Our week in Albuquerque has come to an end. I didn’t post pictures yet because I used up most of my data just uploading my 1,000’s of pictures to the cloud. I’ll post my favorites below and I’ve also added some videos to YouTube. Just Google CampingKonneys and the videos will show up. Subscribe to my channel if you’d like for more camping videos as we travel across the country visiting national parks.
Here are a few of my favorite photos…
Ever wonder why the balloons always fly in Albuquerque? It’s because of a weather phenomenon called the Albuquerque Box. This allows the balloons to fly in a predictable pattern. Deciding which way the wind is blowing will help you get the best photographs!
The balloon festival started in 1972 with a small gathering of 13 balloons and has grown to become the largest international balloon fiesta in the world. It’s held each week during the first week of October and it features about 600 balloons and 700 pilots.
One of the cool shows begins the day with the Dawn Patrol, a small group of balloons that inflate and do a special light show just before the sun rises each day. During this light show, the other balloons begin to inflate and after the National Anthem is sung, the sponsor balloon of the day goes up with the American flag followed by the remaining balloons of the Dawn Patrol. This is how every day begins!
The festival lasts all day with events starting at 5:45 am and ending at 8:00 pm. The flying conditions determine whether it will be ideal for the balloons to fly each day. The look for the “box” to be present and winds to be low in order to get the green flag that it will be ok to fly that day. Some days people will attend and the balloons won’t be able to launch, they will just inflate and stay tethered to the ground. Tomorrow the special shape character balloons will fly. Stay tuned!
Camping Konneys 