October 11 - Leave Albuquerque for Kansas

No balloons were rising today, again because of weather conditions.  

We left Albuquerque around 8:30 to start our trip back east. Made it to Liberal, Kansas tonight. Some of our route was on Route 66. 

October 9 - El Pinto Restaurant

Shannon and Arlo flew in to Albuquerque. I went with Drew and Erin to pick them up. It was fun to see Arlo recognize me and say “Nana Peg is here.”They are staying in a hotel in downtown Albuquerque. When Shan went to check in, there was a problem with her room so they gave them a room at a sister hotel which was only a 2 mile walk to the Fiesta Park. 

They went to the evening session which were shapes and glodeo (the shapes light up). Arlo said his favorite was the dinosaur cracking out of the egg. 

Since Bill and I didn’t have tickets to that session, we went to our favorite restaurant, El Pinto. It is large and has the atmosphere of a hacienda with delicious New Mexican food.

October 10 - Day 2 of Balloon Fiesta

Up early again today to see the balloon ascension. This morning was packed with people and balloons. 

This is the early morning glow of static balloons.

The balloon ascension began around 7 pm

After the morning session  Bill and I drove to Santa Fe to meet the kids. Fun walking around the city and doing a little shopping. Arlo enjoyed these sculptures as we walked around. 

We all ate at the farm to table restaurant call Rowley Farmhouse Ales. Great food and good beer. 

After we got back to Albuquerque. We all went to the fiesta.  Unfortunately, it was too windy so no balloons went up. It was a bummer but they had said that weather definitely had a say on whether the balloons would fly. 

October 8 - Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

What a day!  It started at 3 am to catch the shuttle to the park. It was really cold and we had to wait til 6:30 for the balloon ascension. Lots of vendors to pass the time. 

Bill and Lou were able to be on two of the pit crews helping them set up. They thought that was really interesting to learn the process. 

First was the drone show.

Then the mass ascension

It was something to see. It was so amazing to me that the spectators were in the field with the balloons. No fences. We could talk to the pilots and crew and watch as they got ready to launch.

We went back to the RV for lunch and a nap. 

Then back to the Fiesta for the evening. Tonight is the shapes that glo. 

The basket of the Unicorn  

Next were some skydivers with some fireworks 

and then different drone show  

The night ended with a huge display of fireworks  

October 7 - Hike and Baloon Fiesta

​Before we left for the Bernalilio KOA Campground, we took a hike to Church Rock which is in the Navajo Nation. 

Arrived at the Bernalilio Campground, set up and went to Kaktus Brewery. This Brewery is at the edge of our campground, has good beer and where we learned ( many years ago) to make Frito Pie. 

We were amazed that they had Helles beer. That’s what we mostly drank in Germany.

Very early tomorrow we go to watch the balloon ascension.