Colorado River Crossing « Paul & Denise's RV Travels

Colorado River Crossing

Yuma Balloon Festival

Friday we took our friends, Mike & Claudia to Yuma to the Balloon Festival and to enjoy the weekend in Yuma. We spent Friday afternoon in Mexico again and got 2 more bottles of the cheap liquor. I found out the booze in Mexico is not as potent but it is still a good deal. The four of us came through customs and I am the only one that gets the drill! I guess I just look innocent enough to give away our purchases. I made it through and didn’t have to give back my bottle of Tequilla.

We got up at the crack of dawn (5 am!), actually it was still dark when we arrived at the park where the festival was going to be happening. The balloons fly at sunrise as the weather is best then. Paul figured out how to get picked to help with a crew and he and Mike went off to see what they could dig up. The were invited to work on the chase crew for a really beautiful balloon.

Timepeace

Paul & Mike worked with Balloon owners Gary & Diana of Wanderlust Balloons. They go all over the world flying their balloons. The guys helped inflate the balloon and then they hoped into the chase car and followed the balloons to a lettuce field several miles away to pick the balloon up when it landed.

Paul assisting Gary in inflating the balloon

Paul relaying directions to Mike

Mike held the crown rope that is attached to the top of the balloon to control the balloon as the balloon becomes upright.

Mike, dont' let go!

Preparing to fly

Timepeace in Flight

The Chase team - Diana, Mike & Paul

Inflight over Yuma

Close to the roof tops

Closing in on the lettuce fields for landing

While Paul & Mike were on the chase, Claudia and I hung out in the park and watched the other balloons inflate and fly. It was beautiful to see these huge balloons lift 3 to 4 people into the air.

After the balloon was collected we met up and had breakfast at a great local diner with Gary & Diana who invited the guys to help in the evening with the Glow. The glow is when all of the balloons inflate again in the evening just before sundown. So we left to get some sleep so we could return. We took a quick stop on the way home at the Territorial Prison in Yuma and the QuarterMasters Depot. I was exhausted and could not figure out how the guys could still want to explore museums but they did so we did!

Mike walking the timeline of the prison

Claudia finding out what it takes to be a prisoner!

We returned to the park to prepare for the glow about 5 pm. This was another beautiful sight.

Paul assisting with the inflation for the Glow

The beginning of the glow

Checking the balloon for the Glow

As the night sky darkens

Glowing

Timepeace

This was an incredible experience for all of us. It was really interesting learning about hot air balloons and what it takes to fly one. Getting to ride in these balloons was paid for by the sponsors of the festival so getting a ride was not going to happen! Gary & Diana do give rides from there home location in Lake Havasu so who knows Paul and I just might have to make some plans to travel thru there sometime! I can’t wait.

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 9:01 pm and is filed under Arizona. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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