Unsure Balloon Festival...
What is more exciting than planning a trip to a balloon festival with a bonus laser light show? Well, it depends on what you are expected to do once you arrive at this said festival. I thought I had prepared Tommy well, in my usual fashion with his “travel book” of what to expect. But not knowing if there was a requirement to ride in a balloon was the uncertainty issue! LOL
We had originally planned and booked this trip for July, but due to hurricane Beryl the show got cancelled. It was being held at the convention grounds/airport in Conroe, Texas and emergency responders were needing to use the facility for staging. Luckily we were automatically rescheduled for the show in October. We had also already made RV reservations at QRV Conroe, but once I called and explained what happened, they gladly moved our booking for the event and did not charge us for cancellation which was a blessing! In all of this we thought the weather in October would be better for an outdoor event as well, so we were pleased that it all worked out.
We left on a Friday and headed to Conroe, meeting up with our camping friends about halfway! We got all set up and found a great restaurant for dinner that night. We used Google and decided to try “Red Brick Tavern.” It was a smaller establishment in the heart of what I would call the old district. We had a party of eight, they were very accommodating, and the food was really good!
My mom, Kahlyn and Reagan also joined us on the trip.
Mom took this opportunity to go and visit with her newest great grand baby. He was born in August, and this was her first time to love on him!
Friday night, Heath grilled some chicken on the Blackstone, and we had some sides and a great meal outside just enjoying the weather and being with friends and family. I brought all of the ingredients to make our Dutch oven cobbler again. Luckily Conroe was not in a burn ban like we were at home, but instead of digging out the fire ring that had a beautiful butterfly bush growing in it with lots of weeds at our camp site, we decided to place the oven in our “solo stove” and cook it there. We knew that there would be some differences, but we were all game for the challenge!!
Round one started off great, but the stove gets so hot and holds in that heat the cobbler burnt :(
Round two, made some changes. Only cooked for 1/2 the time stated on the recipe and added a little extra liquid, and it turned out wonderfully!
Saturday, we had an amazing breakfast by our awesome cooks! My first ever avocado toast! It was heavenly!
After Breakfast, we explored the resort. There were three ponds complete with ducks and turtles. There was a really nice playground area. Uncle Tommy and Reagan do really well together. They enjoyed some indoor games along with water balloons and corn hole. It was a very fun Saturday!
Since the event started at 5 until 11pm, Kahlyn thought it would be best for Reagan to have a good nap. With that being said, I thought Tommy would enjoy swimming. We did not know before arriving that not only was there a pool, but there was also a hot tub! Even us adults decided that sounded like a treat! You will notice that this area of the resort was very beautiful and well maintained.
For those that know Tommy, water temperature is not an issue for him:)
It is just swimming however he has to do it!! LOL
He started out in the hot tub and loved it, but then it was like a switch went off. He sprang up, got out and went straight to the pool! You will enjoy him coaxing himself in with laughter!
He stayed in the pool for quite a while, but eventually came back to the hot tub! Heath decided before we left that he would also try the swimming pool… Now, he did succeed, but not as easily as Tommy! LOL (I did not get that on video!)
Festival Time
We arrived like many a little early, eager to get a good spot to sit. We brought our own lawn chairs, and I brought my rumble blanket for addition ground seating. The line was extremely long and unfortunately it was a little warm in the sunshine. Tommy was still feeling uneasy as I tried to show him the kites that they had up for people to watch as we waited for the gates to open.
Once in, everyone was trying to get in the shade, but hello it was a night laser show, everything was going to be dark in a couple of hours. So, we picked a spot up close to a road that went through the property and Tommy calmed and relaxed himself with a little dancing!!
I mentioned that our event was rescheduled. I believe that they must have just combined us with other shows because the amount of people here this night was ridiculous. Thousands of people with no exaggeration. Heath’s sister and her husband also came and met us for the festival. We had to divide and conquer the food lines in order for any of us to get something. I had one altercation with a lady in the line that Tommy and I were in. She and her family had just walked up and thought they were going to merge in… I had been there a very long time, hot and not really having it. She proceeded with some not so nice language, but I was not in the mood for a bully… After the fact I thought to myself, I don’t know what I would have done if she proceeded to hit me, Tommy would have either “taken her” or flipped out!! LOL Thankfully it did not come to that, but I did call Heath just to touch base and let him know that I thought I may need a “bouncer!”
The show was beginning! We finally got our food and headed back to our seats. Tommy talked to himself and was telling himself that “it was going to be ok!” I got him settled in his chair and I sat down to enjoy the beautiful balloons!
Tommy finally understood that I was not making him ride in the balloon and he began to enjoy himself! As long as there is music around, he is pretty good! They played a familiar song and he sang a bit too!
The last of the night was the laser light show! I found Tommy an additional light toy, which any type of lights are his favorite!
I know that this show travels, so if you get the opportunity to see it you should. It does not take Colorado or Albergue, NM off of the bucket list but other than the food lines and amount of people, it was a fun time! LOL
It was a full and enjoyable weekend. We treasure these opportunities and are thankful for those that God has put into our lives to call family and friends!
- God Bless
