550 Strong!

First Weekend in October. Every Year for the Last 45 Years.

In My Backyard. Albuquerque.

Oh My!

It’s Become a Family Tradition. First Morning. First Launch of the 10-Day Event.

A Crazy Fun Tradition that Begins at 4:30…AM…and Lasts for 3 Hours. Door to Door.

Hop In. You’re Going to Love This.

Dress Warm. It’s Chilly and Damp. Break out the Wood Scarf…Ahhh.

Ugh. The Hour is Ghastly, But Oh So Worth It. And We Beat the Bulk of the Traffic.

Favorite First Stop…Tom Thumb Donuts. A Tradition.

Dough dropped into Sizzling Grease. Sprinkled with Sugar. A Treat Once a Year.

Lots of Coffee and Breakfast Burritos as we wait for the Dawn Patrol.

Dawn Patrol Up to Survey the Conditions.

Dawn Patrol Flying at 6. Still Dark. They Check Out the Winds – Both Upper and Lower Winds.

Albuquerque is Famous for “The Box”. This is a Hot Air Balloon Term of Art.

The balloons circle around above the field and don’t immediately fly away.

Mix this with the Cool Early Morning temperatures for Perfect Hot Air Balloon Conditions.

While We Wait for the Sun and the Balloons to Go Up…A Quick Stop…

To the Walgreens Tent for an Annual Flu Shot. Free Shot and a Souvenir Balloon Pin(!)

So Brave.

Check out the Inside of a Balloon Basket. This One Fits Two People.

Sid Cutter – Balloon Pilot and Founder of the Balloon Fiesta.

A Balloon Quilt Raffle created by a Quilt Guild.

Newsworthy. On Air at 7AM.

A Hug from a Squirrel. Who Knew?

Funky Mermaid Balloon.

Finally the Sun…Pink Over the Mountain.

Let the Balloons Fly!

550 Balloons Strong.

The Sky Explodes with Balloons.

Just Keep Looking Up. 🙂

Gecko Awe. Aww. Swoon. 🙂

Pigs will Fly.

Giraffes could Sing.

And Cows Over the Moon.

A Crowd Favorite…The Creamland Dairy Cow. The Largest Balloon to Fly.

Balloons against an Infinite Azure Blue Sky.

Today Balloons Will Follow Us Home…To Our Backyard…Happy Balloon Fiesta!

Home by 8…AM…Crazy, I Know, But a Family Tradition!

I’m Never Sure if Feeling Tired All Day is from the Early Morning Wake Up or the Flu Shot.

Hope You Enjoyed Your Magical Adventure.

Would You Take Flight in a Balloon???

Maybe Next Year? OK! 🙂

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