I hope to link this post to MELLOW YELLOW MONDAY and RUBY TUESDAY, assuming we have a good Internet connection wherever we are on those days. For those following our roadtrip, we spent Thursday and Friday in charming Fredericksburg Texas and we're now outside of Houston on our way toward Louisiana. This post is a look-back to last weekend, when we were in Yuma Arizona.
When we first started RVing in 1999, we stayed for a week or so in Yuma. Last weekend was the first time since then that we've stayed there. Yuma's one of the main destination for snowbirds from the Pacific Northwest (where we used to live). It's fairly close and warm and sunny, without the Northwest's rainy winters. There are dozens and dozens of RV Parks. The City's population of 194,000 is augmented during the winter by 85,000 snowbirds. Yuma is 7 miles north of Los Algodones Mexico and quite a few snowbirds get their prescription drugs and dental and optical work done in Mexico at lower prices. (Buses will pick people up at the border.) We prefer to keep our regular doctors and dentists and pharmacists, and when we were here before -- back in the last century -- we didn't find a lot to do in Yuma, so it didn't really call our name.
This time, we stopped only because we needed to do laundry and buy some groceries -- and it was the weekend, and that's always a good time to get off the road. It was complete serendipity that Bill saw a mention of the Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival in a shopper paper he picked up.
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For a buck each, we entered the County Fairgrounds for the Balloon Lighting Festival. It was still daytime when we got there. Kids in the area had built balloons as a school project and volunteers were filling them witih hot air. This might have been my favorite part -- the kids were so happy and excited to see their balloons soar. This one was brought to the volunteer by two little girls who had pink ribbons on their pigtails and pink running shoes. All girl -- but they knew their balloon science -- so adorable!
We got to watch the big, professional, real balloons brought out to the field and watch how the crew took them out and prepared to "fire them up." Each one took quite a few people.
The main purpose of the event was to see all of the balloons lighted up at once -- after dark (as in the picture at the top of the post). It was lovely to see -- and fun to hear the crowd so excited.
The balloons were to go up the next morning -- and we could probably have seen them from our RV Park which was quite close to the Fairgrounds. But our bodies were still on Pacific Time -- and when we woke up it was well past the hour when they were to go up.
So we still want to see a Balloon Festival again someday to see them all soar at once. And someday, maybe we will even ride in one. (Tethered rides were offered at the Fairgrounds, but we got there a little too late to do that.) This balloon -- one of those offering rides -- came from McMinnville, pretty close to where we stay when we're in Oregon.
Beautiful photos! Must have been quite a sight, all those balloons!
Posted by: Nick | December 04, 2011 at 02:08 PM
What a great treat to get in on this festival. Those balloons at night must have be a sight to see. We see the occasional one or two balloons overhead but to see so many, well, that's on my "some day" list.
Posted by: Margot | November 30, 2011 at 09:49 AM
Love the photos! I had no idea about the ballons. The "group" we belong to has a park in Yuma and a few on the Colorado River in that area. I'm thinking we're going to have to check this out! Thanks...
Posted by: pat | November 28, 2011 at 05:35 PM
Hot air balloons, yahoo!! Never ride before:(
Visiting for MYM! Hope you can visit me too;)
http://www.cassandrasminicorner.com/2011/11/pop-the-pig-game.html
Posted by: Leah H. | November 28, 2011 at 05:22 PM
Sallie, Sounds like you are having such fun. A balloon festival is always a thrill--those beautiful balloons filling the sky with color--wow! I've written on someone's post before and had to go back and check who's blog it was--hard to keep them all straight sometimes when you are "flipping" around. Have a safe trip and "keep on enjoying" life. Mickie :)
Posted by: Mickie Brown | November 28, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Oh goody more balloons such a lovely sight. Thankyou so much Sallie for your recent kind comments and support which is much appreciated.
Posted by: LindyLouMac in Italy | November 28, 2011 at 10:01 AM
LOL! I did not realize the meaning of "snowbirds" until you got to the buses picking them up... Going up in a balloon has long been on my bucket list.
Posted by: Francisca | November 28, 2011 at 08:52 AM
That was a good time to arrive in Yuma. The lit up balloons make a pretty picture, Bad luck you missed them taking off. That was a great project for the kids too. "Girls Rule". We call 'Snowbirds"
'Grey Nomads'
Posted by: diane | November 27, 2011 at 11:52 PM
What a sight this must have been to see such colourful balloons soaring! Great photos!
Posted by: Gemma Wiseman | November 27, 2011 at 11:39 PM
That would be great to see but for me I don't think it would be worth the trip to Yuma.
It sounds like you are having a good trip. Have you ever been to Brazos Bend? It is a state park somewhere between Houston and Galveston. Lots of birds and alligators.
Posted by: Martha | November 27, 2011 at 06:47 PM
Nice shots - we have a balloon festival each years in my town and my favorite part is the nighttime balloon glow.
Posted by: Al | November 27, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Beautiful post, love all your photos.
I've never seen balloons.
As an answer to your question. I live in a little place in the south of Norway. The park is only a half hour by car from our house. I love that park and all the beautiful birds there. I see Peacocks, Turkeys, Ducks and Chickens.
Keep enjoying your road trip and keep safe.
Have a great Sunday.
Posted by: CameraCruise | November 27, 2011 at 02:53 AM
Hi Sallie, thanks for the email reply. I love this balloon post. The kids must have been proud seeing their balloons in the sky. They are pretty lit up at night, I would love to see this balloon festival. I hope your travels are safe and have a great day. Also, an sanswer to your question. The monkeys left the boat when the food ran out.
Posted by: Eileen | November 27, 2011 at 02:12 AM
Oh, what a wonderful sight to see so many balloons! They look so delightful in your shots. Lovely!
Posted by: Lady Fi | November 26, 2011 at 11:54 PM
How wonderful, love all your photos, I would love to go to a festival like this too.
Keep enjoying your road trip and keep safe.
Posted by: Marilyn | November 26, 2011 at 08:22 PM
Isn't it fun when you just happen to come upon happenings like this! It's part of what makes traveling so wonderful!
Posted by: Inger-M | November 26, 2011 at 07:18 PM
Serendipity that you were there to see the balloons, Sallie! Someday, you'll have to travel to the Big One - in Albuquerque! I took a ride in one when my kids were teens - I got a ride for my husband for his birthday, and he "insisted" that I come along. (I was frightened by the height, but it was awesome.)
Posted by: Barb | November 26, 2011 at 06:56 PM
What a great project for the children to be involved in. Wonderful shots.
Posted by: Carver | November 26, 2011 at 05:41 PM
In case you didn't already know this, Fredericksburg is the birthplace of Admiral Chester Nimitz.
http://bayphoto.blogspot.com/2008/05/jour-commmoratif-les-amirals.html
Posted by: Louis la Vache | November 26, 2011 at 05:01 PM
i like the idea of the kids' project being included! pretty neat! glad you're making your way thru Texas! some wintry (for Texas) temps are coming in here today - dropping temps 30 degrees from this morning with lots of wind, so i hope you can stay ahead of it in your travels!
Posted by: TexWisGirl | November 26, 2011 at 04:55 PM