Exploring New Mexico

Heading out from Alabama to explore western New Mexico.
Off work from 3rd shift Friday morning...on the road @ 7 am!
A great start.
Balloon Fest in Albuquerque was timed just right...and a Johnson OB from ebay needed to be picked up there too...what luck.

Will have to post in stages...
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...6/4/6/8/NM.jpg

Are we there yet?
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0102.JPG


Things you see heading down the road...
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0107.JPG

Arkansas rest area...I need a rest
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...109_827948.JPG

Kept going to the other side of Oklahoma City...
Sunrise at El Reno, Oklahoma
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...138_354969.JPG

Dang the wind!
At least was from the side and not a head wind.
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0140.JPG

Time was more important than MPG...at this point.
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0144.JPG

What a great name for a exit
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...153_862537.JPG

We landed at noon...great time to get there...not much traffic
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...156_599067.JPG

Early the next morning at the Albuquerque Ballon Festival
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...111_910781.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0120.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...146_671779.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...148_731297.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...152_879633.JPG

Notice 'Storm Troopers' for crowd control...
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...0163_80326.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0169.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0177.JPG

A car show during the day after all the ballons have flown away.
What is this?
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...194_977546.JPG

Does any American not like this car ?
I'm not even a Ford guy, and I still look twice
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0195.JPG

After dark they have these ballon glows.
Just light them up.
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...228_640330.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...231_218721.JPG

Fireworks each night
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0253.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0290.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0295.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0297.JPG

We would turn on the TV while waking up and see the traffic reports... "if your not in line, stay home" they would say.
We only stayed there Saturday thru Tuesday...then went touring New Mexico.

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...306_104408.JPG

Yummy
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0312.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0425.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0439.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0444.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0448.JPG

Crowd control...
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0450.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0451.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0455.JPG

This 'The Balloon Guy'
You will see him on TV each day.
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0466.JPG

During the competition drop, they fly by low and try to hit targets laid on a grid.
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0464.JPG

The 'Box' was perfect Tuesday for this...
Balloons could fly south by staying low...
The rise and fly north to get another chance.
Was strange to see your fav balloon disapear off over town, then look up and there he is again.
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0475.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0477.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0487.JPG

Now these are the long distance balloons.
They stay up for days vs hours for hot air type.
On the left is Helium..............................Right side are Hydrogen
$4000............................................. ................$600
Cost to fill
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0316.JPG

Helium
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0328.JPG

Hydrogen
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0324.JPG

Hydrogen
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0321.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0333.JPG
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0334.JPG

Each of the gas balloons had to lauch from the same spot.
So they would float over to platform, them take off.
Wind was about zero...and they went straight up.
They also launch at dark vs dawn for the hot air type
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0372.JPG

Looking for Uncle Sam
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0514.JPG


Madrid...be careful how you say it...
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0527.JPG

Sniffff...I smell a cat
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0537.JPG

A window seat for dinner please...
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0554.JPG

Sunrise at Aztec
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...563_161777.JPG

PU...what you cooking?
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0568.JPG

Leave the driving to me...
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0572.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0580.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0587.JPG

I expected a mountain top
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0595.JPG

It was fun until this...I thought about it...co-pilot said turn around
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0606.JPG

Aztec ruins...place in center had really weird fell to it.
Don't think was for pleasent activities.
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0614.JPG

Cool Job...
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0629.JPG

Thats Shiprock 35 miles away...look between light poles
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0630.JPG

Condos in Shiprock area
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0640.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0642.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0649.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0651.JPG

http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0658.JPG

On the road to Window Rock
http://www.airforums.com/attachments...8/DSCF0664.JPG

fantastic report with top photos,the ballons look amazing!
i want the dog and that ford at the car show,oh, and by the way i think the co-driver made the right choice,that bridge definately looked dodgy,lol.

looking forward to more.

The pictures are amazing. I love New Mexico. I can't wait to see more.

Laura

PS - did you wind up backing up?