Albuquerque, have enjoyed the stay.

A change in plans... We were suppose  to only be in Albuquerque long enough to do laundry and flush our holding tanks.  Well when Randy went to dump the black water the valve was sticking, so call to Rv dealer and factory.  The soonest they could get us in was the following wed., that put us a week behind schedule.  Myers RV was great about helping us out and I recommend them to anyone needing work if in this area.  But we still had time to make it to the Grand Canyon on Friday right?  OK change in plans again, government shut down, the Park is closed.   We were lucky to make it to some of the monuments before the shut down though. So as the saying goes "when your given Lemons Make Lemonade" or sometime like that.

In my previous post I told about some of the cool things in the area .  It's surprising what you can find to do, ask the locals and search the internet. 

•                                                                                             Cruising down old Route 66, still a few old neon signs. 

                                                            

                                            

                                                                 Tinkertown Museum

It took Ross Ward over forty years to carve, collect and construct what is now Tinkertown.  His miniature wood carved figures were first part of a traveling exhibit, driven to county fairs and carnivals.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

  
Today, over 50,000 glass bottles form the walls now the Museum.  It's magical and will lift the spirit!!

                                                     The Balloon Fiesta

 

 

From its modest beginnings in 1972 with 13 balloons launching from a shopping mall parking lot, the Balloon Fiesta has grown to a 365-acre Balloon Park with over 600 balloons.

I was lucky enough to stand right next to the Dawn Patrol.  The pilots take off in the dark and fly until it is light enough to see landing sites. Fellow balloonists appreciate the Dawn Patrol because they can watch the balloons and get an idea of wind speeds and directions at different altitudes.  Dawn Patrol inflation began at about 5:45 AM, with launch around 6:00 AM.

 Mass Ascensions,  a launch of all the participating balloons.  The balloons launch in two waves. Launch directors, also known as zebras because of their black-and-white-striped outfits, serve as traffic cops, coordinating the launch so balloons leave the field safely. They began to launch at 7:15 AM led by a balloon flying the American flag to the sound of The Star Spangled Banner.

I choose to do  the park and ride, (I departed at 4:45 AM) cost of  $11.00 round trip, that included ticket into the balloon park.  The school buses picked us up at the mall,  dropping you off at the gate and the same for the return trip.   What a deal,  no hassling with the bumper to bumper traffic jams.  That's  like being chauffeured through the express lane around back. 

 

 Pictures can not capture the feel and sights going on around you.  Standing in the middle of the balloon field surrounded by launching balloons.  It was fun, spectacular, exciting, cool, awesome.  I couldn't have planned a better way to end the last day here in Albuquerque!!

 I only took 240 balloon shots.. so much to see!!