Pre-Balloon Fiesta Gatherings

We’ve enjoyed some time with the early arrivers for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta which begins on Saturday. We arrived on Thursday at nearby Kirtland AFB and stayed 4 nights at the FamCamp on base. Gloria and Frank King, who are co-hosting the Escapees Boomers group with us, arrived that afternoon. We enjoyed BBQ at Whole Hog Cafe.

Vince and Wendy Hall (left) and Judy and Luke Rinehimer joined us for dinner outdoors between our RVs one evening.

After moving about 19 miles to the Balloon Fiesta Park, our group has grown.

So far, there are 4 motorhomes.

And 2 5th wheels.

There will be 23 more rigs arriving tomorrow to join our Escapees Boomers group. And probably a few hundred (thousand?) others both as individuals and members of other groups. In the meantime, there’s a lot of empty space around us.

I’ll post similar views in a few days so you can see how the empty space disappears! I just hope the clear blue skies and no wind continue for the launching of the balloons.

Here’s an interesting view of the reflection in our neighbors’ (the Rinehimers’) motorhome windshield.

Finally, a small group of us had a delicious Italian dinner at Zio’s tonight. The face you may not recognize is Tim Haueter, who’s the proud owner of a beautiful new 2014 36-ft. Phaeton motorhome.