Sunday morning we woke up early to go to the Balloon Rendezvous in Cortez.
Hot air balloon festivals not only provide a chance for balloonists to show off their skills, they also make for great entertainment. Some provide balloon rides, live music, regional food specialties and children’s events. Watching the various multi-colored balloons rise from the earth is an amazing site, especially when it’s combined with the lush, scenic countryside with beautiful mountains in the background.
We made coffee, grabbed a couple travel mugs and hit the road to drive the 12 miles back to Cortez. We were up early enough to catch the sunrise!
Some of us wanted to go to the balloon glow on Friday night, but the high winds and threat of rain cancelled that event.
When we first arrived to the Parque de Vida, there were many balloon trailers, trucks and people milling around ... but no actions to make it look like it was a big festival?! We were able to catch another glimpse of the sunrise in the park.
There was also one of my favorite things across the street from this park in Centennial Park .... yup, you guessed it ... a crossing sign! A duck crossing sign, well that is the only animal I know that goes Quack, Quack, Quack!
We are used to going to the New York State Festival of Balloons in Dansville New York. It is a festival held annually, over Labor Day weekend. This event is like a well oiled machine and very well attended. Usually before a launch, there are all kinds of people milling around getting ready.
Finally, there was a gathering of people that looked like a balloon pilot meeting. When that meeting broke up, the balloon trailers scattered. We were looking around, wondering if we were not in the correct place? A few of the trailers headed to a parking lot on the other side of the park. We walked over to that area and found out that there were three balloon teams spreading out there. We looked around some more and decided that we could see the best from where we started.
We noticed that all the balloons started to scatter and pull out the balloons. I guess, they are going to be more spread out than we are used to. We did hook-up with a few people from our caravan. We also found two ladies selling drinks and breakfast items for Special Olympics. So, we had our breakfast burritos and watched the balloons get blown up!
Finally full of hot air and upright!
The beauty of an early morning flight is breathtaking as balloons gracefully float over our valley. The thrill of a mass evening launch is a real crowd pleaser.
I always love to capture a picture overhead with the propane flame a glow! My all time favorite type of picture at a balloon festival!
The last balloon to launch, gave the perfect background of the mountains ... and it was red, white and blue!
Our friend, Beth, loves the roadside oddities we find ... here is one for her, although it is more historical .... The Historic McElmo flume #6. It is the last remaining example of the 104 wooden flumes, which was a 150 mile system, used to convey water diverted from the Dolores River to irrigate croplands and provide domestic water to the greater Montezuma Valley.
This area only receives about 11 inches of precipitation, mostly in the form of snow, so capturing and diverting water is very important. These wooden flumes were used until 1991, when a system of pipelines replaced them. Can you imagine that? Amazing!
Sunday also became the day to catch up on rig cleaning, laundry and some rest ... all this sight seeing takes a great deal out of you!
Sunday night was our "road log" review and a fried chicken dinner, compliments of Yankee RV Tours. It is always a great time when we get together as a group. There is laughter, fun, fellowship and food! Of course, there is food!
Later in the evening, we were also lucky enough to have an American Indian family come and talk about their heritage, paintings and pottery. Jerry & Sally, met them years ago, and kept in contact for a while, but lost touch ... while we were at the Four Corners they reconnected. Sally spied some pottery designs that looked very familiar. Turns out, it was their friends! They invited them to speak to our group, as they live in Cortez. The wife is full-blooded Navajo, the husband is full blooded Hopi. The wife told a story that they both speak their native languages but not to each other, unless they are mad at one another!
Good night from between Mancos and Cortez, Colorado. Our next blog will be our travels to the Durango area!
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