The Travel Adventures of Paula and Dick Fenner

The Travel Adventures of Paula and Dick Fenner

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2012



After spending a wonderful year in the Albuquerque area we decided to wind it up with another Balloon Fiesta.  We booked our stay at Fiesta RV Park from Oct 3 to 15th.  Upon arrival we were shown to our spot in row 3 which gave us a great view of the balloons when they fly south.
As an extra treat we signed up to help on the crew of one of the balloons.  We met a guy from Phoenixville, PA online who was on the crew and he encouraged us to give it a try.  After consulting with another balloon owner/pilot we met in Albuquerque we decided to give it a try.  Of course this was before Dick got an infection in his toe and needed surgery.
Fortunately he came thru surgery with flying colors and healed fairly quickly.  While on crutches the first couple of days he was back on his own two feet before the fiesta was over.
The Balloons Fiesta Day usually begins with a Dawn Patrol (DP) followed by a Mass Ascension.  In the evening a Glow and then Fireworks finishes up the day.  Of course all of this is dependent on weather conditions and pilots do not like to launch when winds are greater then about 10mph.
The balloon we were helping with was called Ham-Let and When Pigs Fly.  Every year the balloonist like to do themes and being an election year Ham-Let was running for office on the 'Swine Ticket'.  We wore red white and blue shirts and enjoyed our Pork Barrel Candidate and the Swine Party Platform:

  • Universal Bacon-Care and Oink-Ment for all
  • More Pork Chops for National Defense
  • Bar-B-Cueing, not Water Boarding
  • Pork Bellies, Not Beer Bellies
  • ham Hocks for Highways
  • Equal pay for all Piglets
  • Leave No Pig Behind
  • Pork for Prosperity
As the Swine Party candidate for President Ham-Let stands 115' tall, is 60' wide, and is 80' long from snout to tail and is committed to "Bacon A Difference" in 2012.
Ham-Let plays 145 degrees of Pork, not Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, and is putting ribs and chops first, along with coleslaw, beans and BBQ sauce.  Think pink, not green.
As usual I took hundreds of pictures and can't post them all but here are are few.  We love this event and hope to attend again.

Airing up the Pig

Presidental Candidate

Ready to fly

Crew packs up the trailer

Lift off

Up Up and Away

Flame



Chase car and trailer

Too Windy for Balloon but great for kite

Kite flys well


Quilt made from previous years shirts 

We all signed the back

Appropriate sign on chase vehicle

Piglets (crew)


Our Crew Passes


Morning Dawn Patrol glow


Beautiful sight early in the morning



Clock is smiling on this side

Strange clock and Ham-Let


Elvis has been spotted



Mistofellees is watching from inside the RV

Smile

Matches our spinner

Looks woven

Zebra

Globe

Close up of Globe basket

Flying right over us

This one is coming down near RVs

It's down

Clouds add to the spectacular view

Mist watching from her tent

Bright sun requires shades

Colorful

Quilt look

Local horse patrol

Panda

Phantom

Fireman

Major employer in the area


Patriotic

Lands close by

Humpty Dumpty

Sushi

Ark

Lion King over the Balloon Museum

Above the Crowd

Bee Couple

Spider Pig

Shadow posing

Queen of the bed

Mass Ascension 

Laying out a balloon on the field

Crowd waiting to ascend

Flame on!

Cow is up

Cute butterfly

Monkies

Elephant

Ready to go


Marker thrown from balloon trying to hit target on field.    Aiming for a boat and other targets.

Hovering over Boat trying to win

Spiral of color

Crowd of balloons waiting to launch



Many nights finish with a spectacular fireworks show.  If you plan a trip to New Mexico and Albuquerque in particular try to make it the beginning of October and go to the Balloon Fiesta!

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