Some things in life are good and others are epic, this one was EPIC!!
“Hot air balloon festival? No thanks…” That was me (Ben) when we talked about signing up for this festival. I mean, if you’ve seen one hot air balloon, you’ve seen them all, right?
First, let’s rewind back to 2019, the year we signed up for the Balloon fiesta. You see, anyone can attend the festival, but to get a coveted RV spot, right across the street from the action, you have to sign up reeeeally early, like a year in advance.
Michelle came to me and said, “I really want to go to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Rally with Fulltime Families, what do you think?” and I said “That doesn’t interest me at all, it’s just a few hot air balloons flying over the rig and you have to boondock for 10 days (which we have no gear for) and you’re in a dusty parking lot crammed in like sardines (literally!), and we have to pay for this right?! No thank you!”
She said “All of that is true, but it’s more than a few balloons, it’s a few hundred balloons and regardless, I would like to do it”.
Ofcourse, since I love my wife and want her to enjoy her life, and since I don’t like sleeping alone, I agreed to this excursion.
So here we are, two years later…Yep, 2 YEARS in the waiting (they cancelled 2020 due to Covid so it pushed us to 2021).
Finally, in October of 2021 we made it to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It was just like I thought. RV’s packed in like sardines in a dusty parking lot, right next to the graveyard and the highway.
This is where I want to pause. You see, we get to a place in life, no matter what stage we are in,, where we feel comfortable, and we don’t want to venture out of that spot. For some people, this is the couch, for others it’s their full-hookup RV spots in nice grassy areas with trees and plenty of room.. You can guess which one I am.
Regardless of your chosen comfort zone, I highly encourage you to find someone like Michelle who is not afraid to challenge you to get out and do great things in life. I don’t think I would have ever gone to the Balloon Fiesta if Michelle had not pushed for it, and now I can tell you it was one of the coolest things I have ever experienced and I cannot wait to go back!
Let’s talk about you now! How is your mom? Kids doing well? Excellent…
Now why should YOU go to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta?
- So Many balloons!
There are over 500 hot air balloons that launch at this festival and some days they ALL launch within a few hours (aptly named “mass ascension”). - The view is epic!
Despite what you may think, you (and your kids) will never get bored of seeing hot air balloons, especially when you get to see them take off and land. - It’s extremely educational and hands on!
This is true hands-on-learning. You can get up close and personal as these balloons are unpacked and inflated with propane. It’s basically a massive science project in real life. You can even work with a balloon crew and get hands on experience on unpacking, launching, and repacking the balloons if you want! You may even get a ride out of it. - It’s a step back in time
Hot Air Balloons are powered by hot air…yes, no motors, propellers, or rudders, just old fashioned wind! I can’t think of anything else that still operates as close to its original design as a Hot Air Balloon does. It’s really impressive to see in person. - It’s dramatic!
Because there are no real controls for these massive balloons there is guaranteed drama around every turn, especially if you volunteer with a balloon chase crew. The chase crews drive all over town, helping pilots land and pack up their balloons. Sometimes they land in a field, and other times they are in the middle of the road or in someone’s backyard! And if the wind picks up after they are in the air, the landings are very dramatic. It’s worth getting a chair and some popcorn to watch that mayhem!
I will write more about this in the next blog, but if you sign up with Fulltime Families for the Balloon Rally you can stay in the parking lot right across from the field and see hundreds of balloons fly over your rv every morning during the Fiesta!
Go right now and sign up for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and tell them we sent you! Then check back here for our next Blog on what you can expect at the Fiesta!
Check out our video with a glimpse of this epic experience here
https://youtu.be/EhB9f2NuJy0
https://balloonfiesta.com/
Fulltime Families:
http://fulltimefamilies.refr.cc/benlawles
