Meteor Crater Winslow, Arizona

We planned to be at the Grand Canyon today, but we couldn't get reservations until tomorrow, so we slowed our trip a little and stayed an extra night at the Meteor Crater RV Park.  We had not planned to go to the crater but with the extra day we took the 6 mile drive out to the crater.

50,000 years ago a meteor ended its 500 million year long race through space in a spectacular collision with Earth.  The resulting violent explosion created Meteor Crater, and this was the largest piece of the meteor found.

The meteor's impact left a crater nearly a mile across and more than 500 feet deep.  We took an hour long walk part ways around the crater.  We had a wonderful docent by the name of Kim.  She sure knew her information.  Can you see a flag at the bottom of the crater?  It is 6' tall.

If the Washington Monument was at the bottom of this crater it's top would be at eye level of the rim.  It would accommodate two million fans on the crater walls watching 20 football games being played simultaneously on the crater floor.

The site was formerly known as the Canyon Diablo Crater, and fragments of the meteorite are officially called the Canyon Diablo Meteorite.  Scientists refer to the crater as Barringer Crater in honor of Daniel Barringer who was first to suggest that it was produced by meteorite impact.

This is the ruins of Daniel Barringer's home.  The crater is privately owned by the Barringer family through their Barringer Crater Company, which proclaims it to be "the first proven, best-prserved meteorite crater on earth.  This was later turned into a museum and finally a guest house, after the new museum was built.  It burned to the ground during the stay of one of the guests.

During the 1960's, NASA astronauts trained in the crater to prepare for the Apollo missions to the Moon.

We had lunch at the Meteor Crater, as there was a Subway there.  In the picnic area, there was a brick wall with a window that had his awesome view.

These apartments are for the people who work at the crater.  You get free rent and utilities plus a salary when you work at this site. Plus an incredible view.  Tomorrow we move to the Grand Canyon.

Another early day.

We again got up early, grabbed a breakfast roll, walked Pralines and caught the bus to the balloon grounds.We knew the Mass Ascension would be exciting as it was the last day of the fiesta.

We got there in time for the Morning Glow.

We were dressed for the weather, in the high 30's again.

We walked down to where the shape balloons were.  Here is a bumblebee.

Two more bumblebees holding hands.

Beautiful butterfly.

A Cheerful Clock

Spiderman the Pig

This was an unusual one.  Can you guess what it is?

Darth Vather.

Some baskets held one or two people.  Others held as many at 6-8.

Wells Fargo stagecoach was up in the air.

This was my heads position for hours,

As I watch this wonderful site.

We loved the Balloon Fiesta and will certainly come again.

This is a Zebra.  They are officials, much like the White Suiters in the Rose Parade.

A couple of Zebras.  It takes a lot of Zebras to put on a event like this.  Thank you Zebras and all the balloons and volunteer crew workers who worked so hard.  FYI: A balloon starts at about $35,000 to purchase.

Albuquerque, New Mexico and the 40th International Balloon Fiesta

Bob got up at 5:00 a.m. to walk Pralines before we headed for breakfast at 6:00 a.m.  We then caught the shuttle over to the Balloon Grounds.  This was a bit early for me, and the temperature was in the high 30's.  It had rained hard all night and the grassy field was soaked, therefore our feet were soaked.

The first balloon near us needed some extra hands.  So Bob got to help roll out the balloon.  We watched till it was inflated.

Here it is being inflated.

The flame from the burner is really hot.

Finally up in the air it goes.  U.S. Bank

Every morning the fiesta is started out with the Star Spangled Banner being sung and 

a balloon carrying the U.S. Flag.

Within minutes hundreds of balloons began to be inflated and lifted off.

Colorful!

Up, Up, and Away.

What an awesome site!  It was said that there were about 550 balloons that participated in the Fiesta. It was a great morning, definitely worth getting up early.

Balloon Museum on a Rainy Day

It was too windy and rainy for the balloons to go up this morning.  So we decided we would visit the Balloon Museum.

The Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque Balloon Museum presents the development of ballooning through scientific, historic, and artistic objects reflecting world-wide achievement in this field.

We waited in line to get in but we were free since we were with the Escapee Group.

A statue of a balloon, showing the beauty of New Mexico. 

A closer look.

This is the closest we got to going up in a balloon.  At this fiesta they were charging between $275 up to $450 a piece for a ride.  We decided on this free picture. 

One of the first cameras used in a balloon.  A hole was cut in the bottom of the basket and this camera was stuck in to take the first aerial photographs.

This was a secret balloon that our government used to test how far humans could go up safely in space.  This helped in the development of space suits and instruments later used in NASA's flights.

Lots of pins to collect.  This is the 40th year.

A balloon carried the Olympic torch for 20 minutes for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.  This is the shirt and torch that was worn and carried.

We enjoyed our tour, learned a lot and were thankful that it was not very crowded since the balloon didn't go up this morning.

Santa Fe Tour with Escapees

Yesterday, we joined a group of 26 other couples at a HOP (Head Out Programs) through the Escapees.  We are attending the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta for the next six days.  We settled in, joined everyone for Happy Hour and dinner the first night.  Then this morning, we headed with this group to tour Santa Fe.

Our first stop was Madrid, New Mexico. With a population of 149, this town is an artists community with galleries lining Route 14. Originally a coal mining town, it still has remnants of its past with the Mineshaft Tavern and the Coal Mine Museum. The 2007 film Wild Hogs was set and filmed in the town.

Many unique art shops.

This one is an old train car.

Fabric art!

Maggie's Diner where Wild Hog was filmed.  You can get anything in the store with Wild Hog on it.

Unfortunatly, we left with nothing.

Your remember Wild Hogs, with Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H Macy.

Our next stop the city of Santa Fe.

We started our tour at the San Miguel Mission Church, recognized as the oldest church in the United States.

The mission was built by Tlaxcalan Indians from Mexico in the early 1600s.  During the Pueblo Indian rebellion of 1680, the roof was burned and destroyed.  After resettling Santa Fe, in 1694 General Diego de Vargas had a new roof constructed and repairs continued until 1710.

A three-tier tower was constructed around 1830, and in 1887, a single facade tower was built, with massive stone buttresses added for support.

This is a good example of the type of architecture seen in Santa Fe. A lovely spa and hotel.

This is the Loretto Chapel constructed in the 1870s, is believed to be the first Gothic structure built west of the Mississippi.  A design flaw existed in the chapel, as there was no way to get to the choir loft from the main floor.  Many carpenters were consulted for a solution, but all of them felt that a traditional stairway would take up too much room.  Most suggested that a ladder be used or the balcony be reconstructed.

The Sisters sought divine guidance, and on the ninth and final day of their Novena, a mysterious carpenter appeared who designed and constructed a circular stairway to the loft.  His "miraculous stairway" contains 33 steps in two full 360-degree turns, with no center support, nor is it held from the sides. Also it was constructed with wood that was not native to the area. Upon completing the stairway, the carpenter disappeared without receiving payment for his work.

"miraculous stairway"

The Altar.

Beautiful stain glass.

This was a marker on the side of a building, it says, "This marks the route of the Santa Fe Trail, Kansas City to Santa Fe 1877 to 1880.

In the Plaza at Santa Fe, Indian artist sell their crafts.  There were many wonderful jewelry stores, clothing stores and art galleries. For a shopper it was heaven. We visited the New Mexico History Museum and had a wonderful lunch at La Fonda Hotel.

Bob loved these Great Blue Herons, but hard to pack in our motorhome. Great tour, learned a lot, shopped a lot and came home tired ready for dinner and bed.