One of the last trips we took in our trusty Winnebago Class C was to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, the granddaddy of all balloon events. We’d heard people talk about how great the event was for years but that did not prepare us adequately for the complete awesomeness of it all.
We tagged along with my in-laws camping group. It was an organized group with 25 coaches attending. The guy who was in charge of the trip did a great job at securing a fabulous camping spot. We were set up in the front row of the South RV Lot, immediately south of the Balloon Fiesta Museum. We didn’t bring a car, only our bikes. After we set up camp we hopped on the bikes and rode around the launch field. It was huge, so much wide open grass. There was one person on the grass, a small balloon team laying out their balloon. Seeing it lay there, it was hard to imagine just how many balloons would be on that very grass.
We had no idea just how good these spots were until the next morning.
My Aunt, Uncle and their wonderful friend were also in town for the balloons, staying with friends in town. Our alarm went off early, o-dark-thirty early. The entire RV lot was a buzz with the whir of generators as people were getting ready. Nancy, Truman and Claudia were already parked behind our motor home ready to go. We made a quick pot of coffee, got dressed and off we went. You could feel the excitement as we walked the short distance to the launch field.
That huge launch field was now covered with trucks, vans and small trailers that were filled with beautiful balloons. It was still dark but we had no trouble getting around as several balloons were already upright glowing in the predawn.
The launch event is very organized, almost military precision organized. They launch in waves, row by row starting in the northern most part of the launch field. We hustled on over to the balloons and just as we got to stand in the middle of them all, the first balloon went up. Truman said it was a test balloon to make sure the wind was right. Then the second one went up and draped a tethered US Flag over the side. It hovered 30 or 40 feet over the launch field while the National Anthem played. From there it ascended into the sky and the launch was on.
We walked among the balloons taking it all in. Almost all of the balloons in the section we started in were already upright and being held down by their balloon team waiting for permission to launch. As they lifted off we could see the next section prepping to go. We moved down the field watching the balloon teams lay down tarps, carefully unfurl the balloon on the tarp and use massive fans to get air into it. Basket attached, the burner flame get to work and you hear the woosh of the gas and feel the warmth of the flame. When the air gets hot enough the balloon lifts off the ground. I’m sure I’m messing up the proper order and terminology but let me tell you, it is mesmerizing to watch. Watching the entire process mere feet in front of you was so very cool.
We happened upon one guy who was going up in what looked like a fighter pilot seat, no basket, just him strapped into the seat. It looked like he had one person helping him but as the balloon inflated and it was time to get strapped in his seat, he needed help. Suddenly Mark had a rope in his hand and was helping hold the balloon! The launch official came over and once he was approved for launch, Mark let go and we watched him lift off high into the sky.
It seemed like well over 500 balloons launched that morning. It was balloons to the south as far as the eye could see. We walked section by section as the entire field launched. As we made our way to the food area we noticed a few huge shaped balloons being prepped for launch, or so we thought. There was a giant cow and the familiar Wells Fargo covered wagon slowly rising as it filled with hot air. They never launched but were tethered shortly above the ground waving slightly in the breeze.
We walked the vendor area and had a delicious breakfast burrito before heading back to the RV. Nancy, Truman and Claudia went back to their friends’ house and we hopped on our bikes for a bike ride. We wanted to find a place to catch the OU game as we couldn’t get it on our RV antenna. There is a nice bike trail just west of the launch field. The trail goes by a General Mills cereal plant, oh it smelled good. As a kid we lived by a Wonder Bread bakery and those cereal smells reminded me of the bread aromas.
Nancy, Truman and Claudia returned for the afternoon mass ascension but it was too windy to launch. We walked another vendor area before returning to the RV for dinner and fun around the campfire. Mark’s parents had a campfire in a can that served us well for the evening.
The next morning we stayed at the RV and watched the launch from there. What a sight it was. We watched as section after section floated up and over our RV. It was an almost never ending stream of colorful balloons. Several even landed in the RV lot, of course we had to find them! The pictures don’t do it justice. Watching the balloons drift over and land near us was so much more than we’d ever thought.
We were there for the first weekend and started our drive home early Sunday afternoon. Before we left we checked out the Balloon Museum. It’s a walk on your own set up that showcases the history of balloon flight. It’s a great accompaniment to your visit.
If you’ve thought about attending, do it. As soon as reservations open, make them. You’ll be glad you did, I promise.