JANUARY 201 5 SUNRAYS | 61
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The Fly-In, pilots drop weighted markers
onto specified targets in an impressive
exhibition of skill and beauty.
The second day of the event, we found
ourselves enraptured as 106 non-
traditional, specially-shaped balloons
took flight directly over our RVs.
The air above our heads filled with a
spectacular display of fanciful balloons
of every imaginable size, shape and color,
including clown balloons, whale balloons,
bee balloons, carriage balloons, multiple
flying pig balloons, and, perhaps most
remarkable of all, a flying Elvis balloon!
Day after day, we watched in awe as the
sky filled with a vast array of colors and
shapes. A long-time attendee standing
near our group said it best: “You just
can’t see this enough. Every time I see it,
it’s spectacular!” The bursting sounds of
the propane firing, watching the magical
shapes take form as the air within them
warmed, the quiet ascent of each craft
as it floated upward until the silhouette
of their magnificent figures struck out
against the bright blue morning skies
was, to say the least, a breathtaking,
astounding experience.
After the morning ascensions, we spent
the remainder of our days visiting the
sites of Albuquerque. We took a 2.7 mile
tram ride up Sandia Peak, ascending
to a height of 10,378 feet. The ride
provided dramatic vistas across the
canyons, peaks and valleys. Over lunch
at the High Finance restaurant on the
peak’s summit, we were able to enjoy a
360 degree panorama of 11,000 square
miles across New Mexico. Another
memorable stop was our group lunch
in Old Town Albuquerque. This 300
year old neighborhood was central to
Albuquerque’s history and development,
with a square, church, hotels, bars
and stores. Today, the town center is
surrounded by shops, boutiques and
restaurants offering southwestern goods
and services in a picturesque adobe
setting.
Many of us forged out time to visit the
Balloon Museum, located right on the
Fiesta grounds, which featured displays
of early balloons, detailed significant
flights, and provided an essential
understanding of ballooning that greatly
enhanced our visit.
The morning after a thrilling evening
fireworks show marked the end of our
remarkable trip. Each party went off in
their own direction, bound for further
adventure or making a leisurely return
home, basking in the memory of this
splendid experience.
RV Club members visited the International Balloon Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
