Sunday, October 07, 2012

Balloon Fiesta

We arrived at the BF camping area on Monday, October 1st  after staying at two casinos for a night each. On Sunday, a bunch of us enjoyed the brunch at the Sandia Casino. It was very good.
I met an interesting guy who was camping at the Sandia Casino parking lot near us. He lives in  town but brings his camper to the casino for the BF because he just enjoys the company in the parking lot. He showed me this poster.




 It's so nice meeting up with our friends. Carol and I both have a chance to socialize with someone besides each other. I think Carol in particular, enjoys the company of the other women. It must get really old hanging around with just me and the dog. 

The camping area on Monday the 1st.


 On Tuesday, we walked with John and Linda to the Murphy Mule Barn restaurant for breakfast. It's 1.2 miles each way on a nice paved walkway. Carols scooter did just fine. Carol had granola pancakes and I had huevos rancheros; one of my Mexican favorites.

More food. On Tuesday we had Linda's pulled pork supper and on Thursday Roger cooked the tri-tip roast Annie and Rick provided. We made brownies and bar-b-qued sweet potatoes for the tri-tip night. Tomorrow is the brunch.  When we get home in a few weeks, it's back to our typical healthy diet. Until then, we're eating our way through Albuquerque.
Thursday:
This morning we went into town, dumped the tanks at the free Giant station, did grocery shopping, picked up some of the worlds best brisket, pulled pork and turkey, at Rudy's then topped off with water. Starting tomorrow, the roads, restaurants, stores, etc.,  all around here will be jam packed.
Right now there are 11 Lazy Days here. Ten more are due in tomorrow. It's interesting seeing the new LD's. There are two 2012 models here. In a few more days, there will be 30 LD's here.
Roger, Mister "Q". is setting up a new Yahoo page for the annual Lazy Daze gathering at Quartzsite ("Q") in January.
The new Lazy Daze "Q" site

On Friday the line of campers pulling into the camping area stretched from the road to the registration area.

The camping area on Friday
Dweezil Zappa, Rick and Annies dog, let Gopher try on his shades.


 The Rudy's truck came through on Friday passing out free breakfast tacos. This is Rick and Annie with their hands full.



 Socializing.

The balloon activities were cancelled on Saturday because of inclement weather. The night time fireworks did go on.
Ann and Jerry Marcus are here having just returned from their summer long adventure to Alaska. They drove their LD to the Arctic Circle then took the bus to Prudoe Bay.  Ann is the most amazing baker. One night she made the lemon cake she is famous for then outdid herself with a pineapple cake.

On Sunday the balloons took off. The three of us walked down past the Balloon Museum and had a prime viewing spot.

Balloons being inflated.












They go up, then they come down.

Sometimes right in the middle of a camping area.
 Sometimes on the sidewalk.

More pictures to follow on another day.
Tonight is the wine and cheese social. We don't drink the stuff but bought a bottle of wine at Trader Joe's the other day.

4 comments:

Russ Krecklow said...

Great photos, Ed. Thanks for sharing all the sights and sounds. We've yet to go to the balloon festival, but it always looks like fun. Gopher is cool in those shades!

Donna K said...

So glad to hear you and Carol are having such a good time. Those balloons are fantastic. I would love to see that in person someday. Looks like you are going to have a good crowd of LDs.

Jimbo said...

Enjoying the pics and missing my friends!

Aiden Brown said...

Beautiful photos, I love this wonderful environment with beautiful skies with light and color, creative photos.

Hot Air Balloon