!!!Balloon Fiesta!!!

Have you missed us?? Did you think we fell off a mesa??

NO - It has just taken this long to sort through the 1,000+ pictures Gary took at the BALLOON FIESTA;-) Needless to say we had a blast! Of course, it really helps to know someone flying balloons - especially the wonderful ‘Special Shapes’.

Although the weather did not entirely cooperate with the Fiesta - it did let our friends, Mark & Dianne, inflate their Special Shapes - Gizzmo, Hopper T Frog and Pumpkinhead - so we could see them (along with thousands of other spectators). We even got to help with the process - which starts VERY early in the morning!!

Mark & Dianne's crew assemble to begin the inflation of Gizzmo, Hopper T Frog & Pumpkinhead.

Getting Gizzmo ready.

Getting inflated! Pumpkinhead in back, Hopper T Frog in the middle and Gizzmo in front.

Gizzmo is ready to go.

The awesome trio - Pumpkinhead, Hopper T Frog and Gizzmo.

Dianne & Mark enjoying the morning revelry.

The Shapes Days are really special - so, even my friend Kacy drove in from Santa Fe to visit and see them -

Our friend Kacy paid us a visit.

After two and a half days of cancelled events due to wind, pouring rain and even snow -

Fresh snow on the mountains above the launch field. Good thing Elizabeth brought her parka.

we finally got to see a ‘Mass Ascension’! What a sight to see;-) Again, the Shapes are really Special -

This is how Old Glory was presented during the Star Spangled Banner

The variety and number of balloons were amazing.

Preparing for lift off??

The weather finally cooperated to let the evening ‘Glow’ take place. This is awesome to see all the balloons inflated on the field and ‘glowing’.

The evening Glowdeo was a wonderful display, though quite a challenge to photograph.

The Sunday morning ‘Farewell Mass Ascension’ is unbelievable! Hundreds of balloons inflating on the field getting ready to fly and hundreds in the air - and thousands of people to watch. You have to be here - but, Gary did a pretty good job of capturing the sights -

Elizabeth chatting up one of the launch officials.
Kinda looks like W.C Fields doesn't he?

Couldn't get enough of the mass ascension.

Any doubt which ones are the Race for the Cure entries?

No joke.

As you wish.

When we got back to Magic, balloons were landing all around us.

I guess, in a pinch, a pilot must take whatever landing spot presents itself.

From a balloon to the launch field, this Navy Seal is presenting the Colors.

After all this excitement and long days (up at 4 to take in the morning events and not back until after 9 with the ‘Glow’ and fireworks!!), we were ready for some relaxation time with friends Kathryn & Robert in Santa Fe. They were kind enough to show us some unexpected, non-tourist sights, including the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos. If you are ever in Santa Fe - this is a must see as it is most unusual.

Millicent Rogers (1902-1953) grew up in New York within privilege and wealth and she was often referred to in the press as the “Standard Oil Heiress,” since it was her grandfather, H.H. Rogers who was the co-founder with John D. Rockefeller of the Standard Oil Trust. Rogers came to Taos in 1947 with a heart broken by Clark Gable, and physically weakened by rheumatic fever as a child. She moved here, completely taken by the landscape and the Native American art in its many forms - and became an avid collector.

At the Millicent Rogers Museum, one enjoys many outstanding historical collections of Native American art and jewelry, contemporary paintings, weavings, and pottery, including the Maria Martinez family collection. Also showcased at MRM are hispanic textiles, metalwork and sculpture, as well as a wide range of contemporary Anglo-European Southwestern Art. Don’t miss it!

Oh yes, there were a couple of wonderful dinners, lunches and even a round of golf squeezed in with Kathryn and Robert during the couple of days in Santa Fe.

Incognito golfers. A great day spent with Robert and Kathryn.

Deflated and back on earth - E & G

Back on the Trail of the Ancients - Chaco Canyon

A quick 80 mile drive back on the Trail of the Ancients and we were ready to tackle another Ancestral Puebloan site - Chaco Culture National Historical Park (NHP). One has to REALLY want to visit this NHP, as it is at least a two hour drive from anywhere! But, the effort is well worth it.

The Chaco Canyon was the center of a thriving culture a thousand years ago. The monumental scale of its architecture (We saw the architecture up in Colorado at the Lowry Pueblo and at Mesa Verde.), the complexity of its community life and its far-reaching commerce (traces of cocoa from South America were found in pottery remnants on the site) created a cultural vision unlike any other seen before or since.

The cultural flowering of the Chacoan people began in the mid-800’s and lasted more than 300 years! This can be seen clearly in the grand scale of the architecture. Using masonry techniques unique for their time, they constructed massive stone buildings (Great Houses) of multiple stories containing hundreds of rooms and many stories high.

The largest of the Great Houses in Chaco Canyon is Pueblo Bonito, center of the Chacoan world. Planned and built in stages, Pueblo Bonito was occupied from the mid-800s to the 1200s. The structure towered four stories high and contained more than 600 rooms and 40 kivas! The access to this ancient site was extensive and made the adventure a real wonder.

Approaching Pueblo Bonita

Old wall, new wildflowers.

The recent rock slide in the foreground wiped out about 30 rooms in the complex.

Pueblo Bonita covers more than 3 acres. You can see the plaza behind these walls.

Amazing how these large structures blend into the surrounding landscape.

Gary had to duck a lot to get through the doors.

Chetro Ketl is another Great House adjacent to Pueblo Bonito. It was begun about 1020 and contains an estimated 500 rooms and 16 kivas. The Great Kiva included at Chetro Ketl is a wonderful example of the Kiva.

The Great Kiva at Chetro Ketl.

There are several additional Great Houses and sites within the Chaco Culture NHP - all sites to see and experience.

Portions of the three story walls at Hungo Pavi still remain.

This opening is only about 2 x 2 feet - shows the building architecture.

But, after about 4.5 hours we were again maxed out on our attention span. AND, we had a good hour to get out of the park and back to Magic.

Perhaps you remember the statement at the beginning of this posting that the NHP is two hours from anything! I mean ANYTHING! We found some ‘RV sites’ (a questionable description) behind a ‘trading post’ about an hour from the park entrance in the middle of nowhere - and this was the closest thing without driving back north 2 hours or on to Albuquerque. We were prepared for what we got - and the space did the trick for the evening. We had an electric hook-up to prepare dinner and there were NO trees so the satellite worked just fine for Monday Night Football - thank goodness for satellite!!

The best view we could find from our parking spot.

Here is the actual view of our surroundings.

Tomorrow - The Balloon Festival!! We are sooooo excited!!

Ready to Fly - Elizabeth & Gary from the Middle of Nowhere

We'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain

The month of September was ushered out in Durango, Colorado - visually similar to our own Park City - and the leaves are changing daily. The United Campground (great place to park!) just north of town is our ‘home’ for the weekend - and we have quite enjoyed a little down time after the hectic schedule of the first 10 days.

Our camp spot.

After our delightful drive of 36 miles on Thursday, September 29th, we did our usual ‘investigate the town’ routine. And, guess what is here this week-end?!? The Cowboy Poetry Gathering! Since we will be missing the one in Park City, we will enjoy this one;-) And, of course, there is the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This is where we shall start.

By the early 1950’s, Denver &Rio Grande Western rail freight traffic in Southwest Colorado was reduced to a trickle as shippers started using the new highways. Line after line was scrapped. But, for some reason the PUC denied the request to abandon the Silverton Branch. Thank goodness. After a couple of sales (in 1981 to Bradshaw, a citrus grower, and again in 1997 to the Harpers) and a lot of work on upgrading the rails and equipment by the committed buyers - the Denver & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNGRR) emerged as a world famous tourist line. Elizabeth rode these rails about 40-something years ago and wanted to relive the experience giving Gary the same thrills. Gary’s camera trigger finger was in constant action!! And, the sights and tree colors were fantastic -

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Train builds up steam before our departure.

Lots of beautiful sights along the way.

We'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes......

.....toot - toot!

Silverton in the distance.

Downtown Silverton.

Not producing much silver these days.

Heading back to Durango.

October was ushered in with a round of golf (sorry no pictures of this course) and the Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Now this may sound like a yawner. BUT, you couldn’t be any more wrong. If you ever have the chance to attend one of these sessions - you should do it. They are REALLY funny, entertaining and ALL AMERICAN!! Can’t be beat. (Also, I challenge you to sit through a session and not tear up at least once!!)

In between these events we walked Main Ave., found that ever searched for Family Mexican restaurant (Tacos Nayarit - GREAT food!!) and enjoyed the sights and sounds of our campground as we watched football on Saturday and Sunday;-)  Oh - did I mention that our campground is right on the D&SNGRR tracks!! So - we got to wave and enjoy the train four times a day when we weren’t on it;-)

and  they don't run through the camp at night.

Love to All - A relaxed E & G