AFTER ACTION REPORT FOR 2017 ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FIESTA TRIP
1. WE STAYED AT THE SOUTH RV PARKING AREA FROM THURSDAY UNTIL SUNDAY (5-8 OCT 2017...3 NIGHTS, 4 DAYS). IT WAS TRUE BOONDOCKING BUT THERE ARE SITES THAT HAVE JUST WATER OR WATER AND ELECTRIC.
2. RESERVATIONS FOR THE SOUTH RV PARKING AREA WERE MADE 3 DAYS AFTER THE 2016 BALLOON FIESTA WAS OVER. SUGGEST WE DO THE SAME AGAIN THIS YEAR. I BELIEVE RESERVATIONS WILL OPEN ON OCTOBER 24TH, 2017 FOR THE FIESTA IN 2018.
3. IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY VISITED MY FACEBOOK PAGE I SUGGEST YOU DO SO FOR SOME PICTURES OF THE SOUTH RV LOT AND WHERE WE CAMPED. MY FACEBOOK ADDEE IS
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/DINO.CARROLL
4. THE SITE WERE SURPRISINGLY VERY SPACIOUS WITH ENOUGH ROOM FOR A TOAD VEHICLE IF APPLICABLE. WE LUCKED OUT AND GOT A SPACE THAT WAS NEAR THE ACCESS ROAD SO WE DID NOT HAVE A NEIGHBOR ON THE DRIVER’S SIDE OF THE RV.
5. THE FIESTA ITSELF LAST FOR 9 DAYS AND IS DIVIDED INTO 2 EVENTS DAILY, A MORNING EVENT AND EVENING EVENT. IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND THE MAIN EVENTS IT WILL COST YOU $10 EACH. THERE ARE ACTIVITIES HAPPENING BETWEEN EVENTS SUCH AS CONCERTS, SEMINARS, RIDES, ETC. THE WEATHER WAS EXCELLENT BUT WE DO RECOMMEND YOU BRING WARM CLOTHES FOR THE MORNING AND EVENING ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE GLOVES. WHEN ATTENDING THE EVENTS BRING BAG CHAIRS WITH YOU. THERE ARE PICNIC TABLES THROUGHOUT THE LAUNCH FIELD BUT THEY ARE USUALLY TAKEN/CLAIMED EARLY. YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO BRING A BLANKET TO WRAP AROUND YOU OR TO SIT ON.
6. SHUTTLE SERVICE FROM THE SOUTH RV LOT TO SOUTH GATE WAS PROVIDED FOR FREE. YOU CAN ALSO WALK TO THE SOUTH GATE OR RIDE BICYCLES IF YOU CHOOSE. THERE IS A SECURE BICYCLE PARKING AREA FOR A FEE IF YOU DECIDE TO TAKE THAT OPTION. I WOULD RECOMMEND TAKING THE SHUTTLE!!
7. CELLULAR SERVICE WAS GOOD BUT WIFI SERVICE SUCKED!!! WE DID NOT HAVE A ‘JET PACK’ AND THAT MAY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. IF YOU HAVE ONE, BRING IT.
IN CONCLUSION, THE DAYS OF THE WEEK THAT WE CHOOSE WORKED WELL FOR US. ARRIVING ON THURSDAY GAVE US A CHANCE TO SET UP AND RELAX. FRIDAY WAS AN ‘OPEN’ DAY AND WE SPENT IT WITH SOME FRIENDS AND WENT TO THE CASINO. SATURDAY WAS THE START OF THE FIESTA AND WE ATTENDED BOTH THE MORNING AND EVENING EVENTS. WE HAD PLANNED ON ATTENDING THE SUNDAY MORNING EVENTS BUT AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PICTURES, WE WERE ABLE TO VIEW THE BALLOONS FROM THE RV SITE!! WE PACKED UP AND LEFT AT AROUND 11 AM. EACH EVENT COST $10 EACH AND YOU CAN PURCHASE THE ADMISSION TICKETS ONLINE OR AT THE GATE. THERE ARE PLENTY OF VENDORS ON SITE SO BRING EXTRA CASH FOR SHOPPING AND EATING. BRING COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES. IF YOU PLAN ON BRINGING YOUR PETS, RECOMMEND YOU VIEW THE RULES ON PET CARE AND RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE BALLOON FIESTA WEBSITE (
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - Welcome to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta). STAYING LONGER THAN 3 NIGHTS, 4 DAYS WILL BE UP TO YOU IF WE PLAN ON BEING THERE DURING THE FIRST WEEKEND.
I PLAN ON CONTACTING THE FIESTA STAFF TO SEE IF I CAN CREATE A “GROUP” SO THAT WE CAN BE PARKED NEAR EACH OTHER. I WILL LET YOU KNOW IF THAT IS POSSIBLE. RIGHT NOW I BELIEVE WE HAVE 4 CONFIRMED COUPLES (ANGIE & DINO, DENNIS & JANET, JERRY & MARIA AND DAVE & MYRA) SEVERAL OTHER FRIENDS THAT I KNOW HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING AND I WILL TALK TO THEM SHORTLY. IF YOU HAVE ANYONE THAT WANTS TO JOIN US, GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM SOON.
YOU PROBABLY WILL STILL HAVE QUESTIONS SO LET’S STAY IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER! I AM ALREADY GETTING EXCITED OVER THE PROSPECT OF HAVING SOME FUN AT THE FIESTA NEXT YEAR! TALK TO YOU SOON
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