Cat's in the sky

[LDRay]

This balloon flew over our house this a.m. Reminds me of the northwest cat lady's trailer.

Caren

[Mike Lewis]

I wonder if there is a cat onboard? Probably not.

I'd like to take a balloon ride someday.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

I'd like to take a balloon ride someday.

A great place to do that is Albuquerque NM. During the balloon fiesta it's really busy, but there are plenty of balloon companies who offer rides for a large part of the year. Expect to pay at least $150 each however.

https://www.visitalbuquerque.org/things-to-do/air/

[Mike Lewis]

If all goes to plan I hope to pass through ABQ on my way home in early October. If I can snag an overflow spot in the AFB campground there, I'll go to the balloon festival. Won't try to get a ride then, though.

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by LDRay

This balloon flew over our house this a.m. Reminds me of the northwest cat lady's trailer. Caren

LOVE IT!!!!

Yeah, it does remind me of my trailer. Cool!

I'm going to upload more photos of the trailer's graphics as I finished putting all of them on later this evening.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

If all goes to plan I hope to pass through ABQ on my way home in early October. If I can snag an overflow spot in the AFB campground there, I'll go to the balloon festival...

One of the highlights of my life was to see the fiesta in Albuquerque. Do not miss the Mass Ascension or the Evening Glow...truly worth it.

[War Eagle]

A hot air balloon club out of Colorado Springs, CO, used to launch from my Grandmother's hay field just outside of Westcliffe, CO, and fly along the Sangre de Cristo mountain range of the Colorado Rockies. So as a perk, my wife and I got a free ride one time in a beautiful balloon that looked like a huge strawberry. Lifted off at 8,000 feet elevation and ended up looking DOWN at 14,000 ft peaks. Amazing experience! And a champagne toast at landing was the perfect touch! Highly recommended.

[Greg A]

Tourist season (Winter) in Phoenix and the balloons take the tourista's every morning and evening for sunrise/sunset tours. They usually launch in Scottsdale and land in our backyard. We are so used to 20 balloons in the sky most of the year right by our house that we almost don't notice them as much anymore.
The Albuquerque event is a special one that everyone should go see at some point.

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by KarenH

One of the highlights of my life was to see the fiesta in Albuquerque. Do not miss the Mass Ascension or the Evening Glow...truly worth it.

Thanks for the info. Whether I go or not is hit-or-miss; the Air Force RV park is first-come, first-served, and they have an overflow lot with no hookups. If I'm lucky I can show up and snag a spot in the overflow and stay a day or two. I don't need to see the whole shebang.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

I don't need to see the whole shebang.

One evening and one morning will do it. I didn't even try to buck the parking and/or ticket lines at the event site. I purchased tickets online including the bus ride to and from the site. Show up at some designated pick-up point (usually a mall); the buses roll in, one after the other, load ticket holders, and breeze right into the site to offload the passengers. Obviously, the event planners have this down to a science. The fiesta logistics are amazing...what a well-oiled machine!

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by Greg A

Tourist season (Winter) in Phoenix and the balloons take the tourista's every morning and evening for sunrise/sunset tours. They usually launch in Scottsdale and land in our backyard. We are so used to 20 balloons in the sky most of the year right by our house that we almost don't notice them as much anymore.

So, how much room do you have for visitors and their white fiberglass trailers?

While I think these balloons are cool, you could never get me up in one. I don't like unsecured heights and this fits in that category for me. I about freaked out over the ending shots in "Grace and Frankie" at the end of this season's finale.

[Sisababe]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

If all goes to plan I hope to pass through ABQ on my way home in early October. If I can snag an overflow spot in the AFB campground there, I'll go to the balloon festival. Won't try to get a ride then, though.

What a great trip that would be! I have been up in a ballon twice. It was spectacular! I also went to a balloon festival in Michigan in the 80's. The ABQ balloon festival will definitely go on my "To Do" list[emoji2]

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by KarenH

One evening and one morning will do it. I didn't even try to buck the parking and/or ticket lines at the event site. I purchased tickets online including the bus ride to and from the site. Show up at some designated pick-up point (usually a mall); the buses roll in, one after the other, load ticket holders, and breeze right into the site to offload the passengers. Obviously, the event planners have this down to a science. The fiesta logistics are amazing...what a well-oiled machine!

That's all very good to know. Thanks for the info.

[Mike Lewis]

On the other hand:

Hot air balloon lands in gator-infested Florida pond | Fox News

Story kinda makes me homesick. Especially the part about the gators.

Unfortunately someone was injured, according to other reports.

[gbaglo]

I wasn't going to mention this, but it does involve a trailer park:

Two dead in B.C. balloon crash | CTV News

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I wasn't going to mention this, but it does involve a trailer park:

Two dead in B.C. balloon crash | CTV News

"Even worse, when the balloon landed on the ground, one of its propane tanks shot out from the side of the balloon and hit a mobile home in the RV park."

You're just not safe anywhere these days.

I've changed my mind-- I think I'll just watch them from the ground.

[War Eagle]

Originally Posted by NW Cat Owner

... While I think these balloons are cool, you could never get me up in one. I don't like unsecured heights and this fits in that category for me. ...

My wife is not a fan of heights, either, but she toughed it out when we went up. Kept her center of gravity low in the basket, got a good grip on the hand rail and enjoyed the ride and the gorgeous view from high above in absolute silence (except when they fired the burner! That got loud!). The chase car arrived shortly after we landed and we helped deflate, fold and stow the balloon in its travel container. That last part was a lot of work!