This is so bucket list-worthy and it exceeded our expectations!! Have you been to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta? Did you camp and what lot did you stay in? Is this on your bucket list? Thanks for watching! Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
The fiesta was on my bucket list for a few years and this year became a reality. It was amazing! We were there Wednesday til Saturday. We stayed in the South lot with water/electric.
So glad you were able to make it a reality too!! We didn't realize that there was water/electric hook ups in the South lot- We were up in VIP East dry camping, . We were so grateful for the amazing weather while we were there Friday to Friday. We loved the special shapes, oh wait, all of the balloons! Did you have a favorite balloon? Safe Travels - Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
I wouldn’t have even thought about all the school buses to shuttle people. Loved all the night and morning shots. Love the flicker. Cool that y’all got to work a crew and go up for the race. Those views from the balloon. Yeah, Joel couldn’t do that. Yea! He won that second race. Cool! Yes, all the coffee! Y’all lucked out crewing. How did y’all get that gig? The chase looked fun too. High winds would be a big issue at the fiesta. We were told that’s why you want to do 5 days cause sometimes you might get 2 or 3 good days out of 5. Be safe, Bill and DeAnna
This is an amazing experience and can't wait for you guys to go! YOU WILL LOVE IT! We got on the crew from our friends signing up at the volunteer booth! So much fun and you are right you want to stay 5 days because the balloons might not go up due to weather. Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
So jealous. This is a big one for my bucket list. My cousin lives near the grounds and said it's an amazing experience. Glad y'all had a great time. Hope to see y'all on the road
This was #1 for RV Life Bucket List for us and didn't disappoint at all! You need to go as it's amazing!! We can't wait to run into you on the road! Safe travels & thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Glad you enjoyed it! This was a bucket list destination for us and it did not disappoint! Being on the crew was the best and loved the chasing of the balloon. Way better than chasing down someone running from the police! 😂 Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
I loved this! At minute 15:42 you were across the street from our AirBnB! We live near there as well. It's an adventure living where we do for the 9 days of the Balloon Fiesta! I'm so glad you enjoyed!
Wow! How cool & thanks for letting us know! We got to eat at El Pinto and Deb had their famous BBQ! We can't image the adventures you have living there with the fiesta going on! Thank you and to all that love there for your patience & having this amazing event to share with everyone! Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
We hope our paths cross again! It was so enjoyable to chat! We can't believe how amazing the balloon fiesta was and way above expectations! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Joel loves tuna pasta salad & it's go easy to make & handy for boondocking to make ahead. This is so worth going to and hope you get there someday too! You would just love it! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
We are so glad we were able to meet and how amazing was the Balloon Fiesta! We are sorry we got so busy at the balloon fest we never had those cocktails with you. We hope our paths cross in Alaska!! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
@@h7663 We have told Oregon is a beautiful State! We haven't been & want to visit- what is one thing you say is a must-do for us when we get there? We trust a recommendation from a fellow LEO!
No way! You were there, so sad we didn't run into you! We hope you had as much fun as we did. Where were you stay? We were in VIP East- Thank you for the encouraging words on this video, it is hard not to make it a good one with all the amazing balloons! Thanks as always for you support- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
@@thomastheys6681 We went over and listened to The Border Hooks on the first Saturday by the Escapees - wow - did your RV get hit? We saw some from the group had theirs damaged.
@@ChasingOurSunshine took off Joel and Amy s flag pole our neighbor just missed losing his starlink. We are camping in Grand Canyon area with 4others including Border Hook ups! Thomyt
Always back the blue! My hubs likes the New Glarus Totally Naked but it's seasonal and now always available. We are finally on the road and wandering our way to AZ. Still trying to figure out internet! The Balloon Rally looks amazing!
This was so amazing and so exciting you are on the ROAD!!!!!!!! We are so happy for you!!! Totally Nake is our second choice for New Glarus, put Spotted Cow-🐄 is #1... We have found T-mobile Home internet has been working well for us and we are thinking about getting starlink. But the start up cost are ouch! Email or message us on FB as we are going to be in AZ for part of this winter and would love to meet up. Safe travels- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Looks like a great time. We have done a few balloon festivals across the country and have actually been in Albuquerque during their festival, but we have never actually gone to the one there. May need to do it some day.
The losing the lid to the containers is the worst! It always happens! Loved all the tips for preparing ahead of time and tuna pasta salad is one of our favorites too! So cool you were on a crew, got to go up and haha 10-80!! What a fun video and amazing time you all had. Just added this to our list to do! thanks guys
Chicken Salad is another great one! We originally went down and signed up at the volunteer's booth, but a friend has signed up on the crew for Saturday and needed more help all week. So we were able to join the Freedom Won crew the whole week. It was so amazing! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Wow wow wow that’s amazing what fun to be on a crew and to go up up and away. Was it hard to get on a crew? How far in advance did you have to book a campsite? This is one of our bucket list destinations too. Thanks From Wisconsin
It was so amazing! There is a volunteer booth that you walk up and sign up. It was super easy and highly recommend it. Now, getting into the camping on the grounds is not that easy. 2024 RV reservations will go on sale January 10th, 2024 at 9:00am mountain time. Last year camping was sold out in about 45 minutes. We both were on our phones & computers hitting refresh and at 16 minutes Deb got in on her computer. It felt like we won the lottery!! There is an Escapees RV Club event that is held there too, and if you are a member you could go with the group. We would this was a bucket list destination for us and it didn't disappoint and exceeded expectations!! Stay warm up there in Wisconsin! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
I’m with Joel…no thanks on going up. Deb you can go up with my husband Jon instead! This is on our bucket list too. Going to try some “local” balloon festivals first…CA & AZ!
Going up in the balloon was so amazing! But staying safely on the ground is good too! It is all that you are comfortable with! But you are missing out on the air!! We are Looking at one in AZ to check out in January by Lake Havasu! Maybe we can meet up! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
@@ChasingOurSunshine We went to the Havasu Balloon Fest Jan 2023-due to weather it was a bust. We can’t go to that one again this year-our 14yr old grandson is playing in a baseball tournament at that time. I found a Balloon Festival in Goodyear, AZ Jan 26-28! Are you still in AZ then?
Love your channel ! Great video as always:) Question, how many nights did you stay at the festival? When did you arrive? Wanting to get a site when reservations open up in Jan but didn’t know when is the best time/day to check in, when it is a little less busy and crowded. Also, if you guys go again, would you choose the same lot VIP East? Thanks in advance! My hubby is also a fellow Marathoner! 8 so far 😍🤗 Thank you for your service ❤️ Blessings and Safe Travels!!!
Hi guys & great questions! We would stay in VIP East again and it was very busy on the weekends. Monday - Wed is only the morning flights and nothing in the afternoon, therefore less busy. It is all weather dependent. We feel if you come in Wednesday and stay until the closing weekend you would be able to see it all. But just to be safe we would do Friday before- Sunday closing. To make a reservation, you will want to save the date- 2024 RV reservations will go on sale January 10th, 2024 at 9:00am mountain time. The RV sites sold out in about 45 minutes for 2023! You are going want to be on your computer with the ABQ Balloon Fiesta page open and exactly at 9:00am mountain time you are going to want to keep refreshing the page until you get the website to open to all registrations. Then jump up and down when you get a site, because it is like winning the lottery!! Good luck & thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
WOW!!! What an amazing week. Can anyone be part of a crew? How do you volunteer? We would like to visit in 2024. How about reservations at the RV park, is there a site I should visit to make the reservation, how soon should I make the reservation? Thanks -- Ivan
If you're interested in joining the balloon crew, there are several ways to do it. You can contact the Balloon Fiesta directly, there is a volunteer booth on the grounds and inquire about openings on the crew. Sometimes, they will have job postings listed on their website or social media pages. You can also network with balloon pilots and crew members during the festival. They may be able to offer you tips on how to get involved. To make a reservation, you will want to save the date- 2024 RV reservations will go on sale January 10th, 2024 at 9:00am mountain time. They normally sell out in less than an hour. Good lucky & so hope you can go in person- Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
To make a reservation, you will want to save the date- 2024 RV reservations will go on sale January 10th, 2024 at 9:00am mountain time. Then on January 10th 2024 it will be game time!! You are going want to be on your computer with the ABQ Balloon Fiesta page open and exactly at 9:00am mountain time you are going to want to keep refreshing the page until you get the website to open to all registrations. Let me tell you we tried in 2022, and did not get in after 1.5 hours of trying and gave up. For 2023, we had a different game plan, Joel was on his phone & computer, Deb was on her phone & computer and just kept trying. At 9:16 am, Deb was able to get into the site and was able to snag a RV site. Then there was some jumping up and down, happy dancing and screaming!! The RV Sites were sold out in 2023 in like 45 minutes, from what we were told. Good lucky- Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
![HIWWHEE | OHM [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OJJLtTLqLag/mqdefault.jpg)
This is so bucket list-worthy and it exceeded our expectations!! Have you been to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta? Did you camp and what lot did you stay in? Is this on your bucket list? Thanks for watching! Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
This is definitely one for our bucket list. Lynn and Danny
This is so bucket list worthy and you guys would love it so much!! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
The fiesta was on my bucket list for a few years and this year became a reality. It was amazing! We were there Wednesday til Saturday. We stayed in the South lot with water/electric.
So glad you were able to make it a reality too!! We didn't realize that there was water/electric hook ups in the South lot- We were up in VIP East dry camping, . We were so grateful for the amazing weather while we were there Friday to Friday. We loved the special shapes, oh wait, all of the balloons! Did you have a favorite balloon? Safe Travels - Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
I wouldn’t have even thought about all the school buses to shuttle people. Loved all the night and morning shots. Love the flicker. Cool that y’all got to work a crew and go up for the race. Those views from the balloon. Yeah, Joel couldn’t do that. Yea! He won that second race. Cool! Yes, all the coffee! Y’all lucked out crewing. How did y’all get that gig? The chase looked fun too. High winds would be a big issue at the fiesta. We were told that’s why you want to do 5 days cause sometimes you might get 2 or 3 good days out of 5. Be safe, Bill and DeAnna
This is an amazing experience and can't wait for you guys to go! YOU WILL LOVE IT! We got on the crew from our friends signing up at the volunteer booth! So much fun and you are right you want to stay 5 days because the balloons might not go up due to weather. Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
So funny moments! Enjoy life, have a great day 👍💕
We hope you have a wonderful day & glad you enjoyed our video! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
As usual you gave a great coverage. Definitely should be on everyone’s bucket list. Thanks for sharing!
We are so grateful we got to be there! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
How awesome!! We probably won't make it there for 2 more years! We have a lid for all our bowls in the RV..... Great video!!
How we lost a lid is unbelievable in two weeks of travel! We can plan for Balloon Fiesta 2026 then! 🙌
That was some great footage. It was fun seeing you there! Hope we can catch up at some point! Enjoy your Winter!
Huge THANK YOU to you for getting on the crew! Being able to spend time with you and Peggy was awesome! Safe travels and see you next winter!
Wow, that was Awesome!! Maybe someday we'll make it there. So glad you had good weather!
You will love it!! We got so lucky with the weather! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Looks like a neat adventure. Added it to our retirement travels bucket list! Thanks for another great video!
Hey guys!! This so needs to be on your bucket list! Worth it to go! Stay safe and warm back there in Wisconsin! Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Looked so fun! It is definitely on our list to do! Thanks for sharing 😊
You guys will love it!! So much fun!! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
So jealous. This is a big one for my bucket list. My cousin lives near the grounds and said it's an amazing experience. Glad y'all had a great time. Hope to see y'all on the road
This was #1 for RV Life Bucket List for us and didn't disappoint at all! You need to go as it's amazing!! We can't wait to run into you on the road! Safe travels & thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
I’ve never been to Albuquerque but loved the video and your experience. You both made me laugh along your adventure. Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it! This was a bucket list destination for us and it did not disappoint! Being on the crew was the best and loved the chasing of the balloon. Way better than chasing down someone running from the police! 😂 Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Loved, love! Love it!!
Thank you!! - Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
I loved this! At minute 15:42 you were across the street from our AirBnB! We live near there as well. It's an adventure living where we do for the 9 days of the Balloon Fiesta! I'm so glad you enjoyed!
Wow! How cool & thanks for letting us know! We got to eat at El Pinto and Deb had their famous BBQ! We can't image the adventures you have living there with the fiesta going on! Thank you and to all that love there for your patience & having this amazing event to share with everyone! Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Is there a way I can give you my information for the next time you are in the area? I'm so glad you got to enjoy El Pinto!
@@ChasingOurSunshine
It might be in a year or two before we are back- but our email is info@chasingoursunshine.net
Great Video! So nice to meet you and get to talk to you for a bit! Our experience at the Fiesta was way beyond my expectations. Safe travels!
We hope our paths cross again! It was so enjoyable to chat! We can't believe how amazing the balloon fiesta was and way above expectations! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
What fun. This is definitely something I want to see. Going to try tuna pasta recipe. Looked so yummy
Joel loves tuna pasta salad & it's go easy to make & handy for boondocking to make ahead. This is so worth going to and hope you get there someday too! You would just love it! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Your video was exciting to warch!
This was one of the best things we have done as RVers! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
It was so great meeting you at the balloon fest! Maybe we will see you in Alaska or on the road.
We are so glad we were able to meet and how amazing was the Balloon Fiesta! We are sorry we got so busy at the balloon fest we never had those cocktails with you. We hope our paths cross in Alaska!! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Retired Leo's ❤ Enjoy every moment ❤ You earned it ❤
Thank you 💙🖤💙- We love retirement & we are sure you do too! You earned it too! Where are you from?
Gresham P.D. Oregon. Happily retired!
@@h7663 We have told Oregon is a beautiful State! We haven't been & want to visit- what is one thing you say is a must-do for us when we get there? We trust a recommendation from a fellow LEO!
Southern & Central Oregon Coast. Stay away from Portland!!
@@h7663 We have no reason to go to Portland
Went there once. Loved it. Temecula has a balloon and wine festival as well. Sounds CA area. We use to go every year for 6years. 😊😅
Thanks for sharing!! Wine & Hot-Air balloons would be so amazing!! When is it?
Sorry we did not see you there. I did not know you were there. That’s the best video that you guys have ever done. Congratulations. Thomyt
No way! You were there, so sad we didn't run into you! We hope you had as much fun as we did. Where were you stay? We were in VIP East- Thank you for the encouraging words on this video, it is hard not to make it a good one with all the amazing balloons! Thanks as always for you support- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
We were with Excapers in front of the box. On the east side front row!
@@thomastheys6681 We went over and listened to The Border Hooks on the first Saturday by the Escapees - wow - did your RV get hit? We saw some from the group had theirs damaged.
@@ChasingOurSunshine took off Joel and Amy s flag pole our neighbor just missed losing his starlink. We are camping in Grand Canyon area with 4others including Border Hook ups! Thomyt
@@thomastheys6681 We can't believe we missed you! We were right there twice- once for happy hour too!
Awesome you two!! Enjoy life!!’Some time in AZ go to Glendale AZ balloon festival. You’ll love it!! I believe some time in Dec or early January. 😉🎉
We are looking that up right now!! We just love hot-air balloons now, so amazing!! Thanks! Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Always back the blue! My hubs likes the New Glarus Totally Naked but it's seasonal and now always available. We are finally on the road and wandering our way to AZ. Still trying to figure out internet! The Balloon Rally looks amazing!
This was so amazing and so exciting you are on the ROAD!!!!!!!! We are so happy for you!!! Totally Nake is our second choice for New Glarus, put Spotted Cow-🐄 is #1... We have found T-mobile Home internet has been working well for us and we are thinking about getting starlink. But the start up cost are ouch! Email or message us on FB as we are going to be in AZ for part of this winter and would love to meet up. Safe travels- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Looks like you all had a great time.
We did! It exceeds expectations and can say worth going! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Looks like a great time. We have done a few balloon festivals across the country and have actually been in Albuquerque during their festival, but we have never actually gone to the one there. May need to do it some day.
We would stay you need to do the ABQ Balloon Fiesta! If you have gone to the others ones, you will be in awe of this one! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
I heard on Facebook that lost Tupperware lids turn into extra socks. lol
Well, that explains the extra sock in the laundry yesterday!! 😂
The losing the lid to the containers is the worst! It always happens! Loved all the tips for preparing ahead of time and tuna pasta salad is one of our favorites too! So cool you were on a crew, got to go up and haha 10-80!! What a fun video and amazing time you all had. Just added this to our list to do! thanks guys
We are so happy you lose the lids too! 😜 This is so worth putting on your and hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Thanks - Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Our make ahead go to lunch would have been chicken salad. Great video. How did you get set up to be crew?
Chicken Salad is another great one! We originally went down and signed up at the volunteer's booth, but a friend has signed up on the crew for Saturday and needed more help all week. So we were able to join the Freedom Won crew the whole week. It was so amazing! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Wow wow wow that’s amazing what fun to be on a crew and to go up up and away. Was it hard to get on a crew? How far in advance did you have to book a campsite? This is one of our bucket list destinations too. Thanks From Wisconsin
It was so amazing! There is a volunteer booth that you walk up and sign up. It was super easy and highly recommend it. Now, getting into the camping on the grounds is not that easy. 2024 RV reservations will go on sale January 10th, 2024 at 9:00am mountain time. Last year camping was sold out in about 45 minutes. We both were on our phones & computers hitting refresh and at 16 minutes Deb got in on her computer. It felt like we won the lottery!! There is an Escapees RV Club event that is held there too, and if you are a member you could go with the group. We would this was a bucket list destination for us and it didn't disappoint and exceeded expectations!! Stay warm up there in Wisconsin! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
I’m with Joel…no thanks on going up. Deb you can go up with my husband Jon instead! This is on our bucket list too. Going to try some “local” balloon festivals first…CA & AZ!
Going up in the balloon was so amazing! But staying safely on the ground is good too! It is all that you are comfortable with! But you are missing out on the air!! We are Looking at one in AZ to check out in January by Lake Havasu! Maybe we can meet up! Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
@@ChasingOurSunshine We went to the Havasu Balloon Fest Jan 2023-due to weather it was a bust. We can’t go to that one again this year-our 14yr old grandson is playing in a baseball tournament at that time. I found a Balloon Festival in Goodyear, AZ Jan 26-28! Are you still in AZ then?
@@joannedavis7346 Good luck to your grandson at the tournament! We might be out of the area to hit that Balloon Festival
@@ChasingOurSunshine if you’re still around AZ-later Jan-would love to meet up with you!
Love your channel !
Great video as always:)
Question, how many nights did you stay at the festival?
When did you arrive?
Wanting to get a site when reservations open up in Jan but didn’t know when is the best time/day to check in, when it is a little less busy and crowded.
Also, if you guys go again, would you choose the same lot VIP East?
Thanks in advance!
My hubby is also a fellow Marathoner! 8 so far 😍🤗
Thank you for your service ❤️
Blessings and Safe Travels!!!
Hi guys & great questions! We would stay in VIP East again and it was very busy on the weekends. Monday - Wed is only the morning flights and nothing in the afternoon, therefore less busy. It is all weather dependent. We feel if you come in Wednesday and stay until the closing weekend you would be able to see it all. But just to be safe we would do Friday before- Sunday closing. To make a reservation, you will want to save the date- 2024 RV reservations will go on sale January 10th, 2024 at 9:00am mountain time. The RV sites sold out in about 45 minutes for 2023! You are going want to be on your computer with the ABQ Balloon Fiesta page open and exactly at 9:00am mountain time you are going to want to keep refreshing the page until you get the website to open to all registrations. Then jump up and down when you get a site, because it is like winning the lottery!! Good luck & thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
WOW!!! What an amazing week. Can anyone be part of a crew? How do you volunteer? We would like to visit in 2024. How about reservations at the RV park, is there a site I should visit to make the reservation, how soon should I make the reservation? Thanks -- Ivan
If you're interested in joining the balloon crew, there are several ways to do it. You can contact the Balloon Fiesta directly, there is a volunteer booth on the grounds and inquire about openings on the crew. Sometimes, they will have job postings listed on their website or social media pages. You can also network with balloon pilots and crew members during the festival. They may be able to offer you tips on how to get involved. To make a reservation, you will want to save the date- 2024 RV reservations will go on sale January 10th, 2024 at 9:00am mountain time. They normally sell out in less than an hour. Good lucky & so hope you can go in person- Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Balloon "fiesta" not festival. Enjoy and welcome to albuquerque!!
@@patcardone4568 Thanks!
How early can you make reservation?
To make a reservation, you will want to save the date- 2024 RV reservations will go on sale January 10th, 2024 at 9:00am mountain time.
Then on January 10th 2024 it will be game time!! You are going want to be on your computer with the ABQ Balloon Fiesta page open and exactly at 9:00am mountain time you are going to want to keep refreshing the page until you get the website to open to all registrations.
Let me tell you we tried in 2022, and did not get in after 1.5 hours of trying and gave up. For 2023, we had a different game plan, Joel was on his phone & computer, Deb was on her phone & computer and just kept trying. At 9:16 am, Deb was able to get into the site and was able to snag a RV site. Then there was some jumping up and down, happy dancing and screaming!! The RV Sites were sold out in 2023 in like 45 minutes, from what we were told.
Good lucky- Thanks- Joel, Deb & 🐕 Maya
Is there a weight limit to ride in these balloons?
Ussually around 1000 pounds. This includes all of the people and equipment that will be taking the flight.
@@ChasingOurSunshine thank you. Than I, rick have a chance. Lol
@@RickandDarcirvadventures You do!! And recommend getting on a crew!! It is amazing
That's southern California. Sorry 😐
We want to go back to SOCA so sounds amazing!