When we left Flagstaff, Chris took this picture of Humphries Peak. A storm had passed just the day before. I thought it was a great picture but forgot to put in and earlier post.
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| Humphries Peak |
Leaving Winslow we stopped off at the Petrified Forrest and Painted Desert National Park. I think the last time we were through here was when Chris was coming to Arizona from Michigan and I was about 10 years old with my parents.
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| Again, photos don't do it justice. |
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| Painted Desert |
Then off to the International Balloon Festival in Albuquerque. We decided last year to make plans to attend this years offering. Thanks to our friend Pat Dzieszkowski, whom we met in an airport in Budapest, she had suggested meeting in Albuquerque for the festival. Thank you Pat!
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| Pat and us at Breakfast the following day. |
Pat decided to crew one of the Dawn Patrol balloons so we didn't see her at the festival until later that day. So here are some pictures of the Balloons.
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| Pat's balloon is on the far right. |
Dawn Patrol balloons go off first to determine wind direction and speed for the rest of the ballooners. (is that a word?) Then it gets exciting.
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| Sunrise over the mountains. |
The temps were in the balmy 40 degree range.
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| She needed socks... |
But it didn't take long before over 500 balloons ascended into the Albuquerque morning air.
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| Cartoon characters were the hit of the festival. |
Pictures don't do this justice, but it was a perfect morning. Very little wind and thousands of people cheering. Kids get out of school for two days, Thursday and Friday, to attend.
Sadly, the Glow-deo did not take place that evening as it was too windy and it had to be canceled.
But all in all, it was a terrific day for ballooning.
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