Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta National Rally 2014

[sleepybear74]

Originally Posted by MsRivet

WOW! The time is approaching fast ... 78 days left until the start of the ABQ Balloon Fiesta. My husband and I will be departing in early September to begin heading that way. It will all be a part of an amazing six week Epic Adventure from Florida for us. Since we will be landing in ABQ just a few days early does anyone have suggestions for the following:

Best Places to Eat
Things to go see
Little Known Spots
Best Pubs
Hiking Adventures
Museums
Tours

Also if anyone needs anything from Florida ... let us know! I can bring sunshine definitely! But no HEAT or HUMIDITY!!! It's only July and we are already over the weather here.

We enjoyed a tour with the ABQ Trolley tours! We also had a great meal at El Pinto and Little Anita's.

[CatStream]

Originally Posted by MsRivet

WOW! The time is approaching fast ... 78 days left until the start of the ABQ Balloon Fiesta. My husband and I will be departing in early September to begin heading that way. It will all be a part of an amazing six week Epic Adventure from Florida for us. Since we will be landing in ABQ just a few days early does anyone have suggestions for the following:

Best Places to Eat
Things to go see
Little Known Spots
Best Pubs
Hiking Adventures
Museums
Tours

Also if anyone needs anything from Florida ... let us know! I can bring sunshine definitely! But no HEAT or HUMIDITY!!! It's only July and we are already over the weather here.

yes could you please bring me a small pet Alligator and one of those Hula Girl lamps made out of sea shells?...okay just kidding,
It is hard to believe it is time to get ready to go to ABQ,
the place I like best there is the Sandia Peak Tram Ride to the top of the mountain, there is a nice place to have a drink and something to eat at the top of the mountain, the view is great, it's usually very cold up there remember to bring gloves and a hat

[MsRivet]

Originally Posted by CatStream

yes could you please bring me a small pet Alligator and one of those Hula Girl lamps made out of sea shells?...okay just kidding,
It is hard to believe it is time to get ready to go to ABQ,
the place I like best there is the Sandia Peak Tram Ride to the top of the mountain, there is a nice place to have a drink and something to eat at the top of the mountain, the view is great, it's usually very cold up there remember to bring gloves and a hat

CatStream . . .

Small pet Alligator - Lets just say 'I know a guy'. His name will remain undisclosed. He may or may not be related to me. You may or may not recognize him. Just concerned about it's (gator's) safety in the A/S shower over the course of traveling from Florida the three weeks prior to our arrival in ABQ.

Hula Girl lamps made out of sea shells - I'm sure I can hook you up! Florida is know for all the tacky stuff around here. Now I have an excuse to go thrifting!!

Stay tuned . . .

[Someday'59]

Originally Posted by MsRivet

CatStream . . .

Small pet Alligator - Lets just say 'I know a guy'. His name will remain undisclosed. He may or may not be related to me. You may or may not recognize him. Just concerned about it's (gator's) safety in the A/S shower over the course of traveling from Florida the three weeks prior to our arrival in ABQ.

Stay tuned . . .

Hmmm... Is this the same guy that runs from snakes? (Or just one copperhead in particular.)

Ms. Rivet, maybe you need to borrow my bathtub for the gator's safe transportation.

[MsRivet]

Originally Posted by Someday'59

Hmmm... Is this the same guy that runs from snakes? (Or just one copperhead in particular.)

Ms. Rivet, maybe you need to borrow my bathtub for the gator's safe transportation.

Goodness ... almost forgot about that incident in Georgia. Thankful we all survived.

Nope. 'I know a guy' is not the same guy that runs from snakes. I'll let you know if bathtub rental is needed. 'I know a guy' lives closer to the FL Everglades. The girls would love him.

Can't wait to see you all again. And in ABQ who would have thought!!! I just finished Walbernizing the A/S this morning one more item to check off the Get'n Ready List. Now for those Hula Girl lamps made out of sea shells, a hat & some gloves. The last two items run scarce in Florida.

[BusDriver]

Ken J

We got in to the Enchanted Hills, Arrive 10/1, Depart 10/3.
So, is there some sort of order we leave in to mover over to the field?
Or is it just go and get in line?

[Ken J]

We will be providing lots of info as we get closer - we are in the process of making arrangements - however what is typical is we meet at camping world on Friday morning - do not go to the fiesta field as they will not let you in - stay tuned

[BusDriver]

thank you

[Zia]

Folks,
We have safely reached the Alaska US border on Alcan Hwy. We are staying at Beaver Creek campground tonight will cross the border tomorrow. Part of the Alcan was a challenge 20 mph.
Anxiously waiting for the e-mail from Ken also checking my bank account hoping the check is cleared.
See you all at the Fiesta

[Landshark]

Ken,

I'm sure I should know this, but what are the amenities available while we are parked? As in: electricity? Water? Hookup or pump-outs?

Thanks!

Vivian

[Ken J]

None - it's dry camping - there will be water and pump out trucks around should you need them - just make sure you get the right one for your needs

[Arcticfox]

Originally Posted by Ken J

None - it's dry camping - there will be water and pump out trucks around should you need them - just make sure you get the right one for your needs

That Ken - he's a funny guy.....lol
But thinking about it - that would really be the shits if you picked the wrong truck - sheesh!

So I'm assuming most people are using generators or solar panels? i'm about to spend a ton of $$ on a generator just for this event, so I felt I better ask

Thanks

Doug

[interstateflyer]

Will trailers with generators and those with solar be in the same area?

[Ken J]

Yup

[Arcticfox]

Originally Posted by Ken J

Yup

That Ken - He's such a talker. Just can't get him to stop talking....lol
Sorry Ken I could not resist....

[Ken J]

Yupper - there are lots of folks with quiet generators - me included - and yes I bought a good one just for this event - there is sooooo much going on that you don't notice them - not to mention you won't be around your trailer much anyway - and..... with all going on and so many folks to visit with sleep is something you do after the fiesta - ask anyone who has attended before they will tell you how much fun this event is - that's why we easily fill this event with 200'Airstreams - it's totally cool !

[interstateflyer]

Not a problem....we have amazing ear plugs. It seems that most people have modern generators that burn efficiently. Air quality....my main concern.

[switz]

Last year, the furnace ran at night and sucked hard on the two OEM batteries. We had a 150 watt solar panel poorly installed by the selling dealer and we needed to use one of our two 2,000 watt Honda generator sets to top up the battery during the day. Once or twice, just to see if it worked, we hooked them together. We could only ran the toaster if a generator was connected as the Airstream 600 watt inverter was a joke.

This year with the new trailer and 800 watts of solar panel on the roof, I expect the generators will stay in the truck, but I will take them just in case... We can create 2800 watts of pure sine wave AC current, if needed, from four Lifeline 6Vdc 300-amp hour batteries crating 12Vdc and 600 amp-hours of power.

So, yes, recharging the batteries is necessary, the means to accomplish that goal vary widely among the two hundred Airstream entries to the power your trailer event co-located with the Balloon Festival.

In considering generator size, a Microwave requires over 1,600 watts and the convection microwave is closer to 1,850 watts. The new 1,000 watt Airstream factory inverter can not power those devices. Thus two 2,000 watt or a 3,000 watt generator are necessary to power just that device without hairdryers or air conditioners etc running. Do thorough AC power requirements homework before purchase.

The Honda 2,000 watt units weight around 50 pounds, the Honda 3,000 watt 3000is model is closer to 134 pounds...... I can personally handle the two 2,000 watt units one at a time, but the day is past I want to tackle 134 pounds alone. BTW. the Honda 3000is is significantly quieter then the 3000i.

[interstateflyer]

Originally Posted by switz

Last year, the furnace ran at night and sucked hard on the two OEM batteries. We had a 150 watt solar panel poorly installed by the selling dealer and we needed to use one of our two 2,000 watt Honda generator sets to top up the battery during the day. Once or twice, just to see if it worked, we hooked them together. We could only ran the toaster if a generator was connected as the Airstream 600 watt inverter was a joke.

This year with the new trailer and 800 watts of solar panel on the roof, I expect the generators will stay in the truck, but I will take them just in case... We can create 2800 watts of pure sine wave AC current, if needed, from four Lifeline 6Vdc 300-amp hour batteries crating 12Vdc and 600 amp-hours of power.

So, yes, recharging the batteries is necessary, the means to accomplish that goal vary widely among the two hundred Airstream entries to the power your trailer event co-located with the Balloon Festival.

In considering generator size, a Microwave requires over 1,600 watts and the convection microwave is closer to 1,850 watts. The new 1,000 watt Airstream factory inverter can not power those devices. Thus two 2,000 watt or a 3,000 watt generator are necessary to power just that device without hairdryers or air conditioners etc running. Do thorough AC power requirements homework before purchase.

The Honda 2,000 watt units weight around 50 pounds, the Honda 3,000 watt 3000is model is closer to 134 pounds...... I can personally handle the two 2,000 watt units one at a time, but the day is past I want to tackle 134 pounds alone. BTW. the Honda 3000is is significantly quieter then the 3000i.

Was that the fan in you gas heater that caused the high demand?

I'm hoping that our soon to be installed 325 watts of panels will support our 12 volt needs.....gas safety system, gas heater fan, fantastic fans, hood fan, LEDs, TV, radio, dvd etc. The 1000 watt factory inverter should charge laptops, phones, Nooks and camera batteries.

[Ken J]

Wow wow wow - we have one little battery, blankets and a Olympic heater to take the slight off in the morning - and we run the generator only when we run the fan to cool off the Airstream and really don't need it for that