This time of year humans seem to get really busy with holidays. So my humans make it busier by including two balloon rallies. If you have been reading much of this blog you will know that most of our travel involves ballooning. The first balloon rally was in Yuma, Arizona the weekend before Thanksgiving. The second in Gallup, New Mexico the first weekend of December. I’ve also had to put up with a lot of strange humans in and around the condo. Deck repair, gas leak, painting…its been pretty crazy so that is why there hasn’t been any updates lately, I’ve been a lazy Dane. Hopefully things will get back to normal and I can go to the beach or dog park soon. At the very least I would like be able to lounge in the sun on my patio.
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona is on the border of Arizona, California and Mexico. It has the dubious honor of being one of the hottest cities in the US and is also home to the territorial prison opened in 1876. Movie goers may remember it from the two movies both called 3:10 to Yuma. I haven’t been to tour the prison, it isn’t dog friendly. Thankfully November isn’t terribly hot but it can be extremely windy. The wind means balloons often don’t get to fly which was true this year.
We started out the trip at a pet friendly restaurant called Prison Hill Brewing Co.. I was welcome on the front patio, they also have a back patio with even more room. Although I really wanted some of the yummy smelling meat, I only got a bowl of water.
The usual balloon glow didn’t happen, again too windy. I did meet another dog that was living in a box on someones back, small dogs are so strange. The best part about the balloon glow is the Santa Maria style tri tip the Caballeros cook for the balloonists. There always seems to be a little extra for me, I like those guys. The farewell brunch is almost as good as the glow dinner since it features Kammann sausage, a local specialty. Plenty of that makes it into my mouth as well.
Even the hotel, the Historic Coronado Motor Hotel, gave me special treatment. I had my own room with a bed and TV. Of course I slept with my humans on their bed anyway, it was bigger than my bed.
Gallup, New Mexico
Our next trip was not so short. It takes a lot of driving for us to get to Gallup, close to 11 hours. Besides the long drive it is really cold there this time of year so I wear my Fido Fleece. Remember that we Great Danes are big but we have short hair so we get cold too.
Red Rock Park is a great place to dig and run around. There is a campground right there next to the rocks. We didn’t stay in he campground this time, we stayed at the pet friendly Days Inn Red Rock.
If you are a movie buff you should stop by the Hotel El Rancho. Lots of movie stars stayed there in the 1930s and 1940s while filming in the area. I don’t think they welcome dogs though so I’ve haven’t stayed there.
Similarly the restaurants don’t welcome dogs at least not in December when no one wants to sit outside.
My humans got to actually fly twice at this rally, you can see a bunch of photographs of the rally over at wolfharttimages.com.
In my Great Dane opinion I like Yuma better, but I’m happy going anywhere with my humans.
