Ben's birthday in balloons

One of the things Albuquerque is known for is the annual balloon fiesta. Balloonists (real word) come from all over the world, including France where the first balloons were flown in the 1890's.  Apparently people brought champagne with them so that when they landed in other places, they could use the champagne to identify the region they were from and placate their unintended hosts.  The first weekend of the Balloon Fiesta coincided with Ben's birthday. Our friend Daniel and Ben's sister Martha came to help us celebrate. 

You can walk right up to the balloons and see them getting blown up

Apparently there were over 500 balloons in the sky at once

Martha and I happy to have gotten up so early and that we decided against the Cinnacone.  Breakfast burritos yes, mini cinnamon rolls no.

Hot air balloons are incredibly photogenic

Unlike Daniel and myself, although that tourist penguin looks pretty perky

Look at these cute pals!

This is what Alex Achen would look like if he were a hot air balloon

This is the best photo I will ever take.  Also, this was clearly the best balloon.  It is from Belgium.

After the balloon fiesta and naps (we had to get up at 5:30 am), we relaxed in another hot spring in the Jemez Mtns.

Ahhh...

We then headed to a bday party at Jesse and Erica's where Wilder showed off his new trick.  Walking with a garbage can!

We had a tasty dinner in the backyard with Nathaniel and Nina.

Jesse and Erica made this amazing flourless chocolate birthday cake.  Check out that incredible design.

A great birthday

The next day we headed into the mountains to check out the changing aspens.

Wilder showed us how to find the most delicious rocks.

Hunter found a lot of dog and human pals to hang out with.

We hiked around the skiing area

Amazing yellow aspens

Our intrepid guide

Fall in the southwest.

In the Lightning Field

45 minutes and a few dimensions west of Quemado is Walter de Maria's Lightning Field, a land art installation in one of the quietest, most remote places imaginable. Rebecca Lowery provided the companionship and the art historical perspective. The field, the sun, the poles provided the strange magic.

Rebecca and I hash it out. Behind us, the cabin. Behind the cabin, very much empty space.

Inside the cabin. It was nice there.

A sunset.

The next morning.

Can you believe the sun rises every single day?

I want to go to there.

Old Man Gloom

When September comes to Santa Fe, you can put all of your worries and cares into a 50-foot wicker man named Zozobra, aka Old Man Gloom. Then you gather with thousands of other people, party like its New Years Eve and burn that sucker to the ground. Sam and I watched it all go down from an arroyo (New Mexican for ditch) behind the park.

Looks like someone needs his worries and cares burned to the ground.

The old man himself. Complete with fire dancers.

 

Things not looking good for old Zozo.

Feeling better already.

Quemado Party

Over Sam's birthday weekend, we went camping at lake Quemado in the northern part of the Gila national forest. New Mexico is amazing for many reasons and one of them is that within an hour or two you can go from arid mountain to desert to alpine forest. Quemado was lush and lonely and beautiful. But unswimmable thanks to the presence of imported Tiger Muskies. That's weak.

Lake Quemado itself. I hate those Tiger Muskies. 

We discovered the tree of life while hiking, which was cool.

Partying

 

After a few hours of hiking we found ourselves with a view of pretty much the entire Southwestern U.S.

Please forward all correspondence to: Sam and Ben, That Incredibly Beautiful Green Valley, New Mexico

Chipmunk Hotel

In August, Sam and I trekked out to the Glorieta Canyon near Santa Fe. We walked along a creek in the canyon for a few miles until we reached a clearing. What was once, we're told, a hotel was now a pile of wood and a lot of hungry chipmunks. Not particularly scared of humans, those little guys.

We came across this dude. Just hanging out.

                                           

Not clear how this ancient, rusted hulk got down there. Sam contemplates a quick getaway.

Sam disappeared into those trees and I haven't heard from her since.

You stay away from me chipmunk.