Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - October 7-13, 2026

Travel to the Albuquerque, NM International Balloon Fiesta

October 7 - 13, 2016

Many months ago, my Daughter who lives in Estero Florida had told me her family was making plans to go to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and it would be fun if we could get together there.   As the time was getting closer and I didn’t hear anything, I kind of thought maybe it wasn’t happening.  Then about 2 weeks before, I get a text wondering if I can make it there.  I debated it for a few days and then decided to do it as we don’t get together that often, so off I go in my stealth van.    

Tuesday Oct 7 -  I leave Tucson traveling on I-10 to Deming, NM and then route 28 to Hatch, NM and then I-25 north to Socorro, NM where I spend the night.  I’ve been there many times, it’s a very scenic and historic town, but it’s just a rest stop for me today at the lovely Walmart.  

Wednesday Oct 8 - Since it’s only about an hour ride to get to Albuquerque from here, I decide to check out a local hiking attraction called “The Box” in the morning.  A week or two ago there was heavy flooding in the river canyon here and by the looks of things it must have been crazy. 

Wild colorful rocks

Wanted to see what was in that opening

Looks like chocolate ice cream on the rocks

The drive north from Socorro is very scenic with the Rio Grande River visible far down in the valley with farm fields and trees.  I exit I-25 before Albuquerque for a more scenic ride and soon realize that I am driving on the historic El Camino Real or the Royal Road and route 66 through Belen, Los Lunes, Las Lunes with lots of historic adobe buildings, murals, old canals and colorful artistic buildings.  I come across this great mural wall depicting NM hispanic history.

  

I’m finding this area to be very interesting when my phone suddenly rings, it’s my daughter Jessica calling, they have arrived in Albuquerque and are heading straight to the Old Town area.  I previously entered an address into my GPS for a visitors center to get tourist information and the directions are taking me directly to the Old Town area.  In a few minutes, I’m riding around the Old Town area trying to find a parking spot, it’s very crowded and frustrating, but I eventually I find a spot and we find each other fairly easily.  It’s my daughter Jessica, her husband Jerome and his mother, Marilynn.  It’s amazing how much easier it is to find people today with cell phones, you can't  hide ?   

The happy couple

 After roaming around Old Town for a while, they have to check into their Hotel.  We are taking separate cars as when we get there, I find out that they mistakingly reserved two Hotels for the night and I am to stay in this hotel while they are going to another Hotel, (#2).  I was just hopeful to be able to park and wang overnight in the parking lot and now I have this giant room, two bedrooms, a kitchen and three TV’s.  This becomes an issue on the next day, as they didn’t make it clear to me that this was for only one night .  

Thursday Oct 9 - Jessica calls in the morning to tell me to drive to the other Hotel, (# 3) which they have for the balance of their time.  I meet them there and we then go for a two mile hike on the petroglyph trail a few miles away.  They had never seen petroglyphs before and were quite interested.  They then wanted to drive to Santa Fe as they have never been there.  Half way to Santa Fe, we get a phone call from the Hotel informing us that clothes and stuff were left in the Hotel room.  They will be removed and secured for pickup latter.  They never made it clear that this Hotel room was for one night, or maybe I wasn't paying attention ?

We arrive in Santa Fe and wander around for a few hours, have a great lunch, browse in several stores and hang out in the downtown plaza for a while. 

It was then back to the first Hotel to get my clothes and stuff left behind.  This Hotel run around is a little crazy !  This third Hotel, Hotel Chaco, has Pueblo Indian inspired architecture, an art gallery, a gift shop, fitness center and pool.  Also, I can overnight in the large parking lot across the street.

The impressive lobby

Across the street is an also impressive “Sawmill Market” food court mega - complex. We go for dinner, it’s quite hard to decide on your food choice as there are so many great options ?

The Sawmill Market was once a real Sawmill decades ago

The next morning, we are back pigging out

Friday Oct 10 -  We explore Albuquerque a bit, on a short hike on a forest lined trail along the Rio Grande River, which pretty full at present due to the recent rain. 

We also go to the self- pick, Big Jim Farm Market" where they grow all heats of Chilis along with tomatoes, pumpkins and flowers. 

Saturday October 11 - Finally today, we are going to the Balloon Fiesta in mid afternoon for the Night Magic Glo event where they inflate the balloons at dusk, but they do not lift off.  We drive to a local park and ride bus stop that takes us to the balloon fest grounds.  It was a very efficient operation.  There seemed to be about a hundred food vendors there, it was super crowded and the food lines were long.  

When the time came for the Night Magic Glo event, it basically was didn't happen, they only fired the burners to display flames, no colorful balloons.  There was no explanation why they didn’t allow the balloon to be inflated as the wind was light and it was a big disappointment.  

But, we also had tickets for the music concert, the band being lead by a rising country star, Russell Dickerson, who my daughter and husband knew of.  I wasn’t impressed even slightly, but the crowd was fun to watch and the light and smoke show was impressive.

The food vendor was colorful

I had to take this photo of several other people taking photos

Sunday October 12 -  Early Sunday morning is the much anticipated balloon mass Ascension and everyone is hoping that the weather will cooperate.  We get up about 4 AM to get to the Park and Ride about 5 AM so we get to the Fiesta around 6 AM.  The family has bought VIP tickets which allow us into this restricted area with tables and chairs, a nice food buffet, free drinks, coffee, donuts and a gift bag.  It was a pretty nice set up, but when the action starts on the field, you need to go down amongst the inflating balloons.  It gets pretty exciting when they all start inflating and I thought all was good.  But, as all the balloons eventually were inflated, there was no ascension and slowly they started to deflate, it was all over, what a bummer !

It’s then back to the bus for the ride back to the park and ride and the drive back to the hotel.  After some time resting at the Hotel, we leave at about 3 PM to drive to the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway for the ride up the mountain to the Ten 3 Restaurant where we have a dinner reservation.  It now has become quite windy and as a result the restaurant is about half empty and we are seated right away.  The waitress explained the menu items with precision, it’s a classy place, but she then confided in us that she loves working at this restaurant, but hates the Tram ride, especially when it is windy.  And it is now windy, somewhere around 50 MPH which is about the maximum for the Tram.  After dinner, we had quite a long wait in line, about an hour, to get on the tram for the ride back down. 

The going up looked good at this point

In the distance it's rain down the the valley

 Monday October 13 -  This is the final day of this adventure for me, although the family leave in the early hours on Tuesday for their flight back to Ft. Myers, Florida.  We start with another breakfast at the Sawmill Market, can't get enough of that place, and then back to the Sandia Peak Tramway parking lot where we take a hike on a trail that meanders uphill under the tramway.  We bushwhacked partway off trail, picking our way around the rocks and cactus with great trail views. We eventually found the main trail and descended back to the parking lot.

We then went for a drive on Central Avenue, old route 66, to view the Nob Hill area sights and then made a stop at an Old Town Mexican restaurant for lunch.  Finally, we drive to another Hotel (#4) where they will stay for the night as it is close to the airport.  

I then give my farewells and start the drive back towards Tucson.  It was a great reunion with lots of family updates, all good, but somewhat exhausting with all the running around and eating.  I drive mostly straight on I-25 to Truth or Consequences, where I spend the night.  

Tuesday October 14 - I don’t really do anything in T & C, just get back on the highway to heading to Deming where I plan to stop at the Rockhound State Park where we once stayed in a campground a decade or so ago.  I wanted to explore this nearby alternate area that I remember from the past.  When I found it, I didn’t remember it at all, the area has been totally developed into beautiful campsites.  It was a very photogenic landscape however with great wild flowery plants and mountain views !  I took a few photo and then went back to downtown Deming to explore, stoping in a bakery for a few treats and then back on the highway.  

Great rocky view across a cattle ranch

The campsites were set amongst this

Deming has many great murals and a world class museum

It was quiet, long, calm drive on I-10 until a few miles from Tucson when we came upon dark ominous clouds and then a brief rain shower, welcoming me back !

This ends this brief adventure and looking forward to the next one.                  

London, England Trip - September 8 - 16, 2016

London, England Adventure

Sue and I are off at 7 AM on September 8th, ready for a very long travel day.  It starts with a shuttle van to the Phoenix airport to catch a United Air flight to Denver, Colorado where we will connect to another flight to Heathrow Airport in London.  We had a scare on the way to Phoenix due to an email from United informing us that our initial flight in Denver was canceled, due to issues in London, but they had automatically put us on an alternate flight from San Francisco to London with only a short delay.  Amazingly, this all worked out !

Great view flying along California coast

 

Our flight to London was totally full and we were sandwiched into two tight center seats.  The flight was smooth, no problems except for excessive amounts of food, never thought I’d have a problem with that.  I thought it very odd that they turned on the cabin lights at about 6 AM and then came around with bacon cheese burgers. The cabin lights were then turned off in case you wanted to go back to sleep.  An hour or so latter, the lights come back on and they start serving breakfast. I was bloated with food for the rest of the day !  

On arrival at Heathrow airport, it seems that we had to walk about two miles to get to the rail station which they call the “Tube” and get on the proper train to Kensington where we have a hotel reservation.  It’s now about 12 noon on September 9th and I surely didn’t get much sleep last night but I don’t feel too horrible.  

We arrive at the Kensington High Street Station, it’s too early to check into our Hotel, but the plan is to drop our luggage off and then explore the local area. We then walk up and down Kensington Street looking unsuccessfully for the hotel, we don't have internet and eventually stop and ask someone for help.   This does not bode well for our ability to find our way around town ?   

Kensington is definitely an upscale area, the streets are loaded with expensive looking cars, we’re not in Tucson anymore, no dented up beaters here.  We check into the our room at the Kensington Hideaway Hotel to find it very a modern, high tech room with an entry card to turn on room power and many confusing light switches.  Also a modern bathroom with a stand up shower system.  I’m not sure I can deal with all this technology ?  

Our Day 2 plan is to visit the Westminster Abbey. We take the Kensington High Street Tube a few blocks from our hotel to get there. The Westminster Abbey area, as expected, is loaded with tourists.  Sue had made an advance reservation to get in which was smart, that's why I keep her around. 

The Abbey is amazing, beyond expectations !  The architecture is out of this world incredible, it’s hard to imagine how they built this back in this time period. The history inside is incredible, the tour book says there are more than 3,000 people buried inside and 600 tombs, predominately English royalty and aristocrates.  

It doesn’t matter what religious beliefs you have or don’t have, walking inside this place will affect you, it’s mind boggling !

After that, we sort of wander around the central London area, so much to see, you could spend your whole week right here.  In all directions, incredible buildings, shops, monuments and statues.  We find our way to the Trafalgar Square area and then to Convent Gardens areas. 

Everyone knows the iconic Big Ben

Trafalgar Square view

I think the vendor is trying to sell a tour to Sue

Love these flower draped English Pubs

Then a walk over to the Thames River where take the river walk back to the Westminster Cathedral area with great views of the river.  We pass the amazing Cleopatra's Needle that was removed from the ruins of the Caesarean of Alexandria in Egypt in the 19th century.  Also it is flanked by two faux-egyptian bronze sphinxes.

It's acceptable to drink your beer outside

After walking about 20,000 steps, we return to back to the Kensington where we end up at a local pub, The Goat, built in the 1679. We have their authentic Fish and Chips meal with an English pint or two.  

The Goat Tavern

Day 3 is a walking adventure past Kensington Gardens to the Prince Albert Hall which is another beautiful building.  They have a tour but it’s pricey and we had other priorities for the day.  Across the street is the beautiful Albert Memorial, Prince Albert was a very popular member of the royal family. 

The Prince Albert Hall

Absolutely beautiful all around

Encircling the Monument are these fantastic statues

We then continued walking to Exhibition Road and the Victoria and Albert Museum.  This is a vast museum with impressive  collections of about everything, it’s easily a full day to see all the exhibits.  I took so many photos, only a few shown below.

Museum entrance

Close up of museum entrance 

Statue of the Greek Myth of Achille's Heel and his mother Thetis

This ceiling was pretty amazing

It’s then back to the hotel to relax and then go to a nearby African restaurant that had an interesting menu and the food was great. 

It’s now day 4 and we have reserved a Big Bus Tour around London.  It’s one of the best and easiest ways to see most of the London sights.  You can get off the bus anywhere along the tour route, explore the area and then return to the bus stop and get back on the next bus to continue the tour.  We departed the bus a couple of times to see sights up close and personal.

The Rooster Tavern 

Bikes are available everywhere and the locals drive crazy 

View from the open top Big Bus

Big Ben again

A crowded view from the Westminster Bridge to the London  Eye

As you will see, I'm big on these street views

I'm also very big on the great architecture

Saint Paul Cathedral view

Statues in front of the Cathedral

We depart the Bus Tour in late afternoon conveniently in front of the bus stop at the Goat Pub, which seems to our favorite.  We get off the bus and walk right into the pub for a pint and a snack. 

You might wonder why we aren't going to fine London restaurants for big meals ?  It's because we are both having some gastric issues to put it in a nice way.  As a result, we are going light on the food.  I blame it on that huge cheeseburger I ate on the plane ? 

On Day 5, we decide to have the continental breakfast at the Hotel although it's not exactly free.  There is a complex one cup brew machine which Sue thinks she can handle.  It goes very wrong as she ends up spilling coffee and dropping  and breaking a glass on the floor.  Glad it wasn’t me !  Other wise, the breakfast was good.

  

After studying several maps, we feel that we could use the bus system to get around easier.  We take the # 9 bus to Piccadilly Circus where we explore, it’s one of the most interesting areas, adjacent to the China Town, Soho and Carnaby.  

We had a brief rainy period, but we had jackets and it was over by noon and it was to be the only rain during our trip.  

We ended up at a huge Waterstones book store for Sue (claims to one of the largest in Europe) and the  amazing Fortnum & Mason tea and biscuits store.  The biscuits were really calling to me, they were hard to pass up on. 

Statue of Florence Nightingale

Crimean War Memorial

Willian Shakespeare statue at Leicester Square

Award winning gay bar ?

Chinatown Gate

St James Tavern

The Admiral Duncan Pub

Weather report

It was then back to the Hotel via the # 9 bus, it seems to have become our go-to ride.  We go to another local pub in the evening, The Prince of Wales.  it’s very similar to the Goat Pub and we latter find out that both are owned by chain known as Blue King. 

On day 6, after breakfast at the Hotel and no problem with the coffee machine, we again take the # 9 bus to Picadilley Circus and then walk several blocks to the British Museum.  It’s another huge sprawling museum with endless exhibits.

Buy tickets here

Bikes foe hire

A long time Umbrella Shop near the British Museum

British Museum entrance

We enter into the ancient Egypt exhibit

A Lord Nelson plate in the Europe gallery

All days seems to end at Piccadilly Circus

On day 7, our final day in London, Sue and I go off on our own for the day. there are limits to our compatibility.  Sue is more interested in shopping, just like a woman !   I'm more into architecture, signs, art, murals and street art. 

A solo day enables me to explore and take photos totally at  my own direction and speed.  I've always been a solo guy, avoiding most group activities.   

My first stop is the town of Highbridge to look at building architecture and sights, especially the famous Harrods Department Store.  

I spend some time at the Hyde Park Gate and corner looking various the military monuments.

  

I then take the #9 bus to Piccadilly Square and mainly wander around the Soho and Carnaby street areas.  I stop for lunch at a pub, the Old Coffee House where I have a beef stew lunch that was pretty great.  I later find that this pub has quite an a history, being one of the birthplaces of the Carnaby Street period.

Beautiful brickwork

The Paxton's Head Pub

Very surprised to see an open street

World famous Harrods Store

The Hyde Park Gate

The Old Coffee House

Carnaby Street Mural

Welcome to Carnaby Street arch

The Cock Tavern

The all Saints Church is a beauty

Love these double buses

National Provincial Bank

          

Video from inside the Old Coffee House

A small demonstration at the square today 

Back at the Hotel we go out for a not so great Italian meal and then pack up for an early departure in the morning. 

Sadly, it's day 8 and time to leave, it's going to be another long travel day as we check out of the hotel at 7 AM and head for the Tube Station to take the train to the airport.  Of course we get on the train going the wrong way, have to get off and reverse our direction.  Fortunately, we have time to spare and still get to our terminal and gate way ahead of time.

The plane is on time, our seats are way in the rear, but luckily we have a spare seat in our row enabling us to stretch out.  The only drawback is that we are flying a route far up north over Greenland and northern Canada, all cloud covered, very little to see out of the window.

View after takeoff and then up into the clouds

The flight plan

 

Somewhere high over northern Canada

We land in Denver to catch our next flight which involves going through a couple of border security checks and then a baggage check with very long lines.  We then take a shuttle to our terminal and then a long walk to our gate getting there just as the flight is starting to board.  

It's a two hour flight to Phoenix in a smaller plane, fully loaded  and we are squeezed into the last row.  The flight crew is talking about posible turbulence, that's always relaxing.  We do have some roughness early in the flight, but not a big deal. 

At Phoenix, we again have quite a hike to the outside pick up spot for our shuttle van back to Tucson.  It's another 1 1/2 hour ride and as we get close to Tucson we hit heavy rain and our driver is making us nervous.  It's dark and rainy, poor visibility and he has to drive at 75 MPH in between cars and trucks in congested areas.  

We survived it all well and it was a great educational trip, but it's good to be home and I look forward to my own bed tonight.