Fall 2009 Day 36

We left Farmington and drove north to Darango, CO. We spent the afternoon touring town and stayed in a campground across from Mesa Verde National Park.

Fall 2009 Days 30-35

We drove to Farmington, NM because Chuck and Kathy Benoit were working an FMCA rally at the fairgrounds. Kathy and I spent some time helping them set up and most of the week sightseeing around the Farmington area. There are 20,000 oil and gas wells in the area which is the major part of the economy in the area. We drove 35 miles to the west to Shiprock which I had seen many times from the air.

Fall 2009 Day 29

The early launch was cancelled because of high winds so we left Albuquerque for Santa Fe. We had lunch in a Mexican resturaunt and the girls looked at a bunch of Indian jewlrey which fortunately we determined we did not need. We left Santa Fe and drove another 50 miles up the road and parked overnight at Walmat.

Fall 2009 Day 28

We got up before sunrise to watch the the mass ascention. They start by launching several balloons in the dark and all the balloons light their burners at the same time which is awesome. Then at first light they start launching all the balloons. This year they had over 550 balloons in the air at the same time. We were sitting downwind at the edge of the field so everything came over our heads as they lifted off. The evening glow show was cancelled due to high winds but they had another great fireworks show.

Fall 2009 Day 27

We moved the motor home from the campground to the balloon field and went over and watched the evening events which consisted of having all the special shape balloons inflated and lighting off their burners after it got dark. Then they had a very nice fireworks display. Tomorrow we will get up early and watch the big launch of several hundred balloons.

Fall 2009 Day 26

Today we visited the Nuclear Museum at Kirtland AFB with Chuck and Kathy. This evening we went down to the balloon field to see all the special shape balloons. They will be flying in the morning.

Fall 2009 Day 25

Met up with Kathy and Chuck Benoit today at a campground in Albuquerque. We will be staying here for two nights and then moving over to dry camp where balloons launch. Kathy took this movie of a train alongside the road as we drove towards Albuquerque.

Fall 2009 Day 24

We stopped at the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Park as we headed east to Albuquerque. A woman and her two daughters were in the parking lot having locked the keys inside the car along with their dog. The park rangers were 45 minutes away so we pulled the motor home alongside their car and put the awning out over the car to keep Fiddo cool. The rangers came along and were able to pop the lock and the parking lot party ended. I would have stayed in the Petrified Forest longer but Kathy didn't like that I kept asking the ranger exactly how to turn a living thing into solid stone- oh so quiet solid stone. We arrived back in Albuquerque about 5:00 PM.

Fall 2009 Day 23

We left Palm Springs and drove east toward Phoenix then north saw the first cactus of the trip in southern Arizona. When we passed through the Flagstaff area the mountain had snow on it which was not there the previous week.

Fall 2009 Day 22

I woke up at 5 AM in time to watch the moon set over the mountains and then the sunrise moving down the mountain.

Fall 2009 Day 21

Spent today visiting with my cousin and uncle. I took my Uncle Wally to the air museum located at the Palm Springs Airport. I took a picture of him next to a Link Trainer that my aunt taught Navy pilots instrument flying during World WarII. This is view from my cousin's new place in Palm Springs.

Fall 2009 Day 20

We spent the day driving around the Palm Springs area. Tomorrow my cousin and uncle will be arriving. We should be here until Sunday.

Fall 2009 Day 19

We left Lake Havasu this morning a drove 4 hours over to Palm Springs. We will be staying here until sunday. The pictures are of London Bridge in Lake Havasu. The bridge was taken apart and shipped from London to Lake Havasu. The other pictures show the view from our campsite in Palm Springs.