update October 4

October 3, 2010

It's been a busy 2 weeks - finished the Habitat build in Grand Rapids, Minnesota; stayed overnight in St. Paul, seeing the season's premiere of Garrison Keelor's "Prairie Home Companion"; waiting in Wichita for a replacement tail light for the trailer, and now have been in Albuquerque (ABQ) for 5 days.

Above is where I'm camped - note the shade tent - it's been in the mid-90's which is a little hot after the long underwear weather during my last 2 weeks in Minnesota.

The Balloon Fiesta is just great - words can't describe the sight - hundreds of balloons, hardly any alike (except Wells Fargo bank - they have 2!); and funny shaped ones too - a parrot from Holland, a little man from Japan, one from Lithuania, and at least 3 from Canada. I hooked up with one of the Canadian ones last night, as I wanted to crew for my home country; so, I toured the balloon field (equal to 54 football fields), looking for Canadian license plates. Didn't I find "Wicked", a ballon built in Aylmer Quebec by a fellow who works 3 blocks from where I live in Ottawa. So, I got to help launch the balloon, and put it away again when lightning started to strike on the field. Have I found a new hobby? We'll see.

So far, the most magical moment of the Fiesta is the sight of 50 balloons directly over my head, backlit by an absolutely blue sky. As I lay back in my chair, looking straight up, the balloons looked as if they were little globes of colour, floating in a clear blue sea. Magic! Here's a picture from my "living room", the RV park is directly across the street from the Fiesta site.

another memorable moment was this morning when I had a breakfast burrito - hashbrowns, chiles, scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese sauce, all wrapped in a tortilla - to my Potluck pals - care to try it?

Spent a half day at the "Very Large Array", in Soccoro about 50 miles south of ABQ. It's a set of 27 radiotelescopes that are linked together; moveable; that are set up to receive radiation signals from outer, outer space. Fascinating (to me), as the scientists continue to try to understand how the universe started; how it's grown; how it is / or is not, shrinking. . . . . Sure makes me think about God - did She know what she was doing or what!!!

ABQ is a beautiful place to visit - the city is in a huge valley -

probably carved by the Rio Grande River; and is bounded on the East side by the Sandia mountains. There are so many places where one can see for miles and miles and miles, across the valleys to the next mountain range. Not like we'd see in Alberta as we drive toward the Rockies, but mountains that are 7 - 10,000 feet high covered with sage brush and tiny trees. Saw a herd of antelope, grazing next to a herd of cattle - anyone remember the song "Oh Give me a home, where the buffalo roam?" No buffalo though.

Am about ready to come home - have been "dry camping" while in ABQ - that is, no electricity, no water. Since it gets dark at 7:00 p.m., the evenings are long, or at least they are until I go to sleep at 8:00 p.m. - I miss not being able to make my coffee and stay in bed in the morning, as I am able to do whenever I have electricity. The other thing I really miss is radio; I considered whether to buy a satellite radio before I left, but didn't; that's the only purchase I should have made. Another thing to consider for next time is to buy a tiny generator, so that I can have some electricity when there are no hook-ups. Ah well, live and learn, eh?