Toth number two

Driving back on I-40 gets pretty ho-hum. I-40 is one of our main east/west routes when we are venturing out to the south and east, which we tend to do a lot. So I just expected to plow through and get home as fast as possible, but that changed when I learned what was in Winslow.

I mentioned back in September that we had stumbled upon a bucket list item, a carving by Hungarian born Peter Wolf Toth who, upon moving to the US, dedicated himself to creating carvings of Native Americans in each of the US states. Well, it turns out that Arizona’s Whispering Giant is in Winslow. Since Winslow is on the I-40 we decided that it would be a crime to drive by and not take a look.

My Toth list showed the carving was in the Winslow visitor center, and they had told us on the phone this morning that there was plenty of room in their lot to park a large RV. I can’t express how upset I was when we arrived and it was closed – just a couple hours after we had talked to them in the morning. As long as we had parked and locked up the coach we decided to walk around a bit, which was quite fortunate. A little over a block away from the Visitor Center we found it. I had assumed it was locked away inside, but was happy to find it in a park.

On the way back to Colectiva I decided we should walk on old Route 66 which was just a block over. When we got to old Route 66, we found ourselves standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona. The town took advantage of its mention in that classic Eagles song Take it Easy by building a park

The Standing on a Corner Park and the Whispering Giant were about the only things happening in Winslow so we didn’t stick around. Other than a couple of diners and gift shops near the Park most of the buildings were boarded up and businesses that had occupied them closed. It looked like there was a lot of commerce back in the day that the highway passed through town, but now that I-40 goes around its pretty desolate.

We had one last plan before getting back to Vegas. In one of my many searches for elusive touristy stuff I found an article on the 10 best diners in the US. The Galaxy Diner in West Flagstaff Arizona was high up on that list. Unlike a lot of the towns we have been in that used to have old Route 66 go right through them, and therefore had lots of motels, restaurants and shops with kitschy neon signs and such, a lot of those places are alive and well in Flagstaff on old 66. The Galaxy Diner is one of them. We celebrated the Woman’s 61^st birthday there and had some really good grub.

Interestingly enough after we took our selfie outside the Galaxy Diner the Woman spotted something imbedded down in the sidewalk. On closer inspection we learned that Flagstaff has a selfie trail and marks what they believe are the best selfie spots with these imbedded medallions.  The Galaxy Diner was number 9 of the 15 medallions along the trail. It’s a cute idea that maybe we will check out some day.
 

 We will be signing off for a bit now as we will hit Vegas tomorrow. After Christmas we are heading to Pasadena California to take in the Rose Parade. Until then be good. 

Talk to you soon!

Balloon Fiesta II

Perched in our lawn chairs on our 100 foot high overlook we have been taking in all the activity of the Balloon Fiesta and loving it. The weather was supposed to be dry nearly all the time we were to be here, and for the most part it was. However, winds were a bit stronger than ideal, and one of the scheduled balloon glows was sadly cancelled.

A balloon glow is where they tether all the balloons to the ground and inflate them. They do this after the sun goes down and the dark starts to settle in. Then with all the balloons on the field inflated they use their propane burners to light up the balloons almost like a light bulb. The resulting effect is really pretty. We were mesmerized during the entire event, and were truly happy it did not get cancelled again.

This morning was the first of the mass ascensions. We had seen two ascensions already, but they were limited to the just over 100 specially shaped balloons. In the mass ascensions all the balloons fly beginning at 7 AM, including the special shapes. All in all there were well over 500 balloons launching from the Balloon Fiesta Park field.

We chose this day specifically to descend to the field and mill about with the balloons. In Albuquerque they allow attendees to go anywhere on the field they want. We managed to saunter up to several of the balloons and touch them as they were being inflated. Once the balloon is ready to launch, the Zebras (they call them that here just like in the NFL because of their distinctive garb) clear a lane though the spectators in the general direction the breeze will likely push the balloon when it ascends, blow their whistle (just like an NFL ref) and everyone lets go of the basket. With a whoosh the balloon is aloft!

We strolled the entire field and watched several launch. We see now what draws all the balloonists here. Every basket we saw nearing launch had a couple of spectators hop in the basket and ride along. Some of the balloons even had baskets large enough for as many as a dozen passengers. We don’t know how much it costs to tag along on one of the flights, but I am sure it pays the cost of fuel and some or all the transportation costs to get here by the time the Fiesta is over. Maybe there is even a little profit involved.

After seeing hundreds of balloons launch we headed back up to our private overlook. We grabbed some breakfast and coffee and assumed our lawn chairs. Maybe only half the total number of balloons had launched by that time, so we sat like royalty, dined and watched the rest of the balloons launch – what a spectacle!

Once the balloons were all launched the sky was simply littered with them. Apparently the breezes don’t just go north, which the flags on the poles beside the field would suggest. Balloon pilots know that there are layers and layers of breezes, and they may all be heading in different directions. So if ground breezes are to the north and you don’t want to go north, you just go up higher until you find the thermal layer that takes you in the direction you want.

Because of this, although the breezes on the ground were north, most of the balloons traveled southward at first. But the winds were not strong, and they didn’t go very far. Many seemed to stay static above the field. Some were drifting a bit north. By the time all the balloons launched they completely filled the sky in a south to north pattern that pretty much matches the orientation of the Fiesta Park. What a day!


We learned why it is named the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Balloons from all over the world were registered and flown here. We saw a lot from South America, one from Dubai, some from Germany, and these cute guys from the United Kingdom. They had a bit of a story attached. They were shipped from the UK in August to arrive long before the Fiesta for set up and testing and such. I can’t imagine how it could happen with such large items, but they got lost in shipping, and weren’t found and delivered until the day before the mass ascension flight. Had they not shown up on that day, they would have missed the entire event.

Not long after all the balloons were in the air some of them began to land. It was cool to see that after being aloft and hour or more many of the balloons had drifted south then found a thermal taking them back north. Many of the balloons were actually landing on the Fiesta field, some almost on the exact spot where they launched. I imagine if you are a pilot, you can launch and fly for over an hour and then set your balloon gently back down on nearly the spot where you had launched an hour earlier it would give you a great feeling of accomplishment. I also assume it makes the chase crew with the truck happy!

We are going to see another mass ascension tomorrow morning, another glow tonight, some laser light shows and fireworks. Quite a bit packed into just one day. Oh, and did I mentioned The Band Perry performing on the Fiesta field this afternoon?

We are heading back home tomorrow with mixed emotions – happy to see daughter Karen and her crew, but a bit sad to realize we will be off the road for a bit.

Talk to you soon!

Non-balloon Albuquerque

We discovered some great stuff to check out in Albuquerque that we had been previously unaware of. First on our list was the Jemez State Historic Site. Jemez Pueblo is a 500 year old village deep in the Jemez National Forest. The Pueblo predates by more than a century the visits by Coronado and the Spanish Conquistadores.

In 1621, the occupying Spanish forces introduced the Franciscan Priests. The Priests selected Jemez as the site to build the San Jose de los Jemez Church. The layout of the church is very similar to what we saw in the San Pueblo Missions National Monument. The long narrow nave with flares left and right just before the altar – essentially making the church foundation into the shape of a cross. But the quarries of sandstone and limestone used near Mountainair were not present here. While still as large and impressive, the walls instead of cut to size “bricks” are made of mortared stones of all shapes and sizes. The impression left is a far cruder structure, even though it is every bit as massive.

The valley that the church is in is beautiful. It’s not hard to imagine why the locals chose this site for their pueblo. It is also not hard to imagine why the Franciscan priests chose Jemez for the site of the church. I guess beauty deserves beauty.

Our other discovery was the Coronado State Historic Site. The site has been identified historically as the Kuaua Pueblo, situated along the Rio Grande River. When first discovered, this archeological site was believed to be where Coronado had established his winter quarters, and because of that, the State of New Mexico invested considerable money for archeology, and also received CCC money and assistance. Because of that, one of the greatest archeological finds resulted. The site has been so well preserved that there are 700-800 year old pottery shards all over the place!

Upon exploring one of the largest kivas in the pueblo, archeologists discovered painted walls on multiple layers of plaster that were at least 500 years old. As the archeologists carefully removed layer after layer of the plaster on the walls, they learned that multiple murals existed. Apparently the Tiwas who occupied the pueblo back in the 1500’s would paint the walls for ceremonial purposes. When it was time that they needed the wall paintings to be different for a different ceremony, they would plaster over the wall and then paint it for the new ceremony.

These murals were carefully removed from the kiva and were preserved and shipped to the University of NM. To this day they are the only actual paintings from that time that have been discovered intact. While most of the actual paintings still reside at the U of NM, 9 of the panels are on display at the Coronado State Historic Site. To be able to see the only existing 500 year old native paintings is pretty cool.

The remains of the pueblo are indicated in the foundations at the site. You could see why this site was selected – high ground not likely to be flooded by the Rio Grande during even very wet springs. Crops would have been grown between the pueblo and the river. There were over 1,200 rooms in this pueblo based on the archeological findings. It is probable that more than that number of folk inhabited the pueblo at its height.

Our last gem was the Petroglyph National Monument. Many years ago we visited the Monument while In Albuquerque. However, the Monument has 3 distinct sections, and we only visited one of them, Boca Negra Canyon which is in the middle of a residential neighborhood and just has 3 short paved trails to some ancient rock art.

Today we visited the other two portions of the Monument. Rinconada Canyon is a two mile trail along a ridge of volcanic boulders. The locals who lived in the area used these black and dark brown boulders as a canvas for their art. The ranges at the visitor center suggested that you would easily see between 200 and 300 petroglyphs along the trail. I am not sure we could honestly say we saw 300, but we did see a bunch.

According to the rangers, the style of the figures and the types of objects depicted is characteristic of what has become known as the Rio Grande style. Images of people are common as well as many of the animals that the folk encountered. Also geometric shapes are very common in this style as well.

Piedras Marcadas Canyon has a 1 ½ mile long trail through very similar terrain as Rinconada Canyon. However, we could see that there were far more petroglyphs in this canyon even though the trail was not quite as long.

The variety of the shapes and images was astounding. Just when we thought we had maybe seen about every conceivable shape or size we would encounter something new. It really was a treat for the eyes and left you wanting more and more, especially as you approached the parking lot letting you know that you were about done.

My first impression of this Monument was not great many years ago. It seemed very urban and small, but little did I know that was because I had only seen a small part of it. Now having explored the other larger areas in the Monument I have a completely different perspective. This Monument is well worth visiting.

Talk to you soon!

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

This is spectacular! When we arrive we follow the signs we saw that said “RV Parking” and found a bunch of RVs and a registration area. I handed the attendant the confirmation e:mail I had received, and she looked confused. She called another guy over and gave him our confirmation. He went over and messed around with the computer. When he came back, he said “Well, I guess you are special! You were supposed to enter on the east end of the field, but just follow me and I will get you there.”

We followed his golf cart and weaved up and down barricaded streets. We finally came to a fairly small area that could maybe hold 50 RVs. As he handed us off to the attendant there, I yelled a “Thank you!” out Colectiva’s driver’s window, and he yelled back “Hope you have a great time at the Fiesta, Mr. Special!” I soon learned what he had meant.

Colectiva is parked on about a 100 foot tall bluff directly overlooking the center of the Balloon Fiesta Park! If we ever wanted to, we could sit in our captain’s chairs and watch all the activities going on down on the field through Colectiva’s windshield. Instead, we have placed two comfy folding chairs along with our little beverage table about 50 feet in front of Colectiva – right on the edge of the bluff! From here we have the best view of everything that goes on at the Balloon Fiesta. Only the east edge of the Park has this 100 foot tall bluff overlooking it. North, south and west sides are all pretty much level with the main Park grounds. After having been down on the grounds I can tell you that from the 100 foot overlook you can see everything happening – from the Park field itself, you can only see what is happening right around you.

And we have a private pedestrian walkway that gradually takes us down a couple of switchbacks and deposits us right outside the main Fiesta gate on the east side. How cool is that! We can sit up here and take it all in, and anytime we want we can just head down to the field, the vendor areas, the music stage or anywhere else we want. I guess I really am Mr. Special!

Our first morning here was what they call the Special Shapes Rodeo. In addition to a few very colorful traditional balloons, all the unusual shapes head up on this day. Maybe the biggest of all the balloons we saw this morning was Airabella, the Creamland cow.

But the Wells Fargo Stagecoach was pretty immense as well.

And then there was Beagle Maximus.

Of course my personal favorites are actually tied for first. Master Yoda appears all knowing and wise as he hovers high in the sky. You could tell that the Force was strong with him as he ascended.

But you can’t forget about the dark side of the Force. And it appeared that the dark side was every bit as strong with this one. I couldn’t actually hear Darth Vader gasping for breath, although the blast of the propane burner did sound a bit familiar.

There are just over 100 special shape balloons registered. We can’t wait for the mass ascension on Saturday when well over 500 balloons will be launching!

Talk to you soon!

Leading up to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

This year is the 44^th anniversary of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. From news coverage we learned that over 500 balloons are registered for the event. Maybe that explains why we can’t find a place to park Colectiva anywhere near Albuquerque. A year ago we had booked space at the Balloon Fiesta Park in 4 days. Well, we thought we were done with our searching around this part of New Mexico and were ready to settle ourselves in for the Fiesta. But all our calls were m

et with responses that all parks anywhere near Albuquerque are completely booked – a lot of balloonists apparently are RVer’s as well. We managed to get one night dry camping at a remote park 20 miles east. We were able to get only water and 30 AMP service (new sewer) for Sunday and Monday nights at a park two cities north, and we had to nose Colectiva into the sight now a 300 foot narrow road that we had to back up for all those 300 feet when we left. Somehow we were able to get Tuesday night only in a park about the same distance north. And the rates, despite the distance from Albuquerque, are double what they should be. I apologize for the whining – on the bright side, at least were not parking in a Wally parking lot!

When I discovered there were more National Monuments not managed by the National Park Service than I was aware of, I went on the BLM website and found out there were 21. Nearly all of them are in western states. And Hazzah! About an hour north of where we were was Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. In the language of the Cochiti people who lived here for centuries, Kasha-Katuwe means chalk white cliffs.

As a BLM managed Monument it has no visitor center. It only has two parking lots (only one of which you can reach on a paved road) and two trail systems. But the parking areas are quite nice for being BLM managed – lots of picnic shelters that provide needed shade, restrooms and trash receptacles – in many BLM managed Monuments, even these amenities are often non-existent.

This Monument is simply a feast for the eyes. As we hiked our way all through the Monument we marveled at the spires, or cones, or hoodoos, or monoliths – all kinds of descriptive names come to mind. The Cochiti name for these features translates to “Tent Rocks”, and that name is more than adequately descriptive.

As we made our way to the remote parking lot on the gravel road, we came upon a half dozen coyotes hovering over some breakfast on the road. Of course the crunching tire noise on the gravel road sent them scurrying away, but it was an unexpected surprise.

As you weave your way in and out of the formations, you can’t help but remember geological features from other places. The hoodoos that were spires with cap rocks – many oddly looked a bit like ET – were very reminiscent of Goblin State Park in Utah.

The swirling sandstone sweeping around the formations brought back clear memories of The Wave formation in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. It was nice not having to hike 3 miles without trails to see these features, unlike The Wave.

All the other features brought back visions of other Parks and Monuments, although picking out one specific one would be hard. But having all these different formations squished together along one trail makes it feel a bit like a collage of geologically based National Parks and Monuments. It’s kinda like the Best of the West.

The best part of the trail system of was the Slot Canyon. Here we could have been in Dead Horse Canyon again in Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. As you climbed steadily up the canyon the base was often only wide enough for your hiking shoes. In those areas the walls of the canyon were so narrow that the Woman had to turn sideways in order to get her female hipage through.

After hiking in about a half mile or so the trail suddenly went pretty much straight up. The promised reward for undertaking this challenge was the overlook. The Woman decided she really could see the entire Monument just fine from where she was, and she didn’t need to climb another half mile or so. Luckily, she found a comfy rock to camp out on and gave me permission to continue on – and indeed I did.

It turned out to be more than a half mile, quite a bit more. But in the end it was worth it. From up here the entire Monument is within your gaze. By the time I reached the Overlook the solid cloud cover had broken up and scattered blue skies provided a spectacular backdrop. This Monument is really special.

An interesting aside – from the Overlook you can see the parking lot. If you remember me saying that the BLM managed National Monuments were relatively unknown by the masses. Well, I don’t know if it is because of the Balloon Fiesta drawing so many people looking for additional stimulus, or if I am just wrong in my assumption. Either way, I can’t tell if maybe this picture is the Disneyland parking rather than the lot of a BLM managed Monument!

Talk to you soon!