Pre ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA (AIBF):

 Pre ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA (AIBF):

We have taken the long way to AIBF this year via Missouri to see family.

We got hooked on AIBF in 2017 when we attended for 5 days. We realized it was a way too short experience. The 2017 experience got us hooked on staying at the President’s Compound located on a bluff above the launch field. Basically it is all about Location, Location, Location. It is pricey for an RV space with "Rally Style" parking. 2017 it was $175 a night and now it is $250 a night. To soften this price each reservation gets admission media for 4 people for your entire stay. You also get waste water pump outs, the number of them depends on your length of stay. Again it is LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION. In 2019, those staying for the full duration of AIBF were allowed to prebook for a full stay in 2020. This will also hold true for 2021 and pre-booking for 2022.

Now the 2020 AIBF was to have been the 49th Fiesta. Due to COVID 2020 was cancelled. Tickets and reservations could be carried over to this year.

Since there was no 49th Fiesta in 2020, the 49th is this year. 2020 was called “FIESTA SIESTA”. 2022 will be the 50th. The dates for 2022 are October 1-9.

Important to note is reservations for RV spaces will open on January 5, 2022 at 0900 MST. YES THEY SELL OUT QUICKLY!!!! IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING GOING, VISIT the AIBF website https://balloonfiesta.com to get descriptions of the various RV areas and prices.

We like to arrive a day or two early to get set up and settled in.

SO WHAT GOES ON AND WHY IS IT SO KEWL!!

The AIBF lasts for nine days during the first part of October. The dates for 2021 are October 2-10, 2021.

During these 9 days there are many events and what are called sessions. Some days may have  two sessions, one morning and one evening. The morning session on designated days feature Dawn Patrol, Special Shapes, Mass Ascensions and more. The evening sessions on designated days feature the Glows and Fireworks.

I would recommend planning on a stay of a minimum of 4-5 days. This gives you a fudge factor in the event of bad weather cancelling a session.

WHEN SHOULD WE GET THERE - EARLY EARLY EARLY, TRUST ME IT IS WORTH IT.

First, on weekend days the crowds get large, 80,000, so early is a good thing. Gates open at 0430 for morning sessions and 1500 for evening sessions.

No pets are allowed on the launch field, ADA service animals are allowed and emotional support animals are not.

There is NO SMOKING on the launch field. Makes sense as there is 100,000 gallons of propane present.

Chairs, outside food, packs and bags are allowed and will be searched prior to admittance. Also starting this year there will be walk through scanners at the entry gates.

I have seen folks spread out a blanket for a picnic and there are a few picnic tables available.

Weather can be cool with temperatures ranging from 40F to 70F as the day warms up. Also remember you are at an altitude of just over 5,000’ so don’t forget the sunscreen and to stay hydrated.

So this should peak your interest and get one thinking about the 50th AIBF in 2022. The key is planning to avoid disappointment in getting a reservation. 

I will be pretty busy during Fiesta doing the Photo Thing, but will post some blog entries of interesting events etc. 

Till Then :

 

May the winds welcome you with softness. 


May the sun bless you with its warm hands. 


May you fly so high and so well that God 
joins you in laughter

                     and sets you gently 
back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.

I DON"T KNOW WHEN THE VOLCANO WILL BLOW!!

 
We had a leisurely morning today. After breakfast we took the #14 bus to the pool. The salt water hot pot had been fixed and all is well. We did a few laps and I took a steam bath and more salt water pool time.

After the swim, we went for our daily hot dog. Much to my surprise the price had gone up 50 ISK. I asked the attendant when this happened and she said just now as she pointed to the guy changing the sign. I asked him if he would go on break, we all had a laugh. 

We were in-between busses so we sat to enjoy the world famous Icelandic Hot Dog.  We had enough time so we decided to walk up the road to get to the next bus stop. Back to the hotel to hang our suits to dry.

Walked up to Reykjavik Ink and arrived early but got in and got it done. It is a rune called Aegishjalmur, for protection. 

Back to the room and Lynn is packing. Tonight we will see what the volcano might be up to from the air. 

We traveled by city bus to the Reykjavik City Airport Domestic Terminal. Here we met our fellow passengers for the volcano flight. The aircraft was a Cessna Caravan with nice windows. I flew right seat. We flew out to the crater and were the only aircraft in the area. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The crater was smoking but no lava flow. This actually allowed us to fly near the crater for a good view. 



After the flight we caught the bus back to the old town area and had a hot dog :).

Tomorrow we meet up with some friends from our days at GTNP. Will be great to catch up.  

CALL ME ISHMAEL

 
Got a Whale of a Tale to tell ya Boys!!!!

 

 

We are starting to get used to this time zone and were up at 0530. Breakfast at 0700 of waffles and other good stuff. We then gathered our swimming gear and took the bus to the pool. The Salt water pool turned green while we were there and many were not sure why. Later it was closed. 

There were no kids at the pool so we took advantage of the water slide. It is about 3 stories high and was mostly dark and there were stars in the dark portions of the slide. We did enjoy the other hot pots and I went to the steam room.

Just as we were leaving a lady invited us to a water exercise class. Very nice of her as she said she recognized us from other days at the pool. The classes are Monday - Friday and last about 20 minutes. We will try and go to the one tomorrow morning. 

We took the bus back to town and went to the “famous” hot dog stand for lunch. It is a good hot dog, just 50 ISK more than other places.  

We then loaded up our packs and headed to the docks to go Whale Watching with Elding.  It was GREAT and a picture is worth a 1000 words so enjoy the pics. This is just a few and there will be more up on the photo site later. 

We got back to our room and did the tele-med COVID test, both negative.

Then to a fish and chips truck for dinner and it was great.

Troll Weather Kinda Day

 

 

 

We were greeted with a noticeable Troll Weather Day at 0500. We enjoyed in room coffee and getting things together for a very wet day. Breakfast was at 0700 and the buffet was diverse and all was good and well stocked. There were eggs, bacon, breads, pastries, cheese, porridge and even a waffle maker, along with standard morning beverages. All was very good. 

After breakfast we struck out on foot and walked towards the Old Town area. We did stop in a few “rubber tomahawk” tourist shops. We have decided a little Troll to make a travel Christmas ornament would be in order to commemorate this trip.   

One great joys of the morning walk was stumbling upon the JS Watch Company Reykjavik. I had heard of this unique watchmaker in Reykjavik. Knowing his master crafted time pieces are well outside of my price range, we entered the small shop. There we met Master-Watchmaker Gilbert O. Gudjonsson, a man who loves making watches and fishing. We had a most enjoyable chat and learned of his fishing exploits and his goal of catching 1000 kilos of fish in a day. He has caught 940, 980 but not quite the 1000. He exudes a joy of life and a passion for fishing. Many famous folks have gotten watches from him. 

 

 

We continued on to Hlemmer where we caught the #14 bus and and headed to the Pool. I had a hot dog before our swim and then again after. 


We again took the #14 bus back to the area of our hotel and went to learn about Whale Watching. We booked with Elding for tomorrow and were told the humpback whales are still active in the area. SO 1300 tomorrow there is where we will be. We had a nice chat with the receptionist at the Elding Whale Watching desk. We got a great tip on a locals pool. Will have to save this one for the next trip as it is a bit out of town with a 1.5 hour bus ride.

Then back to the hotel to hydrate and dry out as, yes, it has been raining all day. Yet the work in the dry dock continues.  

Soup, bread  and cheese for the evening meal. Now for an after meal walkabout. There is a food trailer selling Fish and Chips we will try tomorrow.

We walked back to
 the old main street area where you can find the oldest house in Reykjavik. The elves greeted us at the Elf Stone with much joy. They did not want us to leave as rain started to fall after we said good bye to them.  Then down to the city lake. Then back to the 1011 store for more old folk bus tickets. I resisted the urge to get a hot dog. 

We talked to a lady who was walking her dog. Learned the current quarantine is only two weeks for pups to move to Iceland and you do not need your neighbors permission to have a dog. Gets me thinking. 

Back to the Hotel where we drop our jackets and head to the temporary bar for a night cap. A nice local stout beer with a 11.5 alc%.

Tomorrow Whales, after a swim and yes a hot dog.

 Time to travel back to Iceland:

We were up early as expected getting the house together as much as we could.The Boys were excited about Puppy Camp and were eager to get their vacation started. 

The Drive to DEN was uneventful and we were plenty early as we expected a busy holiday travel crowd at DEN. IcelandAir did check our vaccine and COVID test results at check in. It was so calm, the TSA Pre-Check line was not even open.

As we are flying IcelandAir, we did not have access to the UAL Club, but there is a new American Express Centurion Club that just opened. It is very very nice, excellent food and drinks, only allowed three hours there and that is before your flight leaves.

The IcelandAir gate agents said the flight was full, well it was not. We were in economy and had done the Window  Aisle seating hoping the middle would stay empty.  The flight was not even close to full and our middle seat remained empty so we had some room to stretch out. 

We were over Greenland when I noticed the Northern Lights dancing about. I was able to get a quick cell phone photo. 

We arrived in KEF early due to a nice tail wind. I think Odin was pushing the plane to get us there sooner. Masks were worn in the terminal. 1st is Passport Control, easy and quick. Next was baggage claim, where your Iceland pre-visit registration is checked, get bags and upon exiting bag claim, your vaccine and COVID test results are checked. Then off ya go. 

We use the Fly Bus to get from the airport into Reykjavik, easy peasy. So we arrived early at our hotel the IcelandAir Marina. We have stayed here several times before and really like the attic rooms. Small, but the balcony over looking the shipyard and harbor is kewl. 

Yet as expected the room was not ready, so we repacked our bags and stored what we did not need for the immediate days walkabout.

Hungry we were, so coffee and food were in order, found a local coffee shop and got doughnuts and coffee. Cost was $20.00. 

 Being Sunday the buses were not operating quite yet so we made a nice long walk (a good mile or more)  to Hlemmer a central bus station. We got the 14 Bus to make a grand circle tour before our morning swim at Laugardalslaug, our favorite pool. 

Iceland tip #1 is to always have your swim suit and towel with you for a nice warm relaxing hot pot soak and swim.   

Public Bike repair station, with QR link for help, KEWL!!! this was at Helmmer Bust Station. 

 

After the swim we got a hot dog, as one should do. We took the 14 bus back to the old town area and went to Kolaportid, the only flea market in Iceland, as it is only open on Saturday and Sunday. I did see a sweater I liked for 20,000 ISK ($160 USD) but I have too many clothes. We did find a few other items. 


Walked back to our hotel and room was not quite ready. We then walked to the Bonus Store and got some dinner items like bread, cheese, soup and Skyr. Oh and lots of Licorice, our bags will be heavy headed home. :)

Room was ready so we got unpacked and organized,  then did another walk about before having some soup and cheese for dinner. Then I turned off my phone and crashed. 

The weather has been, as we say, Troll Weather, rain and clouds and wind. At first the wind was light and we thought we should have packed our umbrellas. The while walking about, the wind did blow as we expected and we were glad we did not have our umbrellas. 



Not sure what Monday will bring as Troll Weather is expected even more so. It will be what it will be.