Alaska Bound

Returning to Alaska

Yes you heard correctly, we have slowly been planning a return trip, since 2021. We knew that Alaska was calling again. This is so true of the Kenia peninsula.

Our plan, is to spend more time dry camping along the way. Many road trips along with, heading down to Homer and the spit. But manly I want to fly into katmai national park and see the largest population of bears up close.

Just in case Susan is packing along extra insurance on me. 

Currently we are at our Show Low property up in the White Mountains, which is east of Payson, Az. As is the case there is always something which is required to do, especially up in the forest area. 

As is the Case, this is a Acorn Woodpecker

There happens to be a mating pair which keeps coming around. Susan also has put in place Hummingbird feeders which are bearing fruit. We notice at least 3 different ones coming around.

As it also happens and we all have experience this, the crazy weather we have seen and experience. Currently we are having an early Monsoon season. This is where the humidity is about 40%. Normally this does not start until July - August. This pass season, saw a larger snow-fall not only here but across the white mountains.

Just in case you are wondering, which route we are taking: Remember everything must be fluid:

Pre-Planning Route

So, some of you maybe wondering what we have been doing. Well for starters. We had out Lake Havasu Rally in Nov. 2022. Which was a big hit. You seen even though this is a dry camping rally, it is a luxury dry camping experience. Shower and bathroom building with warm water. On-site dump and water facility. Large meeting building, capable of holding over 200 people inside. 

Susan and some lady friends went on a cruse along the Mexican  Riviera.

Susan, Linda, Sue, and Deb

New Profile Photo of Susan my love

We adopted a part time Labrador. Well we dog sat. while a friend was at work. So if you want to see what it is like to have to Lab's. Tucker (aka Tuck) was a rescue which Dylan rescue. Tuck was 9 yr old here. 

Although Dakota had issues with him taking over her couch

Along with many nights of dinners and friends coming over.

One evening we were entertained by a rocket launch from Vanderburg AF base.

Well this should be enough to wet your whistle 

  Oh, let me tell you what Mike and Lorraine did or better yet show you:

 

Alfa Roadrunner Nov Gathering

 So, here we are - Sara Parker Rodeo Grounds, just south of Lake Havasu City, Az.

We are Dry-Camping, but WOW. Dry camping with real bathrooms, 4 co-ed showers, big building to house our meeting. Sinks, tables, chairs, lights. Yes real lights. 

So, dry camping, but all the comforts of home. 

Many dinners, gathering, and social hours.

Pickle Ball

Arts Class

Many Classes on technical, social media sites, Groups. IO Alfa Forums, Alfa Roadrunner.Net Website, and how to find campgrounds.

Susan, Tilly, Dakota and Me

Safe Travels and Journeys

DaGirls Rv AKA Gus

Day 4 AIBF

Some History on AIBF

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a yearly hot air balloon festival that takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during early October. The Balloon Fiesta is a nine-day event occurring in the first full week of October, and has over 500 hot air balloons each year far from its humble beginnings of merely 13 balloons in 1972.^[1] The event is the largest balloon festival in the world, followed by the Grand Est Mondial Air in France.^[2]

History[edit]

The Balloon Fiesta began in 1972 as the highlight of a 50th birthday celebration for 770 KOB Radio. Radio station manager Dick McKee asked Sid Cutter, owner of Cutter Flying Service and the first person to own a hot air balloon in New Mexico, if KOB could use his new hot-air balloon as part of the festivities. The two began discussing ballooning, along with conversation and help from Oscar Kratz, and McKee asked what the largest gathering of hot air balloons to date had been. 19 balloons in England, Cutter replied. Kratz asked "Can we get 19 here?" Cutter agreed to try. He got commitments from 21 pilots, but bad weather kept some of them from arriving in time. The first fiesta ended up as a gathering of 13 balloons on April 8, 1972, sponsored by KOB. The first event was located in the parking lot of the Coronado Center Shopping Mall with 20,000 spectators and with balloonists from Arizona, California, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada and Texas taking part. McKee, Cutter, and Kratz are the three men who had originally started the balloon races.^[3] The first fiesta incorporated a "Roadrunner-Coyote Balloon Race" (a "hare-and-hounds" race elsewhere in the world) with 1 balloon being the "Roadrunner" and the others being "Coyote" balloons (the "Roadrunner" balloon was actually emblazoned with likenesses of both Warner Bros. characters). The winner of the race - the "Coyote" that landed closest to the Roadrunner - was Don Piccard of the noted aerostation dynasty, flying a balloon of his company's design and construction (his wife also placed in the race). This race has continued as part of the Balloon Fiesta today.

The next year Albuquerque hosted the first World Hot-Air Balloon Championships in February and the fiesta became an international event. In 1975 Albuquerque was looking at hosting the World Championships again, but the event was scheduled for October. So the fiesta was moved to correspond with the championships. To maintain interest in Albuquerque's bid to host the championships, a balloon rally was held in February of that year. Autumn being a far better flying time than February, the event has remained in early October to the present day.

The Balloon Fiesta grew each year for decades, and today is the largest balloon convention in the world. The number of registered balloons reached a peak of 1,019 in 2000, prompting the Balloon Fiesta Board to limit the number to 750 starting in 2001,^[4] citing a desire for "quality over quantity". The limit was changed to 600 in 2009 –; citing recent growth in the city and a loss of landing zones. On any given day during the festival, up to 100,000 spectators may be on the launch field where they are provided the rare opportunity to observe inflation and take off procedures. Countless more people gather at landing sites all over the city to watch incoming balloons. The limit was increased to 1,000 in 2011.

The Balloon Fiesta, like most public gatherings in 2020, the 49th edition was postponed for one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Safe Travels and Journeys

Susan, Tilly, Dakota and me

DaGirls Rv AKA Gus