Home Sweet Home

Our trip home was long yet rather interesting.  

• it started 5 AM on Saturday (10/11/14) morning in Seattle.  The shuttle bus to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta picked us up at the hotel and took us a 30-40 minute ride to the Fiesta grounds.  the balloons were fantastic.  a few of the activities/balloon launches during the week were cancelled due to weather.  So the Saturday morning launch was the only choice we had. and what a lucky choice.  

Over 500 balloons took part in a "Mass Ascension" at sunrise on Saturday. people and balloons were all over the place, there are no boundaries except for common sense things like to duck when a balloon basket is going over your head.

The balloons were magnificent.  we watched wave after wave after wave, etc.  of balloons launch in overwhelming colors, shapes and sizes.  From a cow 30 feet tall, to giant whales to a stagecoach.  Just beautiful.  

We were there about 3 hours and then back to the hotel.  as luck has it, there was a growers market in the park across the street so i walked around gawking and petting all the dogs.  i really missed Duckduck by then.  Very friendly town, and beautiful too.

About noon, we climbed on the train and travel through absolutely beautiful countryside.  we had our last glimpse of the Rockies as we left New Mexico and watched the sun set.  i really understand why New Mexico is called the land of enchantment.

it's a surprise when you wake up in the morning, or when daylight comes if you sleep lousy, and the scenery out your window is absolutely different. Eventually, we arrived in Chicago, early actually.  after a few hours lay over there where we spent at a bar drinking Blue Moon and then a most interesting, diverse waiting room.

The trips from Chicago to Pittsburgh was over 4 hours late and we missed the train to Harrisburg.  Amtrak supplied a bus for the group, about 35 for a 4 hour trip to Harrisburg.

Richard was a sight for sore eyes as he stood on the bus station waiting for us on Monday afternoon about 4 PM and Duckduck was in my arms by 5 PM.  it was so nice to sleep in my own bed--- Home sweet home 

Keep watching as i'll keep this blog going for a bit.  i have a million observations as well as pictures.  oh yes, Than has a few observations, too.