After an extended road-trip through the US Northeast and one in central Scotland, you would think I was done for the Summer. Not hardly; another chapter in the Great Western Road-trip was about to begin. Every Fall in Albuquerque since 1972, there has been the International Balloon Fiesta where balloons fill the skies over Albuquerque. Growing up in the South Valley it was always a greatly anticipated event, but since leaving in 1977 for the army, I haven’t been back in October. It started out a mere 100 or so balloons, but in my absence it grew to over a thousand at one time; they have since limited it to just under 900.
Well this year, I took a friend who had never spent any time in the US desert SW, so after a minor twist of the arm, not really, he was game. So on October 4th, 2023, off we went. The event didn’t start till Saturday, October 7, so we took in some sights along the way; Roswell Alien Museum, White Sands National Park, New Mexico Space Museum, and the Very Large Array (VLA), I’ll later post.
Anyhow, come an early October morn at 3am Saturday, we arrived at the balloon park and though the temp was mid 40’s, it was freezing and I had forgotten my coat in Oklahoma. So I started walking around the park just to stay warm. On the field you could get right up next to the balloons and their crews began inflating the canopies. One could feel the heat radiating out, warming up by-standers. The balloons filled, and in a short time a whole line of glowing balloons lite the early morning.
Just as the glint of the rising sun over Sandia Peak was chasing away the cold darkness, the lighted balloons began lifting off. As they began filling the air, other balloons likewise inflated.
And in the middle of this sea of humanity, more balloons were filled and more took off until the sky was filled horizon to horizon.
There were balloons from around the world. Disney was well represented, along with other corporations such as Exxon and Creamland.
You had wolves, & panthers, puppies & elephants, rats & frogs, sloths, and cows. There was Darth Vader, Yoda, Coggsly, Raffiki, Scooby, and Smoky the Bear.
On the ground, in the midst of all the crews and spectators, was the haunting presence of Storm Troopers & Sith. However, we had nothing to fear because the presence of the Jedi brought balance to the Force.
This event lasts for nine days and each day is like a carnaval where there are spectator activities all day and into the night. At the end of some days the balloons will inflate and put on a light show, “The Glow”.
Below is a pic of “The Glow” from 8.5 miles away from the top of Sandia Peak Tramway.
An the after 4 days in Albuquerque and a trip to Utah for the 2023 eclipse, this chapter of the Great Western Road-trip drew to a close. Keep following for more updates. See ya!