"Welcome to Albuquerque. We're...
"Welcome to Albuquerque. We're glad you made it safely," said the guy behind the gate.
The I-40 was closed. Emergency vehicles inched through the rows of cars, all the while the sun was setting, my chance of being parked in the front row of the balloon fiesta was waning minute by minute. I called Ken again, who suggested side streets. Exiting a 48-foot rig off a closed freeway was no easy feat, but thanks to the kindness of New Mexico's drivers I crossed double lanes and took an exit.The phone rang. It was the Norwegian. He was shouting out intersections with unfamiliar names. I spotted the turn-off for the balloon park just ahead. I had made it to the front row only 45 minutes behind schedule. "Welcome to Albuquerque. We're glad you made it safely," said the guy behind the gate. My trailer towed extremely well, and the four hydraulic disc brakes and independent torsion suspension proved again to be a wonderful feature when sudden stops or maneuvers became essential...almost effortless, and tireless towing is the result, with very little impact from road bumps to the interior, and to my expensive chardonnay.
It's an unbelievable sight...
It's an unbelievable sight to watch so many balloons in the air just after sunrise.
Woke up Friday morning to the sounds of a generator and flashes of bright light. They were floodlights from the balloonists. That's the drawback of front row parking, I guess. I closed the curtains, put in earplugs, and fell back to sleep. Then, a bit later I heard a whooshing sound of a giant propane flame right above my head. The dawn patrol had arrived; it was a single balloon with a string of lights in the still dark sky. This was a flight for determining weather conditions, the only one allowed by the FAA to ascend before first light. So I was off to the balloon field.
Teams from around the world were there. Corporate efforts, privateers, clubs, you name it. It was time to lend a hand to the FCU in escorting and signing in the 60 or so Airstreams that were staged about 15 miles away at the Camping World parking lot on the eastside of Albuquerque, along I-40. New arrivals were met and escorted in caravans of 10 or 20 at a time to the balloon field. A sight to behold, these silver icons of independence, all cruising along in a straight line.
How cool is this, I thought?...
How cool is this, I thought? Watching a balloon setup from start to launch. A very fantastic scene unfolded right before my eyes at every turn.
How cool is this, I thought? Watching a balloon setup from start to launch. A very fantastic scene unfolded right before my eyes at every turn. As first light became a warm amber glow above Scandia peak to the east of Albuquerque, the first balloons were upright, ready to launch in a mass ascension. Wow! What could be better. Well, a bike ride along the Rio Grande River was a good start, after a very long day watching the balloons. I rode 22 miles both ways, just enough to loosen my stiff muscles.
Airstream Rescue
Part of my agenda was to bring home a client's restoration project from Logan, New Mexico. So on Sunday morning, after a mass ascension of balloons, I was on my way to Logan, about 230 miles away. I went there to rescue a 1964 Airstream Safari, a very popular 22-foot trailer. Neglected for 20 years, I planned to make it the travel vessel of choice for a client in Massachusetts. She now travels in a late model 16-foot Airstream and wanted something larger. Her little Bambi would be sold, replaced by this modernized 1964 Safari in about nine months time. The placement and type of windows and door were perfect for her spacious interior plan. It would be built to her exacting specifications and needs. My plan included leaving my Overlander at Enchanted Trails RV resort for the winter, and taking home this 1964 Airstream for restoration.
Back at the Festival
I had set aside time on Monday to help clients on site with small repairs and upgrades, and then late into the night it was time to pack it up and head back to California, where I'd begin a full restoration on my new project. First thing in the morning, I made up my mind to travel non-stop back to my shop.
This time I didn't plan to rest along the road. Nothing would be open anyways I assumed.
(Editor's Note: RV magazine asked vintage Airstream restorer Uwe Salwender of Area 63 Productions in Orange, California, to keep a journal of his extended road trip to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico. What he discovered is how deep our home state's budget cuts have run!)