10-14, Fiesta Friends

And as this Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2017 draws to a close, I decided to end the series of posts with what makes this experience such an amazing one:  Fiesta Friends.  It was through our friends, Pat and Michelle, that we came to be included in the fiesta experience in the first place.  Their generosity, and that of their circle of friends, has enveloped us like a web giving our family a tradition that we look forward to all year long.   (And, yes, really when you're in your 40s, your son is a teenager and your daughter is in elementary school, it's pretty challenging to find an activity that is just as much for one member as it is for another.  We all enjoy the fiesta.)  Thank you to Pat, Michelle, Leo, Danielle, Andy and Tina for including us in this tradition.  We love it, we cherish it and we're so grateful to have you all in our lives.  See you next year!! (YES!  We DO have our reservations made already!)

Pat and Emalie

Hanna

The littlest in our crew!

Michelle

Pat

Leo, Pat and Sven

Andy and Em

"I love Andy!!" 

Sven, me, Danielle and Leo

Sven, me, Pat, Danielle, Leo and Michelle (we're missing Tina, Andy and the girls!)

Pat, Sven, me and Michelle

"The Moo Crew".... are they friends you ask?  Technically no, but theoretically everyone at the fiesta feels like a friend!  Plus, I felt this photo was the perfect closing caption for this year's fiesta.  Everyone's bringing it in after the flights (notice the balloon in the left lane?).  And, I find it completely humorous that anything goes in Albuquerque during the fiesta (as witnessed by the truck in the right lane)!

10-14, Candlestick 'glow'

The weather was pretty quirky this year for the fiesta.  I have to admit though, it was way better than I could have hoped for considering it snowed in Colorado two days before we left for New Mexico!  Of the 4 mornings we were there, the last day there was no launch because of the high winds.  Of the 3 nights we were there, there was one full glow, one glow cut short when a balloon got carried away (literally, not figuratively!) and one 'candlestick' glow (glow with no balloons- because of the winds). By the way, did I mention that the fiesta is like a big playground for adults?! I wish videos posted to this blog better (hmm.... I think I'll have to create a workaround for that.... if I remember anyway....) because the stills don't do it justice.  Talk about making lemonade out of lemons!  We just love the 'fun' atmosphere of the fiesta.  Such a good time-- winds or no winds.

Michelle taking charge of the kids and handing out balloon cards. 

"3...2...1.... Pilots Burn!"

Nik and Em in Johann's basket.  The pilots allowed the kids (many, many kids.... not just ours!) to get in the baskets with them for photo opps.  Thanks, guys!!

10-14, Chase Crew

Chasing the balloons is almost as adventurous as riding in them.  On this morning, while Sven was flying with Leo, Emalie and I were in the chase vehicle with Michelle and Nik was with the crew chasing  Leo and Sven.  Words don't do it justice (it's totally crazy), so you just need to trust the pictures!

A glimpse of Danille from inside the chase vehicle as we ascertain her flight path and probable landing location.

No, Danielle didn't land in this field as this photo would lead you to believe.  Once the balloon is close to landing, there's some quick maneuvering, preparing, running and property owner permission involved leaving no time for cameras!

10-14, Mass Ascension

And they're off!  It seems like it's been hours since the Dawn Patrol launched-- wait, it has been hours since the Dawn Patrol launched-- and up they go.  Launching is always amazing, but there is nothing that beats the mass ascension from the field that really gets the blood flowing.  Eye candy everywhere-- it is AWESOME!  This was Sven's lucky day; he got a ride with Leo!  What a beautiful day to fly!

Leo and Sven in the dragonfly.   

Danielle in the monarch.

The couple that flies together, stays together! =)

Another balloon from our Canadian crew.

Leo and Sven.

10-14, Field Flights

After Dawn Patrol goes up and tests the winds, the hustle of activity commences as the go-ahead for mass ascension is trickled down through the population of balloonists on the field.  It is at this point that you're glad you took the time to down that cup of coffee because it goes from quiet awe to organized chaos to prepare the balloons.  The pilots and their crews are like well-oiled machines.  It's captivating to observe the process and slowly be integrated into as you learn and become familiar with the procedures.

Danielle- take 1

Danielle- take 2

Danielle- take 3

Danielle- take 4

This Zebra diligently observes and hands out directions to the pilots.  The Zebras are all volunteers who go through training to learn the skills necessary for coordinating the launches.  (I had to laugh when I heard her say, "Where is my ZIT?!?!"  ZIT?!  Zebra In Training.   Lol......  Now if only I can figure out why they're called zebras and dressed accordingly.) I also love this candid moment because Danielle has her camera to her eye.  Though she is a seasoned balloonist who has attended an incredible number of balloon events and fiestas, she is still captivated by all of it just as we are.  

The balloonists and their crews make their flights and this event the success that it is.  See Nikolas near Danielle?  It makes me proud how he rolls up his sleeves, dons the gloves and gets in there to learn and lend a hand.

Final words between the Zebra and the pilot.

10-14, Dawn Patrol

Saturday morning and back to our 'fiesta normal' of getting up about 0430, rushing through breakfast, coffee, clothing, camera and catching the school bus from the RV lot to the balloon field.  Brrrr..... the morning was chilly, as it usually is, but beautiful.  There's always a murmur of excitement as the dawn approaches, and the Dawn Patrol takes flight.  Believe it or not, it is SO worthy of the 0'dark thirty wake-up call!

10-13, Off-Field Flights

Our 2nd morning of fiesta activities, brought us again to an off-field launch location (the same location as our launch the previous morning).   I can't go any further in my story until I talk about the location.  Pat and Michelle gave us an address to go to for these morning launchings.  It was literally a guy's house, and they were launching from his large backyard.  It was crazy to think this kind person was letting half a dozen vehicles accommodating three balloons with crews numbering close to 20 people come to his house before dawn to launch.  The story was retold about how several years before, Leo had landed in his backyard (permission is always obtained prior to landing on personal property-- although mostly rushed and spontaneous as the balloon is descending).  Anyway, a friendship was formed and each year after that Leo and Danielle have launched from his property.  That story brings a smile to my face.  It's symbolic of the cooperation of the balloonists, the residents and the enthusiasts that make the whole fiesta such a huge success.  Everyone is so, so nice.  I told one of the ladies working the RV lot, while in conversation about this very topic, that during the balloon fiesta Albuquerque has to have the highest population of truly good and kind people in the world.  (I know you're skeptically analyzing that statement, but for the masses and craziness that goes along with the fiesta it's incredible the type of people it draws.  Really!)  Anyway, I digress.  So, where were we.... morning #2.  It was another beautiful morning.  This time I got to observe this new satellite launching experience from the ground as part of the crew.  The view never disappoints-- whether from above or below.  

Launching is all about timing, winds and continuous caution.

Getting the monarch ready for flight. 

I love the smile Danielle has in this photo.  She truly loves flying.

And there she goes.....

Getting the dragonfly ready......

Have a great flight, Leo!

This photo does nothing for the experience without the sound effects that accompanied the image.  It was almost ghostly and haunting to turn around, from the focus of the activity of preparing the balloons, to see this balloon gliding behind the curtain of trees.  All that could be heard was the sporadic "puh...puh..." noise of the burn keeping the balloon aloft.  It was haunting... and awesome!

Funny, right?!