{"id":841,"date":"2009-10-11T15:09:59","date_gmt":"2009-10-11T22:09:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.keys-soap.com\/chill\/?p=841"},"modified":"2015-06-29T13:30:29","modified_gmt":"2015-06-29T20:30:29","slug":"albuquerque-its-balloonacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chilltravelers.com\/chill\/albuquerque-its-balloonacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Albuquerque… It’s Balloonacy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"aloft2_art\"<\/a>Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2009<\/p>\n

It was 1995 that we had our chance meeting in New Mexico along the Pecos River near Santa Fe. Since then, we have returned to New Mexico.\u00a0 First a year later to get married in Taos, resign from our corporate lives and to forever look forward.\u00a0 It was the beginning of our SeeLevel life and adventures.<\/p>\n

Since our first meeting, we have talked about going to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.\u00a0 A Hot Air Balloon event that is full of mystery for us.\u00a0 What would it be like to watch these balloons, 500 strong, take off.\u00a0 \u00a0Little did we know that we would not be watching from the sidelines, but right smack in the middle of the field.<\/p>\n

After being in Santa Fe for a week before the balloon fiesta, we decided that it was going to be so big that we had better get to Albuquerque early.\u00a0 We made reservations to stay in the VIP RV lot three months before.\u00a0 This was going to be fun for us because we were only steps away from the balloon fiesta field.\u00a0 It was also going to be interesting to see how the Grizzly would do being off grid for 5 nights.\u00a0 Would there be enough water and how would the hybrid power system do?\u00a0 Quiet hours were good from 10:30p to 5:30a.\u00a0 Could all the systems, our computer network and creature comforts hold up?<\/p>\n

We were total newbie\u2019s and we acted like it.\u00a0 What we did not have experience with became a big deal.\u00a0 What would the RV Park be like when we got there?\u00a0 How did our passes work?\u00a0 Rumors of record crowds caused us to wonder where we would stand.\u00a0 Would we be able to see anything?<\/p>\n

We arrive on Wednesday before the Balloon Fiesta was to open.\u00a0 We drove down from Santa Fe early in the morning.\u00a0 We drove by the balloon field headed for Flying J to fuel up.\u00a0 Then we headed back to the fiesta.\u00a0 We began to see signs on the freeway that said, \u201cNo parking!\u201d\u2026on the freeway???<\/p>\n

We exited to follow the signs to the VIP RV parking.\u00a0 The signs directed us past the Balloon Museum to a small road that said Balloon Pilots Only.\u00a0 Down the road we went.<\/p>\n

A few years prior, we attended the motor coach convention and were parked at the balloon fiesta park.\u00a0 When we arrived there, we had to register for the event.\u00a0 Standing in line, we only saw a few coaches.\u00a0 We asked the person at the desk where all the coaches were?\u00a0 They said, when you finish, walk over to the edge of the hill and look down.\u201d\u00a0 We did and when we peered over the edge, there was 75 acres packed end to end with motor coaches.\u00a0 We were blown away then and so here we were a few years later at even a bigger event driving down the road to the RV area.\"pano2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As we turned the corner we saw the staging area.\u00a0 We thought to ourselves, how long would the wait be?\u00a0 Well, no wait, no delays and no motor coaches.\u00a0 We were one of the first to arrive.\u00a0 How funny was that and it was the beginning of a great week full of major experiences and a world of fun.<\/p>\n

We befriended the volunteers working the RV park registration and they helped us with the ropes.\u00a0 They told us when, where and how to go through our few days.\u00a0 That Friday, they told us that balloons would practice and take other for a ride.\u00a0 At $350 per person, we knew it was serious riding.\u00a0 So, we set the alarm for 4:30 and left the coach well before dawn.\u00a0 As we walked over the bridge from the RV area, we walked past the sponsor tents and saw our first glimpse of the field.\u00a0 Still dark, every lane was marked with a bright blue light spaced about 20 yards apart in every direction.\u00a0 Hundreds of blue lights were in front of us.\u00a0 It was magical.<\/p>\n

We noticed balloons down the field at the other end.\u00a0 Seemed like just a few, but when we arrive there were more balloons than we had ever seen before.\u00a0 This was not a fiesta day, but a trial for the balloonists.\u00a0 Turned out to be a great education for us because we were able to strategize what we would do when the Fiesta opened.<\/p>\n

Opening day came and we awoke and were on the field at 5:00a for what is called the \u201cDawn Patrol\u201d event.\u00a0 Twelve handpicked balloons take off in total darkness to see how the winds are at different altitudes to report back to the other pilots.<\/p>\n

Standing on the field in total darkness only lit be those blue lights, it was impossible to tell that there was 100,000 people on the field with us.\u00a0 Amazingly with all those people, it was almost silent as people waited for the first burners to fire.<\/p>\n

\"burn\"<\/a>A small weather balloon was released with a laser affixed to it so that the Dawn Patrol had an idea of the direction they would be traveling.\u00a0 Then suddenly burners were test fired.\u00a0 The darkness lit up with a dozen three story flames.\u00a0 These were the tests of just the burner and it was an awesome experience by itself.\u00a0 Then the baskets were hooked to their respective balloon and laid on their sides.\u00a0 Gas fired engines with small propellers inflated the envelopes.\u00a0 As they filled, these 100\u2019 tall giants began to take shape.\u00a0 Then the burners fired hard to inflate the balloons.\u00a0 As they grew full, the basket was pulled upright and the crews struggled to hold the balloons on the ground.<\/p>\n

The announcer, a twenty year veteran, had the Dawn Patrol fire their burners in a show that was amazing.\u00a0 Still dark, they fired hard again and lifted off.\u00a0 We cannot describe what it was like, so we are working on a video that we will add here when it is finished.\"glowup\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"luanch\"<\/a>They lifted off and rose to different altitudes to change direction.\u00a0 This field is well-known in ballooning for what is called the Fiesta Box Wind.\u00a0 Lift off and go up 300\u2019 and the balloon goes south.\u00a0 Go up another 300\u2019 and the balloon goes north.\u00a0 Drop 100\u2019 and it goes east.\u00a0 Looking up to the sky, balloons crossed back and forth for over an hour.\u00a0 All seemed so close you felt like you could reach up and touch them.\u00a0 As the sun rose, dawns early light greeted the Dawn Patrol.<\/p>\n

The next thing we knew, it was dawn and balloon team after balloon team started to drive on to the field.\u00a0 A string of headlights poured into this 75 acre open field.\u00a0 It seemed like every square inch of the field was covered with baskets and balloons.<\/p>\n

We had wondered how we would be able to see what was going on.\u00a0 We expected as these balloons showed up that they would clear the field so the balloons could inflate and fly off.\u00a0 To our surprise, there was no such order.\u00a0 Could it be true that we were going to be allowed to stand right here and watch.\u00a0 You bet!\u00a0 We talked to some experienced attendees and they confirmed that the balloons inflate around us and take off in a tight sequence.<\/p>\n

\"alien\"<\/a>The balloons assembled and like the dawn patrol, they fired their burners to test.\u00a0 Then the field filled with the sound of a thousand gas engines to inflate the balloons to a point where they could fire their burners again to fully inflate them prior to launch.<\/p>\n

Row after row stood up and awaited the launch command.<\/p>\n

Why we are able to stay on the field, stand next to the balloons as they lift off and why this event has a great safety record is because of a group called the Zebra\u2019s.\u00a0 \"zebra\"<\/a>As the story goes, these launch directing team had a hard time getting the attention of the balloon pilots because there was so many people on the field.\u00a0 Even though they had police whistles, the pilots found it hard to see them on the field.\u00a0 So, someone had the idea to wear striped referee shirts.\u00a0 Well, things got a little out of hand and the zebra\u2019s got their name because of the flamboyant added featured that they wear on their striped shirt uniform.<\/p>\n

The Zebra\u2019s are Dover pros.\u00a0 They walk row to row launching the balloons in sequence.\u00a0 Each balloon launches in precision with the pilots politely thanking the Zebra\u2019s.\u00a0 Clearly there is respect here.\"zebra2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We heard that there were 550 balloons this year.\u00a0 Someone told us that the record a few years back was 1000.\u00a0 Today, some of the balloons could not be here because they had been held in China after some big event there.\u00a0 The New Jersey promoter that caused these balloons to be trapped in China was nowhere to be found.\u00a0 I wonder why.\u00a0 Drama at the Fiesta!<\/p>\n

It was now 9:00a and we were exhausted.\u00a0 Overwhelmed exhaustion.\u00a0 Wendy has already shot 10 Gigabytes of video and Bob about 1500 still pictures.<\/p>\n

We looked around and all the balloons were gone into the air.\u00a0 The skyline was dotted with balloons.\u00a0 As we walked back to the coach, other balloons sailed by us. The big pig looked as if it had landed on the Grizzly.\u00a0 It just looked that way, but these balloons were everywhere.\u00a0 Silent and beautiful.<\/p>\n

\"pigs\"<\/a><\/p>\n

By 10:00a we were back in bed catching a nap to regroup for the evening events.<\/p>\n

\"gas\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Now around 5:00p, we headed back to the field for two major events.\u00a0 The first was the international gas balloon race and the other, a night glow of 550 balloons.<\/p>\n

\"repairs\"<\/a>As we walked over the bridge we were greeted with eight white round balloons.\u00a0 The noise was deafening as helium gas was filled into each balloon.\u00a0 The winds were high and the balloons rocked back and forth.\u00a0 People hanging on as the pilots struggled with last minute preparation.\u00a0 The premise of this race is to see how far that they can go.\u00a0 Last year\u2019s winner went as far as Madison Wisconsin before landing.<\/p>\n

The balloons are supposed to lift of at 6:00p.\u00a0 Still on the ground at 6:00p we heard the announcement that the balloon glow was cancelled for the evening.\u00a0 The winds are too high.\u00a0 The plan was that all 550 balloons would have been erect at dusk.\u00a0 Then at the direction of a balloon choreographer, they would fire their burners causing their enveloped to glow.\u00a0 This was to be staged to music.\u00a0 We would have to wait.<\/p>\n

Now 7:00p, we heard that the gas balloon race would be postponed or cancelled.\u00a0 We headed back to the coach, not disappointed, but glad to be part of everything we have experienced.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"balloon_pano_hdr\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sunday Morning October 4th<\/sup> 2009<\/p>\n

Now veterans, we slept in a little later this morning.\u00a0 We walked on the field which was still dark.\u00a0 The blue lights lead us to where this morning\u2019s Dawn Patrol would launch.\u00a0 The wind was quiet, but the balloons were not inflating.\u00a0 None of the usual activity was happening.\u00a0 We wonder what was going on, so we talked to a couple of pilots.\u00a0 They were clueless.\u00a0 As dawn broke, we saw why they did not lift off.\u00a0 The wind was light, but the skies were turbulent.\u00a0 We could see wind shears and all sorts of nasty looking clouds.<\/p>\n

\"dabees\"<\/a>As day started to break, we decided to walk over to see the Bees.\u00a0 This pair of balloons stays together holding hands through launch only to separate later in mid-air.\u00a0 Waiting to see what would happen, we talked to the pilots and owner of the Bees.\u00a0 We noticed that they are a marketing company, so we exchanged cards.\u00a0 Maybe next year Keys will have a balloon.\u00a0 \"keys-fiesta\"<\/a>Seems like a good thing to sponsor.\u00a0 Can you imagine????<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now about 9:00a, it was apparent that the skies were clearing.\u00a0 We decided to make the trek up the big hill so we could get some long shots of the launch.\u00a0 Early as balloons began to lift off the weather an light were not so good.\u00a0 Then the sun cleared Sandia Peak and illuminated the balloons in the air.\u00a0 This was a great vantage point that offered new perspectives of this great event.<\/p>\n

Back to the coach and another nap, we awoke to the coach being buffeted by high winds.\u00a0 We had never felt this kind of movement since taking delivery of the Grizzly.\u00a0 We have been in 30+mph crosswinds and this was worse.\u00a0 We were happy we were parked.\u00a0 Looking out the front window, there was a dust storm in front of us and all around us.\u00a0 We knew that they evening events were not going to happen and that our first balloon fiesta was over.\u00a0 Tomorrow we were to head for Las Cruces New Mexico.<\/p>\n

Again, we were not disappointed, but felt privileged to what we had been able to see.<\/p>\n

We will be back!<\/p>\n

Click Here<\/strong> <\/a>to visit our Gallery to see larger and more images of the Fiesta<\/p>\n

\"ranger_wendy\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Ranger Wendy and Smokey<\/p>\n

\"burn_art1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Inflation Art Balloon<\/p>\n

Update: Bob & Wendy on NBC…pics that is.<\/p>\n

We were contacted by a news anchor from the NBC allifiate asking to air some of our pictures. Subsequently, we were contacted by the Balloon Fiesta as a candidate for next years poster art….film at 11 \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

<\/object><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2009 It was 1995 that we had our chance meeting in New Mexico along the Pecos River near Santa Fe. Since then, we have returned to New Mexico.\u00a0 First a year later to get married in Taos, resign from our corporate lives and to forever look forward.\u00a0 It was the beginning of our SeeLevel life and adventures. Since our first meeting, we [–Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-841","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uncategorized"},"yoast_head":"\nAlbuquerque... 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