I went to Arizona and Utah at the end of September into the beginning of October. I was gone Monday of one week to the Wednesday of the next week. Had to come back for my Pinterest party and our trip to Albuquerque! This is what I will be blogging about today. Day 1 of our trip in New Mexico which actually started by staying at my sister's place in Phoenix to split up the drive. That was fun!

We met up with our ride at 3:15 in the morning. So. Darn. Early. That's the one part of ballooning I do not like - the super early start - especially at the Balloon Fiesta!The first morning up that early I felt nauseous (didnt help that I was battling a cold probably) and like I could just lay on the cold ground and go right to sleep. But after some breakfast (who knew I could eat waffles that early!?) and the pilot briefing, I felt more awake and ready for the morning.

Dawn Patrol getting ready to take off so we could see which way the winds took them and to start the day out for everyone at the fiesta. 

It was a really cool moment after the national anthem was played that all pilots on the ground lit their burners up in unison. I got a video but here is a picture 

of just a little part of it.

We didn't take our good camera out on the first day so you'll have to settle for cell phones pictures instead.

Judy testing her burner and Tony helped hold open the mouth of the balloon in the picture on the right to prep and get it ready to inflate. I helped Judy tab the top of the balloon which means sticking 2 pieces of velcro together, odd numbers one day and even numbers only the next day.

I'm in love. Balloons everywhere you look!

Time to start the chase crew once Judy got up in the air! Hubert, Judy's friend from the Netherlands drove her vehicle and there was another vehicle of people who were chasing her balloon as well. They didn't have to pull the trailer so they could get places a little bit faster than we could but we were able to keep up mostly well.

The first day it took us a moment to find her but ended up on the right street and had some help from people in the neighborhood to pack up the balloon.

After we got the balloon packed up and Judy got propane, we were going to meet for a tailgate out at the balloon field. Instead, we ended up at the house Judy and Hubert were staying at and ate there as well as did a first rider ceremony for Gary who Judy took up in her balloon that day. So very cool. Gary was 84 and oh so spry! He was fun to talk to and kept up with the rest of us just fine.

We had quiche from Trader Joes (I dont like quiche, but I liked this one!) Judy's famous hot air balloon muffins, some soft interesting bread that Tony did not care for but I did like it with the Apple Cider Jam from Trader Joes. That stuff was delicious!!  The apple slices were so good, maybe Honey Crisp apples. That is one thing I do enjoy about crewing - the tailgating and the food!

After a much needed afternoon nap (what a waste when I wanted to go out and do fun things but both of us were so so tired so it had to happen), we headed back to the balloon field to watch the gas balloons. When we got there they were just getting ready to send the first one off. The announcer said some facts about the balloon and a national anthem was played (various countries competing) and off they went! The goal is to see how far/long the balloon could fly before it had to come down. So interesting to watch and track online. 

I think we are both have tired faces still. We napped until 5pm even though we had an alarm set for 4pm. I guess we are not spring chickens anymore? Or we should have prepped for these crazy hours before the fiesta! Irregardless, we wanted to be out on the field for the night glow since Judy was not glowing and we would be able to walk around more to get pictures. 

 Night glow pics!

Photos by Tony Hoxsie

Photo by Tony Hoxsie

Photo by Tony Hoxsie

Photos by Tony Hoxsie

We went to eat at Waffle House afterwards. I havent been here since going one time when I lived in AZ. That was 2008-2011! Great way to end the evening and a very busy day.