Traveling to Balloon Feast in Albuquerque New Mexico

[Jim W]

Hi, l have just completed the first part of our trip out west. We our in Strasburg CO. enjoying the beautiful morning with in CO. We plan on going to Denver today and than Rocky Mountain Park on Friday.

What was truly amazing is how the truck pulled my 34RL Cedar Creek and averaged slightly above 11 MPG pulling so far. The rear differential temp never got above 155F and the transmission temps never ran hotter than 180F. Trans Temp probe is in the pan.

Jim W

 

[BarryG]

Ah the thriving metropolis of Strasburg. Cant remember for sure if it was Strasburg or Flagler which is a bit farther east was giving away free land if you moved a business to the city a few years ago. Should see some good color up in RMNP this time of year. Snowed up there the other night at least up high. Have you been to the Balloon Fiesta before? If so you know what to expect if not it is quite a sight to see. Hopefully the weather is good and the flights go off without a hitch. We are traveling through ALBQ the closing weekend of the Fiesta and could not find a camp spot anywhere and one thing I noticed was all the campgrounds had there rates listed and everyone of them had an exception for the Fiesta weekends that rates published did not apply. We will just park at my wife's brothers house down there for the night or two instead. If we can get down there Friday night we may mosey over to the Fiesta Saturday otherwise we will just head on out on our way to the Grand Canyon on that Sunday morning.

 

[Jim W]

Hi, no we have not been to the balloon feast before! We are staying at the American RV park, made reservation in Nov,15. We plan on tour the area also plus doing the balloon feast.

The KOA in Strasburg is OK but the gravel roads do raise the dust , the DW keeps the camper closed up tight to keep out the dust.

Jim W

 

[mwilson]

Sounds like a good time!!! Enjoy!!!

Mike.

 

[Wayne M.]

Please put some pictures up!

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Was in RMNP around five years ago - great visit. I second the request for pics.

I grew up in Albuquerque - have not lived there in almost forty years now.

 

[crispyboy]

There are several folks that are going there from our Kentucky Airstream Unit of the WBCCI. I have spoken to folks that have been there and says it is really something to see. Maybe in 20 years when I retire.
Have fun!

 

[Jim W]

We are now in Green River UT. Made it through the Eisenhower tunnel with no issues at all, than over the Vail pass! God these western states are long, we have traveled over 1775 miles and most of this was through KS and CO. Spent a day in RMNP and the Elk were in Rut, got some good pics up close, one bull Elk was less between 200 and 300 feet away laying down under some trees got a good prof that one.

As far as pictures I can not post them as of yet, my camera will not sync with my wife's I pad. When we get back in Oct around the 18th, I will up load some to this thread.

Jim

 

[Wayne M.]

Thanks Jim! Glad you're having a good run. There's nothing like a happy CTD! I hope I can RV across at least one time. There's a list I must see. Bonneville is one of them.

 

[Grizzly]

We live about 1 mile west of the balloon field next to the Rio Grande. If I can tell you anything about the Balloons, Albuquerque or New Mexico, just ask.

Suggestions; Take a ride up the Tram, which is 10,000 ft elevation in the Sandia Mountains. Go to Old Town, Corrales, Santa Fe and Taos.

george

 

[Jim W]

We live about 1 mile west of the balloon field next to the Rio Grande. If I can tell you anything about the Balloons, Albuquerque or New Mexico, just ask.

Suggestions; Take a ride up the Tram, which is 10,000 ft elevation in the Sandia Mountains. Go to Old Town, Corrales, Santa Fe and Taos.

george

Thanks George,

We will arrive on Sunday the 4th of Oct in the afternoon. We plan on attending the first couple of days for the AM and evening launches and do some sight seeing during the afternoon. We are staying at the American RV park, I believe on the west side of town.

I was told by the park that a shuttle or bus service is available is this true? The park also told us that we should be on the grounds by 6:00 AM for the launches?

How far is Taos NM from Albuquerque? I thought this was a couple of hour drive past Santa FE?

We are traveling to Grand Canyon Village AZ on Wednesday and I have been told WI-FI is spotty, so if I need to ask for more information I will do this when we arrive for the balloon feast.

Jim

 

[Jim W]

We live about 1 mile west of the balloon field next to the Rio Grande. If I can tell you anything about the Balloons, Albuquerque or New Mexico, just ask.

Suggestions; Take a ride up the Tram, which is 10,000 ft elevation in the Sandia Mountains. Go to Old Town, Corrales, Santa Fe and Taos.

george

Thanks George,

We will arrive on Sunday the 4th of Oct in the afternoon. We plan on attending the first couple of days for the AM and evening launches and do some sight seeing during the afternoon. We are staying at the American RV park, I believe on the west side of town.

I was told by the park that a shuttle or bus service is available is this true? The park also told us that we should be on the grounds by 6:00 AM for the launches?

How far is Taos NM from Albuquerque? I thought this was a couple of hour drive past Santa FE?

We are traveling to Grand Canyon Village AZ on Wednesday and I have been told WI-FI is spotty, so if I need to ask for more information I will do this when we arrive for the balloon feast.

Jim

 

[Grizzly]

Jim,

The mass ascensions are Saturday and Sundays only. Although they do have ascensions every day from 3 Oct till 11 Oct, but they only have the mass ascensions on the 2 weekend from the 3rd till the 11th. During the weekdays far fewer balloons lift off at the same time. They have activities every night, such as balloon glows and such.

Taos is 132 miles by way of Santa Fe. While in Taos do make the Enchanted loop through Red River.

I would stay at the park itself. They take RV every day. The fee is not high. There are no hook-up, but a dump truck comes by every day to dump your holding tanks and another truck come by with fresh water. I don't believe that there is any additional fee for that. Shuttles are available to take you to the launch field and bring you back or you can walk, it's not far but it will be dark at 6 AM. It will also be cold, so dress in layers.

Here's a Daily Event Schedule: http://www.balloonfiesta.com/index.php/event-schedule?page=event-info/event-schedule

More information on the Balloon Fiesta: http://www.newmexico.org/ballooning-events/


Hope this helps, george

 

[Jim W]

Well we are leaving Albuquerque on Saturday the 10th. We have done the balloon thing and it was great, but we did bring the rain on Sunday night and the glow was canceled. Did a couple of morning launch views (up at 4:00 AM to make the balloon field) and one more try at a glow, which was canceled due to wind. Now on to Amarillo Texas, and then making our way home. Took about 150 balloon pictures but when I get home I will only post a couple.

Later
Jim

 

[BarryG]

Went to the sat am mass ascension weather was great then went back for the evening glow and fireworks. Was a great morning and evening. Watched some of it sun am on the news but didn't seem to be nearly as many balloons for the mass ascension this morning compared to yesterday must be the last day blues lets get outta heere I'm tired and want to go home

 

[MLee]

Well were you imprest or not? I watched some of the closed circuit programs they have on there site and there was alot of clouds rolling through. Last couple years has been spotty ascensions. Like to go but the weather is the deciding factor.

 

[BarryG]

We went this past Saturday weather could not have been any better for the day. Slight breeze the box was going good for them. Many balloons cycled around the box a couple or more times. Iirc they had 550 balloons there not sure how many were in the air at once but it was one heck of a lot on Saturday. I have been before and this time was best yet got good parking spots amazing how bad traffic can get at 430 in the morning on the way in. We should have left earlier but in the end it worked out great in the morning just as we got down on the field the dawn patrol took off then about 30 minutes later the National Anthem and then the mass ascension went off and continued for a couple hours we headed back home around 9 or 930. We then headed back out around 4 got there around 5 walked around checked out the vendors etc waiting for the night glow and fireworks. Night glow was awesome as well. And then a really good firework show. Left about 815 or so. It was a great day the grandkids loved it as we all did.

 

[Grizzly]

This has been one of the best years for the mass ascensions and balloon glows. Glad the weather was good...
george

 

[Jim W]

I am back from my 28 day odyssey.

I apologize to anyone who was behind me and had to pass my truck and trailer, when I was only doing 60 to 65 MPH in a 80 or 75 MPH speed limit zone; which is most of the western states. My trailer tires are speed rated at 65 MPH so I drove at this speed, the tires did survive the 4,800 mile journey.

We really did enjoy the Balloon Feast and did get some great pictures which I will post tomorrow; after I load them in my computer from the camera.

It has been really hectic since we got back on Saturday 17 OCT. Today is the first day I have had to myself which I spent washing and waxing the camper getting ready for winter storage.

I used a product that I saw at the Forest Rivers Owners Group Rally I attended earlier this year. It is called Wash Wax All and is waterless, it is made by AERO Cosmetic. It took about 8 hours to clean and wax the trailer but this is the best any of my 5er have looked. My DW said it looks like the trailer just came off of the show room floor.

Jim W

 

[NIsaacs]

God these western states are long, we have traveled over 1775 miles and most of this was through KS and CO.

Jim

Yes, some of them are large. A few years ago I visited my son in Enterprise, Alabama, he was stationed in Ft. Rucker. When I left I traveled in/through 5 states in one day, Alabama twice Then Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and spent the night in Beaumont Texas. I wanted an early shot at Houston but still got messed up and forced off one of the elevated freeways onto a surface street, this was 4:30 in the AM, Jeeze!! The next night I was still in Texas!! I think I-10 is like, 850 miles long.

Nick