FROM THE BALLOON FIESTA TO A NEW RV AND CANYON DE CHELLY

It is a long story how we recently became the new owners of a 2007 Fleetwood Class A Terra LX34N motor home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It all happened rather quickly with a La Mesa RV dealership while attending a RV Show several days before the Balloon Fiesta began.  It is a nice looking used motor home with 25,000 miles, bunk beds, swivel leather front seats, extra kitchen counter space, two slide outs, two TVs, large storage units below, a 180º panoramic front window view and a reasonable affordable price.  

Yikes let's not mention filling up at the gas pump

 With more amenities it didn’t take us long to consider trading in our Class C Chateau and upgrading to this larger unit.  JR seemed jazzed about the opportunity and felt it wouldn’t be any problem driving a larger rig. Irrational or not we like the possibility of more space for having the kids and grandkids on future adventure trips. All within a matter of four hours we found ourselves negotiating a deal to purchase the new rig.   

Our travel bears enjoy sitting up high on the front dash board

On October 26^th some four weeks later we transferred title and all our belongings from the old road warrior Chateau into the new Terra LX and left Albuquerque. The first day out we clicked off 234 miles northwest to Chinle, Arizona and arrived to see the wondrous beauty of Canyon de Chelly.  

The beautiful red rock canyons can be viewed from numerous overlooks along the rim. However, what makes Canyon de Chelly National Monument special is the opportunity to observe authentic Navajo culture and history up close. At Canyon de Chelly (pronounced "Shay") we spent the night and half a day exploring the various overlooks along the canyon rim. The canyon itself has 800 ft high red rock walls with lush green valleys throughout the floor of the canyon. 

Wild horses were seen roaming freely around the canyon. The south rim is way better than the north because it has more overlooks and better looking ones at that. 

Ramon a 12 year old Navajo artist

At almost all the overlooks, there are Navajo artist selling their art. We never came across any of them being pushy or rude. They are all friendly and willing to help if needed especially explaining the symbols of the various Indian designs. 
I purchased several sandstone slate pieces with art and a Navajo story teller small vase while JR  merrily hiked out along the ledges of the canyon wall. 

Thrill seeker JR has no sense of vertigo out on the edge

 The spire of Spider Rock is the home of Spider Woman, one of the Dine (Navajo) deities. JR and I arrived at the end of the south rim canyon drive just in time to capture good lighting before sunset. 

A full moon above the majestic red rocks of Canyon de Chelly added a special touch to a perfect day.

THE WONDERS OF MONUMENT VALLEY

A few days out in the new Terra LX motor home we found ourselves stopping to visit Monument Valley as part of our journey to the National Parks of Southern Utah and Arizona. We totally loved spending two days here. The Vast Scenery and COLORS were amazing. Reds and Oranges, Buttes and Mesas. We went with Gouldings Tour Company and a Navajo Guide named Bennett. He was a great driver and had a vehicle that could handle the bumpy, dusty, rough road. Two other couples; one from France  and the other from Vancouver Island in Canada were part of our group. We made frequent stops to get out and view each area. Sometimes confused as a 

National Park, it is really a Navajo Tribal Park on which you become their welcomed guest. Best access was with a Navajo guide like ours, who can take you to the more remote back country dirt roads. Had we driven on our own, it would have been much less enjoyable  This reservation still has about 7 families who live there -- with no running water or electricity. It is a hard life...and testimony to the perseverance of the Navajo people to still endure. The sights are part of the memory of John Wayne and John Ford western movie buffs - but the actual land is more striking than the best film made.

 Our guide was so knowledgeable and informative. He spoke of Navajo Tradition and also Navajo life of today. His expertise added so much to our understanding. 

Inside a hogan

Navajo grandmother weaving a storm design rug which takes 3 months

Visiting inside a hogan demonstration

Hogan exterior covered in mud

He took us for a demonstration inside a hogan. His elderly grandmother showed us all how she carded and spun wool for weaving her storm design rug on a loom. 

Another one of the popular stops was John Ford's Point. It was his favorite location to direct and film 'Western' movies. This is the classic movie backdrop you may recognize. We thoroughly enjoyed our adventure and felt like the fee was well worth it for the four hours with Bennett who grew up on the reservation in the valley. Not only did he drive us along 17 miles of dirt roads to see the incredible rock formations up close in the late afternoon, but also to watch the sunset and the rise of a full moon. 

Quite an experience! The scenery in Monument Valley is fantastic and adds a whole new dimension to one’s exploration of parks and monuments in Utah. It will be a memorable part of your journey… so if you are ever anywhere nearby, you owe yourself to put this beautiful place on your bucket list.

ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA

Watching crews inflate hot air balloons is a hoot

Seeing a PBS television special about this amazing event held annually each October since 1971 in New Mexico peaked our interest to make it a destination on our bucket list. The hot air balloon fiesta is the largest of its kind in North America with over 500 balloonists participating. It is an international event that has entries participating from countries all over the world from Europe to Asia. 

In early January we booked reservations for dry camping space in the Standard RV lot amongst 1800 other rigs near the Balloon Fiesta 

Park for two weeks. This is almost as close to a tailgate rv party as one can get. We set up lawn chairs, the BBQ, and a table outside for added enjoyment like other folks.

Our friends Bruce and Maria Wallace drove down from the Bay Area and joined us in the motor home to share in the week’s balloon fiesta. What brave souls each of us were rising to the alarm clock at 4:30 am to head off in the dark amongst thousands of spectators to watch the morning dawn patrol illuminate in the sky. RV shuttle buses ran folks daily to and from all the morning and evening events which was most convenient.

5:45 Dawn Patrol balloonists take flight 

Everything depends upon weather conditions whether balloons will go up or not each day. The Dawn Patrol pilots take off in the dark at 5:45 am 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 early idea of wind speeds and directions at different altitudes.

During Mass Ascensions, 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 in a safe and coordinated manner. 

What a magnificent sight it is to watch hundreds of colorful hot air balloons floating in the air.

A morning Mass Ascension

Spectators can walk on the field amongst the balloons

JR climbs atop our Chateau motorhome to enjoy a morning mass ascension overhead

With thousands of attendees, the Special Shape Rodeo brings non-traditionally shaped hot air balloons together for a morning of flying.  The whimsical event includes a variety of shapes, such as animals (a pig, dairy cow, lion, and panda), famous characters (Darth Vader, Smokey the Bear, Spidey Pig, and Humpty Dumpty), and even massive bugs, like the family of bees and an out of this world butterfly. 

 

 

Dark Vader and 9/11 Fire fighter are amongst a variety of special shapes

Balloon Glows (Twilight Twinkle Glow™ and Night Magic Glow™) is a tremendously popular event. Balloonists participating in Balloon Fiesta gather on the field after sunset. Pilots inflate balloons and fire their burners simultaneously, or flicker their fires for a twinkle effect. With hundreds of balloons on the field lit together like ornaments, it is a spectacular sight at night. On select nights, after glow fireworks are launched from the side of the field to conclude the Balloon Fiesta balloon glows. The fireworks are free to watch with admission, and guests are allowed to bring lawn chairs to watch the fireworks from anywhere on the field.

Inflating the envelope

Basket fuel tanks

Pilots flicker their balloons but don't rise during a Night Glow event

Highly Competitive Field Set for 17th America’s Challenge of Gas Balloons this year was an exciting event one morning session. JR and Bruce enjoyed them with interest. Five balloon teams representing three nations and featuring some of the world’s greatest gas balloonists lifted off. They left the field in Albuquerque heading for Georgia before turning onward to Washington, D.C.

Another morning we all watch the Race Competitions flying over the Fiesta Park field. Balloonists had three target areas to toss a streamer shot marker down as they pass over ahead with their colorful inflated balloon  (known as the envelope) and basket.  It is fun to watch the Balloon Fiesta Launch Directors (ZEBRAS) who take their jobs very seriously.  These dedicated volunteers have had hours of training before going on the field to coordinate a balloon launch.  They handle crowd control, observe pilots , and work with them to get their balloons safely off the ground every morning during Balloon Fiesta.

 

What a wonderful nine days of excitement filled with terrific memories. The camaraderie shared amongst the Wallaces, some full timer new RV friends Earl and Dot and ourselves added to the good time for everyone as well. The Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is a must do for your bucket list.