Cross on Hill

Cross on Hill_web, a photo by Debbie Prediger Photography on Flickr.

Driving through the country side of Albuquerque New Mexico. This "jumped out" at me! I added some textures and the text. It inspired me and I hope it inspires you!

Life isn't fair!

All this talk about bucket lists and doing things in life we enjoy and today we found out a dear friend lost his life. Life isn't fair and right now it really sucks. I sure hope he knew how much we loved him and enjoyed his company. Couldn't ask for a better man. Proud to have been his friend...enough said.

Family...isn't always blood. Its the people in your life that want you in theirs and accept you for who you are. the ones that would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.

Our Balloon Ride on video

Video of our balloon ride!

Thanks to Tony at Midwest Balloons from Indiana. Great memories and you can see just how smooth the ride is.

The ski lift ride at Sandia Peaks Albuquerque

One our 1st day we traveled the Turquoise Trail from Albuquerque to Santa Fe NM stopping along the way for scenery photos as well as drinks at the pub in Madrid. The ski lift way open because of the balloon fiesta so a few of the group decided to go to the top of Sandia Peaks the mountain overlooking the city. It was a gorgeous fall day complete with all the fall colours. Beautiful...

then off down the road to Madrid.  More photo opportunities...

ABQ Balloon fiesta

ABQ Balloon fiesta, a set on Flickr.

Here are a few more images from our trip to Albuquerque New Mexico

Bucket list check off

We just returned from a trip to Albuquerque New Mexico! Why there you ask. (well so many people did ask us this). It all started with our friend Tim, looking up places and thinks you must do in your lifetime. "Hey you want to go to the Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico?" "Sure, when and can we ride a hot air balloon". So the trip was planned, another couple was invited, a rental house dream come true came available, so it was time to be serious and get this trip booked. October would come quickly! We didn't realize just how blessed we would be on this trip. Perfect weather (don't want winds when riding in a balloon), fantastic pilot in a private 5 man balloon lifting off 1st after the national anthem was played. We even made the from page of the Albuquerque Journal as well as several other published photos.

There really is no way for me to explain, just how fantastic, exciting and uplifting this ride was. For one reason, it was a huge check off my bucket list! Africa trip being the biggest so far, but this was my most fearful. I am so afraid of heights. (yah old age kicking in I know) When we lifted off the ground, we shot up a lot faster than I thought we would and when I leaned over the basket to take a photo of our friends on the ground, it literally tok my breathe away. My knees were shaking so bad, I thought I would fall down. I braced myself, breathed in deeply and gave myself that big lecture. (You know the one; don't you dare panic now, this is not the time or place to FREAK out, you are up here for an hour and can't get down, so you might as well enjoy it) Soon the sights and photo opportunity well outweighed the fear and I forgot how High we were. Amazing, breathtaking views of the mountains, city, and of course all the hundreds of balloons soaring our way. We were leading the pack, with just enough balloons in front and above us to keep the photo interesting. BLESSED, beyond belief.

Once I got comfortable and could enjoy the ride, I wanted to take photos that would be different than others, show only what a rider in a balloon could see. Make the person seeing the image believe they were in the balloon with us.

Our pilot was not from Albuquerque in fact he was from Indiana. He was getting close to his 1000th balloon ride so we (I) felt very safe, but he did comment on how different the air currents in NM were. It is why the largest balloon festival is in ABQ. Called the box, where the balloons being flown or piloted properly can actually catch the air currents and return to exactly where they lifted off from. We however flew an hour north over the Rio Grande River. In fact we dipped our toes, (basket) into the river, as our pilot gently touched down in the river. It is what all balloon pilots want to do and we did it with amazing precision.

We even got to throw out a little parachute man and watch him land for some kid to find.

Tony our pilot was amazing and made our experience one we will never forget and may be hard to beat. (Although I think we are all willing to try again) Once he had picked a spot to land the balloon the chase crew tried to catch up to us so they would be there to help, but we were landed as they came running over the hill towards us. We landed in an old school yard with pipes, cement junk laying around. Not good for the balloon envelope as it would rip easily. The crew came running before the air was out of the envelope and lifted us to a safer area before Tony let the air escape and the envelope floated to the ground. Meanwhile other balloons were landing all around us, so we got quite a show there too. We helped our crew pack up the balloon, basket, and envelope jumped n the van and headed back to the Balloon Park where we had champagne and the balloonists prayer said to us.

Amazing adventure that started with a dream, a wish, and a group of willing friends to come aboard to experience our bucket list adventures with us. Thanks Tim, it was a great idea and I can't wait for the next adventure with you. More to come on the rest of the trip!