bikes makes me wonder if you have received the numerous e-mail info that we have sent out - it mentions bikes and a bike tour we plan to do on Sat - - - - - -

Zep - I would bet that Uwe would have that latch - should be easy to find....

Ken J.