Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta National Rally 2014

[monah]

Yay Dave & Jeni!!!!

[Arcticfox]

Originally Posted by monah

You'll have an awesome time Doug & Sharon....look forward to meeting the two if you. Be prepared to smile, a ton!!!

Thanks for the welcome Mona - we are always good for a smile or two....
I'm sure we will have a ton of questions between now and then on what to bring etc as this type of stuff is totally new to the both of us.

Thanks again

Doug

[Ken J]

Orange - I go through the registrations once a week - so have not gone through this weeks batch yet - if you sent it last week I'm sure it's in this weeks batch - we are very close to full -

[steverino]

Originally Posted by weirdstuff

In anticipation of the Big Big Birthday Party, I was practicing making those jello shots today.

Good suggestion made earlier about trying to camp near each other. I'd love to camp near some fellow musicians too. Who else is bringing instruments?

We are in! First timers and looking forward to it! We'll be bringing ukuleles; this is not to say we are any good at it, but the more adult beverages, the better we sound

Steve and Cindy

[Jenniflow]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

You won't really need a vehicle to get around the Balloon Fiesta itself. The rally site is just outside a gate into the balloon field. There's some stuff to do within reasonable bicycling distance from the rally site, but Albuquerque is a typical sprawling southwestern US city so the majority of destinations outside the balloon fiesta would be more convenient with a vehicle. The last time I was there I went off the fiesta grounds a couple of times for meals in a couple of well-recommended places.

Thanks! I am developing a plan ... We will bring our guitars, just in case they are called for.

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by steverino

We'll be bringing ukuleles; this is not to say we are any good at it, but the more adult beverages, the better we sound

Steve and Cindy

We've got a uke too. Guitar, fiddle, uke, and might bring my flute. The more adult beverages, the better we sound too!

Originally Posted by Jenniflow

We will bring our guitars, just in case they are called for.

The guitars are called for, so bring 'em!!

[Jenniflow]

Will do!
Got another couple questions: My husband will be in his busy season, he travels a lot for business this time of year. What's the internet situation out there? Good 3G? 4G? ATT? Verizon? Local wifi hotspot? We've got plenty of electronics, we just need a strong signal.

And will their be any public facilities anywhere within walking distance? Or is it strict dry-camping, bring it and leave with it?

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by weirdstuff

We've got a uke too. Guitar, fiddle, uke, and might bring my flute. The more adult beverages, the better we sound too! The guitars are called for, so bring 'em!!

I'll have my tenor guitar with me. Had a couple of nights of good jamming with it at AlumaFlamingo last month.

I'll be coming in as part of the Texas Highland Lakes Unit caravan of 25 rigs.

[weirdstuff]

We are gonna have some fun times jammin'!!!!

It's looking more and more like this will be added on towards the end of our cross country trip. And then after this rally, we'll finally head home to San Diego. Not sure where we'll be coming from. Only thing for sure is that we will not be coming from the west.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Jenniflow

Will do!
Got another couple questions: My husband will be in his busy season, he travels a lot for business this time of year. What's the internet situation out there? Good 3G? 4G? ATT? Verizon? Local wifi hotspot? We've got plenty of electronics, we just need a strong signal.

And will their be any public facilities anywhere within walking distance? Or is it strict dry-camping, bring it and leave with it?

In 2012, both AT&T and VZW (my personal and work devices, respectively) were well-covered at the fiesta grounds and around Albuquerque. LTE with Verizon, I don't remember if AT&T was LTE or faux-G at the time, but I'd expect it to be LTE by now. Of course, when the crowds come for the balloon launches and such, there is contention for RF bandwidth and performance takes a hit, but at those times you should be watching the balloons anyway.

[MsRivet]

Originally Posted by weirdstuff

We are gonna have some fun times jammin'!!!!

It's looking more and more like this will be added on towards the end of our cross country trip. And then after this rally, we'll finally head home to San Diego. Not sure where we'll be coming from. Only thing for sure is that we will not be coming from the west.

Getting my uke next week! Uh my first musical instrument. I'm only guessing the more jello shots & adult beverages consumed ... the better one may sound.

We will be arriving to ABQ in the middle of our Southwest travels. Then off to the North Rim and the Mighty Five NPs in Utah. Eventually we will return home to Central Florida.

Can't wait for our first Balloon Fest and meeting everyone there!

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by MsRivet

Getting my uke next week! Uh my first musical instrument. I'm only guessing the more jello shots & adult beverages consumed ... the better one may sound.

I find that about one adult beverage makes me relax and play better (I think, anyway), but much more than that one beverage and my fingers increasingly become unattached to my brain.

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by Pahaska

I find that about one adult beverage makes me relax and play better (I think, anyway), but much more than that one beverage and my fingers increasingly become unattached to my brain.

There is that.....

Sometimes the trick is to have only one beverages, but to make sure the "audience" has more.

[wkerfoot]

John,

Will you be at the Balloon Fiesta Rally this year?

Bill

Originally Posted by Pahaska

I find that about one adult beverage makes me relax and play better (I think, anyway), but much more than that one beverage and my fingers increasingly become unattached to my brain.

[steverino]

Originally Posted by weirdstuff

There is that.....

Sometimes the trick is to have only one beverages, but to make sure the "audience" has more.

Exactly!!!

[kingfisher24]

what is the first date(day) at the festival location? and where is the meet up this year? at the festival is it the 4th-5th-6th and 7th?

thanks

[Ken J]

We will give all the details as we get closer - we will come onto the field and park Friday morning the 3rd

[Arcticfox]

Originally Posted by MsRivet

We will be arriving to ABQ in the middle of our Southwest travels. Then off to the North Rim and the Mighty Five NPs in Utah. Eventually we will return home to Central Florida.

Can't wait for our first Balloon Fest and meeting everyone there!

We are thinking of doing sort of the same... (other than we are coming from the opposite direction...lol) The Balloon fest is a long way for us, so combining it with other stops is very much in the cards. We were in Zion and Bruce last winter for a bit, but plan to head back there to see the stuff we missed the first time.
Cheers
Doug

[steverino]

Originally Posted by Arcticfox

We were in Zion and Bruce last winter for a bit, but plan to head back there to see the stuff we missed the first time.

That's the thing about southern Utah - there's so much to see and do. We've spent 2 weeks there each of the past two summers, and still there's lot we've missed!

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

John,
Will you be at the Balloon Fiesta Rally this year?
Bill

I'll be there with the Texas Highland Lakes caravan of 25 rigs. Just got the first draft of the driver's manual for the caravan by email. This will be a first time for me at the Balloon Fiesta.