First thing this morning I made a few last minute purchases at the camp store. Then Tim and I pulled next door to Camping World. All of the Airstreamers attending the ABQ Balloon Fiesta needed to arrive between the hours of 7AM and Noon. Here the parkers queue all the Airstream rigs up in order of arrival and escort us 10 to 12 at a time over to the Fiesta Field. This was the smoothest and quickest parking of 200 trailers in about 3 hours that I have ever seen. They do a fabulous job organizing this event and you can tell it's not their first rodeo.
Tim and I wanted to arrive around 9AM to miss the initial rush. We made it over there by 9:30AM. Not bad for us! Once we arrived it was about a thirty minute wait until we departed. Then it was a thirty minute drive over to the field.
On our arrival we realized we would be parked almost to the rear of our area. And that was fine because all the spots are great ... we are literally right next to the launch field. When our parking escort came, he asked if we were with a group and we answered 'No' ... follow me he said. We have an empty spot four rows up and in the center.
When we arrived at our parking spot we found ourselves receiving 'Rock Star' parking right next to the central meeting area for our Airstream Rally.
After we got settled in we walked around and saw a few people we knew and met many new people. Then we picked up our welcome bags and enjoyed a fabulous catered enchilada dinner. Just about then I needed to walk (one trailer over ... because we have Rock Star parking) to the Airstream to get a jacket. That was when I saw and heard a balloon flare. Well right behind our Airstream another group was doing a demo (without the balloon) with just the basket and burner. Tim could see the flame over our Airstream from where he was and I hear that he yelled 'Alice! Are you cooking?' LOL
All in all it was a fun day getting settled in. Seeing everyone and enjoying being in the center of 200 Airstreams. Tomorrow will come early. We have a pre-dawn launch and the opening ceremony. It is going to be spectacular! Not only the all the Airstreams, the 500+ hot air balloons but also the people. We hear that over 800,000 people will attend over upcoming week. Amazing!
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