Friday, October 14, 2016

Crewing at the Balloonfiesta

We went to the Albuquerque Balloonfiesta a day earlier (9/27) than our reservations.
Got a beautiful site on the "box" with the Boomer's.
On arrival we headed out to do a month of laundry.
Afterwards it was to Zio's for dinner. Our favorite restaurant.
After we got back we visited with Judy and Luke who were hosting the event.
We signed up to crew with Keystone Willie and Con Air.

The next day we went to breakfast at Mules then to Camping World to look for a new heater. They didn't have what we wanted so we bought a new fan to circulate the heated air. Then it was to Costco for more shopping and stocking up. Happy Hour with the Boomer's followed.

On the 29th the Boomer's all went to Hong Kong for the dinner buffet. We filled a side room.
Had a t-storm going and coming for it.

Got a message the next day that a friend was coming to town so we agreed to meet Barb Brady at Zio's. Wonderful seeing her and the best part it was Bob's treat.

Oct 1st we got up at 4:30 am to go to the field to crew. We road with Mark and Holly and due to a SWAT team looking for a criminal we got good and lost but finally made it to the field.
We launched Con-Air 
and then chased it to a field behind Mule's restaurant and helped pack up both balloons. 
This is Keystone Willie.
We went back to the field and went to their booth where we had a champagne celebration.
We got passes for breakfast at Cutter Pavilion from them.

Back home we napped and prepared for the night glow.

After the night glow and while we were packing up the balloons
 there were fireworks and laser lights shows.

Donna's foot was hurting from so much walking and standing around she stayed home one morning and got these awesome pictures of the sunrise clouds and the Dawn Patrol.

One afternoon where there wasn't going to be any evening glows we strolled
around the vendor's area. Met this nice couple Les and Debbie from L.A. We had a nice
chat with them about full-time RVing.

Donna caught the police officer's lined up. She particularly liked the pony.
 She even got her morning hug from Smokey the Bear.

Bob is helping inflate Con Air. Peter the pilot is in the basket.
 We are both helping inflate.

Peter and Monica are our pilots and they are from the Czech Republic.

This is the chase car for the fire hydrant balloon.

Donna discovered "Off The Wall." She crewed for it in 2004 and flew in it.

Caught this shot where the bird balloon looked like it was sitting on a wire.

One day our friends the Joe & Penny Judge from Salem, Ohio dropped by to say "hello".

We weren't needed one morning so we stayed home and took pictures of the balloons
flying over the motorhome.

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