Lake Havasu Balloon Festival, Day 3, Grand Finale Ending on A High Note.

Our Location today is Lake Havasu, Arizona, U.S.A. 

Before going to bed last night, Kathy suggested just waking up naturally and when we would get to the Balloon Festival is when we’d get there. After dealing with our crisis yesterday neither of us had any problem falling to sleep last night but even without setting the alarm we were both awake shortly after 7:00 AM MST this morning. 

From our front door.

Waiting for the bus.

We took our time having breakfast and were still heading for the Bus Stop by 8:00 but as soon as we stepped out of our trailer we had a big surprise. The Sun was shining and there was just the slightest of a breeze but looking out over the valley we could see at least a Dozen Hot Air Balloons floating off in the distance. As we stood waiting for the bus the number increased. 

Looking Back from the Festival Grounds.

The Bus driver explained that there were over Fifty Hot Air Balloons that had lifted off from parking lots throughout the city. If a store wasn’t open at the time, their parking lot became a launch pad for one or more Hot Air Balloons. 

The closer we got to the Balloon Festival we kept seeing more of these beautiful Works-of-Art. As we passed through the entrance gate we asked ourselves had we missed the morning show. The moment we passed the Food Court we saw the best was still before us. The Balloon Field was filled with Fantasy Shaped Balloons. There was one Peg Leg Pete the Parrot, a Love Bird, a Firetruck, two Fish, three Bumble Bees, a Football, a Soccer Ball and a number of other Balloons. It was a Photographers Fantasyland plus most of those Fifty Hot Air Balloons that had been launched throughout the city were drifting close to the Balloon Field for their decent. 

Dreaming of checking out the Desert

After 10:00 we walked all around the Vendors Area looking at all the things we can live without and dreaming of others that would be fun to have. By 11:00 we decided to each have a Corndog for our lunch. It had been a while since the last ones we’d had so it brought back fun memories. 

That was enough to send us on another walk around the Vendors Area where we started rationalizing some of our earlier dreams. With the pace of our walk being quicker than earlier we even manage to have time to look at the twenty some Street Rods and Classics that were on display before heading back to the Stage Area. 

We found ourselves seats not too far from the stage where we planned on seeing Kevin Jaxon and the Midnight Sun perform. These are all local artist that have gone on to work in different parts of the country but get together each year to perform at the Lake Havasu Hot Air Balloon Festival. To say they were Good would be an understatement, they were Fantastic. They performed many popular Pop and Rock hits that even the children attending with their grandparents could relate to and you could find many of them up front dancing to the music. 

You would have sworn this Orca Kite was swimming.

They played three forty-five minute sets and in between the Fort Mojave Tribal Marching Band that was Established in 1906 would fill in the gap. This band was established at the time of the Indian Boarding Schools where the Governments of not only the U.S. but Canada as well tried to destroy the Aboriginal Culture of the North American Indians. All the Band Members are of Mojave Heritage and even though they don’t March around anymore nor do they have a Conductor to help them correct any mistakes in their technique they played flawlessly. 

Kathy and I enjoying the show.

When the entertainment finished Kathy and I grabbed a Hamburger for Supper before heading back towards the Balloon Field Bleachers. Since the weather had been clear with only the slightest of a breeze and temperatures that hit a high of 61 F (16 C) we thought that today would be the perfect ending to a Bad Weather for a Hot Air Balloon Festival Weekend.  

We got to talk to RVers from Pennsylvania, California and Manitoba that were also here for the Festival and we all had the same thing in mind to sit in the Sun. We were all enjoying the warmth of the Sun’s rays but as soon as the first Balloon was inflated and blocked the Sun everyone started putting on their jackets. 

Martial Arts Demonstration.

One by one other Balloons were being inflated but the most impressive was the Wells Fargo Stage Coach Balloon. It took the longest to inflate and they had to be careful not to overdo it or else it would have become airborne. By 7:30 when all the Balloons participated in the Glow there were Twenty Hot Air Balloons in a very tight space. Leaving the bleachers to head for the exit we cut through the Balloon Field and it was like walking through a Fantasy World. 

Belly Dancing Demonstration.

Even though there was more entertainment that was happening lots of people had the same idea as we did and that was to head for Home. That meant by the time the buses started heading back to the Camping Lots they were filled with some people standing in the Aisles. 

Photo Ops.

Stopping first at the Marina RV Camping Lot and then when we got to the Good Sam Camping Lot we notice a lot of RVs had already left because of the bad weather yesterday. That meant they missed a beautiful day for the Balloon Festival today. 

We needed a Warm Coffee to take the chill out of our bodies when we got in. Tomorrow we’ll be heading up to Sedona so follow along for the ride. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy! 

It’s about time.

Krackers 

The World's Great Proverbs

One law for the rich and another for the poor.