To prevent setting up camp in the dark we found a campground just south of Albuquerque, more like an hour south, but we did successfully find the campground and then managed to set up the tent, nice and secure and then we headed north to the 2009 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Like I said, we camped out around an hour south but the traffic made it more like 2 1/2 hours til we got to the fair ground parking. We didn't quite make it to the Glodeo but we did see the hot air balloons illuminated from the highway as we sat in traffic.
And we did make it in time for the fireworks. And in time to sit in traffic on our way out.
I figured we would have to wake up around 4:30 to get to the Fairgrounds in time for the Mass Ascension.
I was wrong. We really needed to leave at like 3:30. This is after we had already been in traffic for around an hour and still a long way to go. You can see a balloon in the background.
Our first balloon sighting.
And a few more.....
Until the sky was full of balloons.
Of every shape and size. And this was just from the car.
Hurray we finally made it. ... More balloons.
A scare crow will rise among us
We saw Pink Elephants little before all the balloons had lifted away.
Looking up into the belly of the "beast"
Up, up and .....not away.
After checking out every last balloon until the field was empty, we went to find out more at the balloon museum. Who knew that the history of hot air balloons could be so interesting.
During World War II, the Japanese launched thousands of balloons rigged with bombs. They floated to the States on the Gulfstream. Balloons made it as far as Michigan. Interesting little tidbit.
What is he carrying????
By the time we got back from the museum, much of the fair had packed up, taking a break from
crowds and maddness, except those who still had Darth Bader pins to sell.
And of course, the chainsaw scultping competion.
Because is there really any better way to pay respect to Native Americans than using a gas powered chainsaw to carve out images of them from enourmous logs.
The Mad Dash Home
We had planned to camp out for a few more days and enjoy more of what the southwest has to offer but we were both done. So after grabbing some carnival snacks we beeline home.
Although we passed many more worthy and redeemable sights along this last leg, we did make time to see our old the Ostrich friends.
Maybe more like acquantencies.
The place was too surreal for words.
A final goodbye to Arizona,,,,Hello California.
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