Just a little Ballooning TR for those that haven't done it, or those that have, or those that have always wanted to.
Albuquerque is the Hot Air Balloon capitol of the world, and for good reason.
The famous "Albuquerque Box" is an air flow that allows traveling in an out and back kind of pattern, which means the chase crews don't have so much unpredictability when it comes to getting their balloon back.
I fell firmly into the last category, until one chilly November morning in 2011.
It was one of those online coupon deals so we couldn't pass it up. We dragged our favorite retired Naval Oceanographer PHD hippie neighbor along with us, because he too, fell into the final category. His wife wanted nothing to do with it, but Larry said "Lets Go!"
So first off, you gotta get up with the sick early birds to go out with this bird.
Then they make you work to help get her rigged up and filled with air!
Finally after she's standing on her own and stretching the ropes, it's time to go!
As we begin that exciting rise into the sky, we get to watch the slowpokes trying to get 'er up!
Freekin' love ABQ in the morning!
Back in a minute......ENJOY!