Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
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Currently in Gasburg, Va. and then heading out on the 23rd. picking up 40 in Durham and running that across. avg. daily run is 350 miles and staying 2days at mostly Passport America parks. Once out there we are staying in Tijeras about 1/2hr East of Fest. If you are heading out and would to travel together please let me know. Safe travels to all.
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06 GMC 3500 SLT Duramax, Allison.
09 Montana 3665re
Safe travels to all, Take each day as a gift for that is truly what it is.
We're there the 6th-11th staying at the balloon launch park set up by Escapees. We'll be coming in from the NHOG Rally in Spearfish, SD via Colorado Springs and some pre-event hiking. Looking forward to it with some friends also from RV-Dreams.
The "Cheap Seats" in the South lot are great. Being down wind a half mile makes the viewing for your RV even better. The shuttle buses will run right by your aisle, so transportation is the same no matter where you are camped.
The big advantage to the South lot is that there is a huge landing area in the middle for balloon landings. This is the only landing area on the grounds for balloons going a short distance. Some days there are a dozen balloons coming down right out your front windshield if you have the right spot. We did!!
It's NOT cheap seats, it's a premium viewing area for the "thrifty".
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Russ & Terri Ranger
Travel since July 2013
Home base: Buckeye,AZ
Wandering the USA & Canada in our Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40' PDT Motorhome
Travel so far: 49 States - International Travel -19 countries
Question to anyone who has attended the event before, how level is the parking are (north lot)? Will I need to bring boards blocks etc to level up a 5th wheel?
Thanks for the info.
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Jim. KM5J
2014 6.7L Ram 3500, 2008 Excel w 280 watts of solar , 2012 Jack Russel.
Question to anyone who has attended the event before, how level is the parking are (north lot)? Will I need to bring boards blocks etc to level up a 5th wheel? Thanks for the info.
Its a dirt / grass field so it is just luck as to any one particular parking space or how level it might be. Best to always carry leveling devices of whatever type preferred.
Getting to our stay in Tijerasthe (3rd) today, will be there till the 15th. Anyone like to do a get to together before things get going give us a shout. We are at Hidden Valley RV park
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06 GMC 3500 SLT Duramax, Allison.
09 Montana 3665re
Safe travels to all, Take each day as a gift for that is truly what it is.
not gonna make it this year. rode out 2 years ago on the motorcycle but next year we're heading out towing the bike behind our rv. would love to get insider advice for lodging on the grounds. we do have family in albuquerque as well. so excited for you guys btw we are newbies to the rv thing and most anxious to retire to it
Oct. 5th we found out truck wasn't going to be able to make it. We are having to have our complete fuel system rebuilt. I contact via email and phone a Ms. Garcia. She has yet to return a email or phone call. Now I completely understand its a mad house of an event. All I've asked is them to return a message of some type to let us know anything. We realize we most likely have lost our $315. That's ok, but please have the courtesy to return a call or an email. I got some cheese to go with my wine by the way.
God Speed to all and make sure you check you air pressure
For Info: We had a great 5 days at the Balloon Festival with our friends Neil and Connie, also on this forum. IOP, 5 days was fine. Some may enjoy more days but five was just right for us. No issues getting in, out or parking via the Escapees offering.
We boondocked for those 5 days without issue. Our sites, via Escapees, were just fine. Plenty of room. The bus to the launch field worked well and we also walked the 2 miles and it was also just fine.
They don't do all the events "right on the clock" but they're close enough if you just wait a bit. After all, they are "balloons," not an airliner. Then again, airlines aren't right on the money either.
A very beautiful, especially the "dawn patrol" and the "evening glow," nice experience both with the balloons and our friends. If this is your cup of tea we hope your experience and weather will be as nice as we had.
At this years Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta we were at the Escapees lot. We got a water fill. Luckily I was there to watch him when he came to do the fill up. He hooked up to my black tank flush!! I stopped him and we had a good laugh, but it was only funny because I was there and able to stop him. Don't want to think about what could have happened if I wasn't there.
At this years Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta we were at the Escapees lot. We got a water fill. Luckily I was there to watch him when he came to do the fill up. He hooked up to my black tank flush!! I stopped him and we had a good laugh, but it was only funny because I was there and able to stop him. Don't want to think about what could have happened if I wasn't there.
Yea, I was told you only had to purchase the "service" and put a sticker / sign of some kind on the rig. They would come by and service your rig even if you were gone. I told Linda, "There is no way I would let someone service the fresh, black or gray water tanks without me being there." You just proved my concerns were 100% correct. Scary!
Fortunately our length of stay and tank capacities were more than adequate and we just "tanker-ed" the gray and black to our next stop at Meteor Crater. (OK park, BTW, for the purpose.) But I would leave early before I would let someone fiddle with the rig unsupervised.
We are really glad that we made it to the Fiesta, we really enjoyed ourselves. I must agree with Bill and Linda 4 or 5 days is enough. We stayed the full 9 days and we where very ready to go after the first weekend. The noise and dust and the crowds of people is a bit overwhelming. If we were to go back again we would stay with the Escapees group. They have a good area in the South lot.
I wonder you guys who were in the south lot, is it easy to get in and out with your fifth wheels with so many parked there? I’m concerned if we would be pinned in and not able to pull out. Also, is leaving last day a bad idea with so many going at once.
I wonder you guys who were in the south lot, is it easy to get in and out with your fifth wheels with so many parked there? I’m concerned if we would be pinned in and not able to pull out. Also, is leaving last day a bad idea with so many going at once.
We had no issues but we left after 5 days. Neil and Connie were parked next to us and if we had not left first it would have still been no issue for them - just remove a string across the parking area. It really wasn't that tight at the Escapees lot in the way south area.
But leaving early - like well before 8 AM - got us ahead of most and it was a quick exit.
Frankly, a non-event for us. But I wouldn't "sleep in" and leave. Just my opinion.
I wonder you guys who were in the south lot, is it easy to get in and out with your fifth wheels with so many parked there? I’m concerned if we would be pinned in and not able to pull out. Also, is leaving last day a bad idea with so many going at once.
We were in the Escapees lot and left on Sunday around 11am. No lines just drove right out. We were there for the full time. Since this was the first time for us we felt the extra $200 for 11 days was worth it. We were concerned about weather preventing the balloons going up and we would miss too much. Also we did other things than just the Balloon Fiesta. The next time we do this we'll probably pick one of the shorter packages.
