Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2010

Not sure how I've managed to not get this posted yet. The first weekend of October creates a phenomenal burst of colors each year in Albuquerque. It also causes grown women to act like kids again. Don't believe me follow my wife Jodi, her Aunt Carol or my buddy Adriana from work around the launch field. Don't think for a second you can sleep in and witness this childish action though, it starts way before dawn.

The weather has been pretty good for the morning launches but not quite so friendly in the evenings. Saturday morning warmed up a bit quickly so the mass ascension wasn't quite as extraordinary as Sunday. Of course Sunday morning the wind picked up which created it's own concerns but not until later in the morning after the majority of the balloons had left the field. One of the balloons we really wanted to see was the Wells Fargo stagecoach but neither Saturday or Sunday worked for it.

Unfortunately the weather in the evenings canceled the glow on Saturday and the gas balloons from launching on Tuesday and Wednesday. This was a minor interruption on the minds of their fellow balloonists however due to two of their own being lost over the Adriatic Sea. Richard Abruzzo along with friend and fellow balloonist Carol Rymer Davis took off from near Bristol, UK and was last heard from over the Adriatic Sea on Wednesday 29 September after being caught in bad storms. Unfortunately the search for them was called off after no sign whatsoever was found of them after eight days.

Jodi is going back tomorrow morning with her boss/friend Karri then Jodi and I will go back again tomorrow evening for the Special Shapes glow if the weather allows them to have it. And with Saturday and Sunday being the last 2 days of this year's show I am sure we will be there then also. At times it's a bit aggravating that everything gets moved because of the balloons but it only happens 9 days out of each year.