Fiesta day 5.

Wednesday Day 5 of Fiesta.

Went flying yesterday, Tuesday. Due to the fatality on Monday and the cancellation of all further flights, the 'brains trust' that runs fiesta decided that ALL pilots who wanted to compete for the days competition would leave the field and fly back to score on the field. This would mean 600 balloons trying to find a launch space to the north of the field, probably in the gravel pit there. Keith decided to just fly for fun, so we left from the north end of the field and flew south. We dropped low over the old field so the emmets there could take pictures and then dropped into the flood spillway and finally landed on a vacant lot.

Sky Angel

Yesterday afternoon I bought a new camera, the newest model from Cannon the SX100 IS. Checked on the internet for prices back home and found that here in the states it retails at $299 where in the UK it retails at £299. Brits are paying double the price........

Today was flags of the nations day. This means that all the international balloons could fly the flags from their home countries. Darth Vader was flying today along with some other neat balloons.

This afternoon was the Zoo party. The Alberquerque closes for the day and the balloonists take over for the afternoon. Fiesta lay on free food and drink supplied by the sponsors, Warsteiner and Admiral Nelson rum. Good excuse to have even more fun and get to meet other balloonists from all over the place. Talking to these people I get the feeling that the Fiesta days are numbered as many are concerned by the lack of landing sites due to the rapid growth of the city as well as the bumbling incompetence and down right comercialisation of the whole event. Examples of the weather predictions constantly stating low winds and good flying conditions when the pilots can see the flags around the field are standing out stiffly.

Another fun day was had by all.