Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.....

[jelag]

There's a chance we might be in the area of Albuquerque during the Balloon Fiesta. . Looking for a member in Albuquerque... .



Is there a member who might know where we can park the 5er for 2-3 nights with hook ups ...



The balloon fiesta web sight shows all listed spaces sold out...



Thanks for you help...

 

[HBarlow]

There's a chance we might be in the area of Albuquerque during the Balloon Fiesta. . Looking for a member in Albuquerque... .

Is there a member who might know where we can park the 5er for 2-3 nights with hook ups ...

The balloon fiesta web sight shows all listed spaces sold out...

Thanks for you help...

Have you looked at one of the several RV industry RV park/campground guides? There are several in the area and I think they expect cancellations and no-shows among those with reservations.

Most folks probably are not as unconventional as I am but I attended the ABQ Balloon Festival seven or eight years ago parked at the Flying J on I-40 west of town. No hookups, of course. I arrived early and carefully backed into a space on the extreme north-eastern corner of the truck parking out back which is on the north side of the Flying J. At the time I owned an Avion conventional travel trailer w/no slide-outs so didn't take up too much space. I had a great view of the balloons.

 

[DonTX]

Grizzly lives there, should be able to give you some guidance. I am jealous, wish I was going to the festival!

There's a chance we might be in the area of Albuquerque during the Balloon Fiesta. . Looking for a member in Albuquerque... .



Is there a member who might know where we can park the 5er for 2-3 nights with hook ups ...



The balloon fiesta web sight shows all listed spaces sold out...



Thanks for you help...

 

[HBarlow]

Don,

Why stay at home and be jealous? You have a slide-in camper, a Dodge to haul it, and know how to read a road map.

 

[DonTX]

Fact is, I am old - and tired. I put on 17,500 miles on that rig since 1 October last year (yep, overnighted in Albuquerque too), and am headed out for a couple thousand more miles next week.

And oh yeah, I have a GPS, so don't even need to know how to read a road map!

Don,



Why stay at home and be jealous? You have a slide-in camper, a Dodge to haul it, and know how to read a road map.

 

[CKelley1]

cedar crest a little east of albuquerque at turquoise trail rv park is where you want to be it is 10* cooler, quiet, easy to get to good king and just a few minutes away

 

[Garlic]

There are several parks in the area that for the first weekend are pretty full but at mid week they usually have plenty of room and they are all WAY cheaper than parking at the field. If you are a retired Vet you can stay at KAB (Kirtland Air Force base). I usually don't worry about where I camp because I live at the field for the event (Volunteer labor for special events) I have been doing it for 22 years at all of the balloon fiesta sites here. If you needed more information you can PM me. Grizzly definetly would know as well. Turquoise trail is very nice. There are also a few Indian Casinos that either have camp grounds or hook up spots for $10 in the area. Just to name a few: Palisades, Enchanted Trails, American RV park, Isleta RV Resort, Coronado monument RV park, Wagon Wheel, San Felipe Casino, KOA In both Alb and Bernalillo and a couple of others in the local area.

 

[Grizzly]

There's a chance we might be in the area of Albuquerque during the Balloon Fiesta. . Looking for a member in Albuquerque... .



Is there a member who might know where we can park the 5er for 2-3 nights with hook ups ...



The balloon fiesta web sight shows all listed spaces sold out...



Thanks for you help...

Jim, I may work something with you. I'm 1. 5 miles from the Balloon Park.



I'm sending you an email.

 

[HBarlow]

Grizzly,

It's possible to see the balloons from almost any point in or near ABQ isn't it?

 

[Grizzly]

Grizzly,



It's possible to see the balloons from almost any point in or near ABQ isn't it?

Yes it is Harvey. Some parts of the city will be better then others, depending on which way the wind is blowing. I don't mean heavy wind because the Balloon Master won't allow them to lift off with such winds. I live 1. 5 miles west of the Balloon Park and when the wind shifts my way, we may get 500 or more ballons going right over my house. It is truly a spectacular sight to see.



george

 

[HBarlow]

Wow, I bet it is. The colors, shapes, and patterns are fantastic.

 

[Grizzly]

Fact is, I am old - and tired. I put on 17,500 miles on that rig since 1 October last year (yep, overnighted in Albuquerque too), and am headed out for a couple thousand more miles next week.

And oh yeah, I have a GPS, so don't even need to know how to read a road map!

Aah, you're not that old Don, come on down. You and your wife will love it.

 

[MMeier]

When is it?

Might have to "schedule" in one my trips through there to coincide with the event. Just went through both ways this week. . and have to again next week. Maybe we can have a TDR ballon watching event in Grizzlys backyard !!

 

[HBarlow]

I think it's the first week in October, a time of very nice weather in ABQ. There is at least one Balloon Festival website IIRC. It's a huge event with balloons from all over the country, maybe a few from around the world, including the incredibly fancy advertising balloons owned by several major corporations. Thousands of people flock to ABQ for the week or two surrounding th event.

Wonder how many TDR members and trailers Grizzly's backyard can handle?

 

[Garlic]

The first FULL week of October that begins on Saturday, This year it will be October 3 to October 11. My inside source says 600 ballons are to participate this year, that includes the special Shapes. Albuquerque is growing and the landing spots are slowly dissapearing, so safety is a factor when it comes to how many get to fly. There are 5 night events as well (Balloon Glows) and the launching of the Gas balloons for the Americas Cup challange, Helium mostly, last year there were (i believe) 2 Hydrogen balloons that flew. The fireworks for the 5 night events are some of the most spectacular because of the close proximity to them when you are on the field (one of my Volunteer activities, a commercial Pyrotechnician). About 500,000 people from around the world come to see this event each year. Is truely a wounderous sight.

 

[Grizzly]

Here's a link to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta complete with RV information. Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

 

[Jim Smith]

2 years ago we were in the same situation everything booked. Ask the place who is booked to give you the phone number for the local sheriffes posse rv park. They are right across the railroad from the fiesta. They treated us very well. Water , electric rest rooms . Very nice and helpful folks. We even had balloonists land right in front of our rv's. Horses and riding ring right in front of your rv. This posse also patrols the fiesta on horseback during the event. This was a real unexpected treat for our three rv families.

 

[Grizzly]

The balloons are off and running. There's a 550 balloon mass ascension going on right now. Had a good mass ascension yesterday morning even though it was a chilly 34*. Some of the balloon were drifting over our house. The balloon glow was canceled last night due to winds. Another balloon glow is scheduled for tonight followed by a spectacular fire works display.

 

[jelag]

Let me say, that we've attended a small fest like this in Walla Walla, its at the start of the season over Mothers Day weekend and often (50%) of the time they are weather out for part or all of the day... .

We met a guy on this sight who offered to share his drive way with us... and I helped him install a PacBrake on his truck... . we came away with the following experience.....

1 - What a rush to watch the mass pandemonium trying to get 500 balloons off the ground, yet they've done this so many times that it went so smoothly, and to walk on the field with the burners going off, and balloons rising is something that we won't forget soon... to do this 2 days in a row, getting up at 4:30 to get to the field so that you can watch the day glow of the balloons before sunlight... stand 30 ft away and feel the heat from the 250K BTU burners...

2 - we had a chance to visit old town Santa Fe and Albuquerque as well, and it was fun to walk into this old area, one of the churches just turned 300 years old... its more commercialized than we remember from 30 years ago but still a great sight...

3 - we had a chance to meet some really great people, one I've chatted with on this board... He and his wife were way above what we expected, offering not only a space to park but time to relax and break bread and share about family... and while we were installing his exhaust brake his next door neighbor came over an helped... I have to admit that owning a business, I usually have one of our crew do this work... and its been 3-4 years since I've last installed one, but the time spent with friends was great... .

4 - we walked for 35-40 min 2 of the mornings we were there... . I'd forgotten what it was like to walk at 6,000 ft above sea level... .

I'm now sitting in an RV park and will be in Yuma tomorrow for some time with my sister and her hubby who are snowbirds..... I can't say enough about how great our time has been on this trip and its still got another week or so to go... and I can't thank our friends enough except to say, when your in WA please visit and let us return the favor... .

BTW - Propane was $1. 90 a gallon and fuel was $2. 30 before the start of the fest and quickly jumped 15 cents a gallon before we left. .

Every one have a great day, its time to pack up and get going... .

 

[Maxter119]

I flew balloons as a hobby for 13 years and never made it to that rally. I had a Chevy truck then... ... ... . what was I thinking!