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...
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Are we there yet?
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Things you see heading down the road...
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Arkansas rest area...I need a rest
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Kept going to the other side of Oklahoma City...
Sunrise at El Reno, Oklahoma
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Dang the wind!
At least was from the side and not a head wind.
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Time was more important than MPG...at this point.
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What a great name for a exit
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We landed at noon...great time to get there...not much traffic
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Early the next morning at the Albuquerque Ballon Festival
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Notice 'Storm Troopers' for crowd control...
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A car show during the day after all the ballons have flown away.
What is this?
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Does any American not like this car ?
I'm not even a Ford guy, and I still look twice
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After dark they have these ballon glows.
Just light them up.
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Fireworks each night
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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.

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Yummy
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Crowd control...
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This 'The Balloon Guy'
You will see him on TV each day.
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During the competition drop, they fly by low and try to hit targets laid on a grid.
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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.
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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
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Helium
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Hydrogen
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Hydrogen
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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
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Looking for Uncle Sam
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Madrid...be careful how you say it...
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Sniffff...I smell a cat
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A window seat for dinner please...
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Sunrise at Aztec
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PU...what you cooking?
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Leave the driving to me...
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I expected a mountain top
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It was fun until this...I thought about it...co-pilot said turn around
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Aztec ruins...place in center had really weird fell to it.
Don't think was for pleasent activities.
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Cool Job...
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Thats Shiprock 35 miles away...look between light poles
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Condos in Shiprock area
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On the road to Window Rock
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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?

Nice place to boondock
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Wind Talkers memorial
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Sunrise at Window Rock
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On the way to Silver City, and Gila cliffers
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We did not make it in time...
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See thread in
Memorable Breakdowns & Back Roads
"Check your nuts"
For more detail on this part of the adventure.

Just about the middle of nowhere...
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Very tall sand dunes
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You really drive on the sand
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Sand is like snow
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Very steep and tough to walk up
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Alamogordo...Golden Corral...yummmy
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Oh Boy!
A tunnel to test out the air horns !
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Nope...Who was the nut blowing his horns in the tunnel ?
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Dig the VW...groovy
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That fog is BATS!
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500,000 of those little blood suckers!
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Used to be 8 million back in 1900
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They don't all suck blood...
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1 hour before sunset, they start coming out....
Continues for hours.
All back in around dawn.
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Everyone talks in whispers...don't want to PO the blood suckers
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Wait...you want me to go in where they came out?
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And whats with that smell....
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Lions Tail
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I think a bat bit her...
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Rock of Ages
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See you next time...
Same Bat Channel...
Same Bat Time
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Cotton for miles...must be more out here than whole south.
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Wow...thats small
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Loaded up and truckin'
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That box at center of blades is as big as a truck!
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Texas beer can
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This is one of the blades
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Not the best way to road trip...
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Yea !
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A tip for vistors to Carlsbad Caverns...

The entrance to the park is a good 20+ miles from the city of Carlsbad.
Then another 5+ to parking lot.
We took a chance and headed to park to see if anything was available, Plus we wanted to see the bats at sunset, then tour caves the next morning.
There is a White's Campground just outside of park with full hook-ups for $22.
And 3 motels with pools that you can use if your camping.
Was perfect location for us.

Get the audio guide if your self touring, one unit is good for two people.
If you do a Ranger Guide, you get to see more, and they turn out the lights.

All trails are down hill, or level and very easy, at end you get to ride the elevator back up.

Lunch is available at the bottom, is not what it used to be.
More like what you would find at a 7/11...no more box lunches.

Great place to bring the kids!

Bats head south to Mexico in November, return early spring.
They fly out each day about 1 hour before sunset, so get there early.

Where is this now?

OK...found time limit on viewing...thanks

Don't worry, it's still there... ;)

In actual fact, seeing I was out of the country when you posted it, I managed to miss this thread myself. I'm gonna have a good look through later this evening as it looks very interesting! Thanks for posting it and the photos too!