Balloon Festival:

[Dennis S]

I have been so busy lately that I failed to say anything about the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. This is held every year in Albuquerque about this time. Some time ago it was discovered that, about this time of year the weather conditions in Albuquerque, combined with the terrain are perfect for balloons. The conditions are described by some as the "chimney". The short story is that, very reliably, the balloons can take off in the morning from Albuquerque, with the wind causing them drift away (if I have this right) from the mountains, and later in the day drift back to where they started from.

People love the festival, even when balloons end up in their yard, etc. Each balloon has it's own "balloon chase vehicle". These are often wonderfully decorated, and add to the fun. Our granddaughter loved theballoons, and was invited to sit in the baskets whenever we found one touching down. We graciously declined invitations for rides. I think Ellie's favorite part was when the would pull the lever so flame would loudly blast out of the heater at the top of the basket to heat the air in the balloon. It must have seemed like a dragon to her.

The picture below is to give an idea of how many balloons come to the festival from around the world. I would guess there are about 1,000 balloon altogether. To the right is a balloon that got so high that he blocked the brightest part of the son for a while. My daughter called that a "balloon eclipse".

 

[CathyK.]

We have one here too! They are so beautiful to watch. I work with a lady that has one. Well it is really her husband's hobby. We see them in the air all the time on week-ends and they have landed behind our house before. Really neat thing to see!

 

[Marguerite53]

Our granddaughter loved theballoons, and was invited to sit in the baskets whenever we found one touching down. We graciously declined invitations for rides. I think Ellie's favorite part was when the would pull the lever so flame would loudly blast out of the heater at the top of the basket to heat the air in the balloon. It must have seemed like a dragon to her.
QUOTE]

I had to laugh! A dragon. Such a brave girl!!! When our middle son was barely 2, we approached a hot air balloon (by invitation, a promotional one, so all alone) at the insistence of the 4 year old. When they fired up the heater my little son in my arms went "ballistic" with fear. He was inconsolable. I had to leave my husband and older son and take him far away! It is one of those times you feel so awful as a mother!!! I thought I'd damaged him for life! We had had no idea the guy would fire the thing up like that!

We have a similar event....certainly not so many balloons! We often forget about it (as it is somewhat out of town) and then see a few gliding by, soundlessly, in the sky. (we have a vineyard close by and that is always ridiculously picturesque to be driving by and see that!) We also have a "night glow" the night before the big send off. Those are like walking through giant sized luminaria all parked in a kind of maze. It's lovely.

Never been up in one..... might be nice..... say, over northern Italy or something!!

Thanks!

Marguerite

 

[Mary]

Thanks for reminding me Dennis that a balloon ride is another thing I want to do during this lifetime!

 

[marky]

Thanks for reminding me Dennis that a balloon ride is another thing I want to do during this lifetime!

Mary, have you made your life list?
I just started mine


The Balloon Festivals are so much fun!!

 

[CathyK.]

Mary - I can hook you up!!

 

[geebee]

Dennis,

I have loved balloons ever since my trip to Paris in 1983. I managed to be in Paris (and at the launch location) for the 200th anniversary of the first hot air balloon flight. They launched numerous balloons and it was gorgeous. Didn't know about it beforehand and we went to the location to visit a museum. Got off the Metro right into a huge crowd of people. Being claustrophobic, this was a real shocker for me. However, I am sure glad I was able to experience it.

Thanks for reminding me of that and for sharing your festival photos.

 

[gadgetman]

I have a funny story dealing with hot air balloons. We used to do a lot of camping with a club while living around DC. We didn?t know it at the time but they were having a big hot air balloon festival near the campground where we were staying in Virginia.

One of our members was an early riser and liked to take his morning walk. You know, early morning, out in the country, so peaceful and quite. As he was walking on a trail near the campground deep in thought he suddenly heard a VOICE FROM ABOVE say ?HELLO?. Needless to say, he was suddenly very alert. The voice again said (from ABOVE mind you) ?HELLO, CAN YOU HELP US?. As there were no large trees nearby, he thought, can this be God talking to me???? He looked up and there about 50 feet above him was a hot air balloon with 4 people leaning over the basket looking down at him. He later told us he was both relieved and disappointed at the same time. They wanted to know where they were. He told them the name of the campground and town and they were on their way. He said he felt like the experience removed 5 years off his life. He loved to tell that story to just about anyone that would listen.

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[hensylee]

Dennis, my sister used to attend that one every year.

 

[Mary]

Mary - I can hook you up!!

Really? Please tell me more!

Geebee,
Did you go up in a balloon or just watch the launch?

Marky,
There aren't many items left on my life list, so now I guess I'm just filling in the blank spaces!

Gadget,
That is too funny!

Hensylee,
That was Jackie?

 

[hensylee]

Hensylee,
That was Jackie?

No, it was Nancy. She used to live in Oklahoma and would go down every year to the balloon festival. She was enthralled by the beauty and fun of it all.

I expect Jackie has her very own heavenly balloon - or a heavenly jet -

 

[geebee]

Mary,

I just watched. The balloons were actually part of a race so rides weren't offered.