Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

NM_Shooter · October 09, 2009, 09:34:12 AM

For those of you who have not attended a balloon fiesta here in ABQ, it is really a lot of fun... once or twice

We tend to avoid it now, as the traffic and crowds are a bit crazy. But they can be a load of fun. I know of no other aviation event where you can walk around in the airfield and come into contact with the aircraft as they are taking off. Seeing 300 of these in the air all around you is pretty spectacular.

Check out http://www.abqjournal.com/ for some pictures.

-f-

MountainDon · October 12, 2009, 09:30:39 PM

I agree it is worth going once for sure. Watching them in the air is an amazing sight. On field is even more amazing.

Now I'd rather be in the mountains; which I was for 5 days.

October 13, 2009, 01:49:55 AM

Thank goodness another fiesta is over.

We fled the fiesta on Sunday. Took the Railrunner to Santa Fe. The four of us plus one drunk were the only ones on the train at 7am.

The drunk wanted to socialize, and scared my kids. He finally wandered off without needing much persuasion. Other than that it was a great day!

glenn kangiser · October 15, 2009, 12:11:51 AM

I was at one years ago when trucking. Cool.

Any close calls or excitement this year?

MountainDon · October 15, 2009, 12:44:57 AM

Excitement this year? Oh yes. Blame it all on the unpredictable winds. People falling out of baskets, hard landings, encounters with trees...

October 15, 2009, 01:24:14 AM

I figured as much. As I remember it was power lines the year I was there.

MountainDon · October 15, 2009, 01:33:34 AM

Yep. The power lines take a beating at times. Gives one something to think about i contemplating a balloon ride.

StinkerBell · October 15, 2009, 02:09:36 PM

ANyone right now watching the news?

6 year old boy floating in a homemade balloon that looks like a flying saucer. His flying it is not intensional.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/15/colorado.boy.balloon/index.html

glenn kangiser · October 15, 2009, 02:45:45 PM

You beat me, Stinky. I was just going to post that. Only related as a balloon story but interesting none the less.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_on_re_us/us_boy_in_balloon

October 15, 2009, 03:06:06 PM

It landed, rather gently. No child inside. So now did the child fall out or did the child run away cause he think he did something that let his dad's weather balloon loose or worse? Did something happen to this child and a cover story is being made?

MountainDon · October 15, 2009, 03:07:23 PM

Details at 10

glenn kangiser · October 15, 2009, 05:24:28 PM

More details and this article mentions that information regarding the Heene family is being wiped from the internet. I saved a copy just in case.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/15/national/main5386974.shtml?tag=topnews

StinkerBell · October 15, 2009, 05:36:54 PM

Boy found alive. He was hiding. Thank heavens.

I bet he has a lengthy time out.

glenn kangiser · October 15, 2009, 05:39:38 PM

Time out... what ever happened to beatings?

Loving ones of course ... not hateful ones....

October 15, 2009, 05:51:34 PM

I am mixed. One he was obviously terrified to tell his dad, hence the hiding.. If he gets a spanking will it help or hurt? I dunno.

I would cry hold him tell him I love him and then spank him. You also would have to consider that CPS is going to all over this family for the next few days so maybe a spanking might just add a level of problems they don't need. Six years old.....at that age he understands consequences not like a two year old who might run into the street and you need the negative reinforcement of a spanking so they fear that and wont run into the street and get hit by a car.

The one thing we really work hard on in our home is for the kids to come tell us and do not lie. the 9 year old finally gets it. But it took a good time to work that in him.

This family needs to whats best for them. Not up to me on how to handle it. They know their kid best.

muldoon · October 15, 2009, 07:14:29 PM

Quote from: NM_Shooter on October 13, 2009, 01:49:55 AM
Thank goodness another fiesta is over.

We fled the fiesta on Sunday. Took the Railrunner to Santa Fe. The four of us plus one drunk were the only ones on the train at 7am.

The drunk wanted to socialize, and scared my kids. He finally wandered off without needing much persuasion. Other than that it was a great day!

I had a great time as well, met some interesting people on the train at 7am. They didnt want to socialize, damn yankees. After trying to be friendly for a while I finally gave up on them and went to enjoy the fiesta.

[just kidding]