A GREAT but sad day..

Had a wonderful day today. Found out that after 1 year 11 months and 6 days my decree nisi was finally granted yeaterday at 10am BST. I am finally officially a divorced man, just need to sell the bloody house, pay her off and I will be free.


Following that we went flying at the fiesta. Winds were picking up so we went off field, as it was special shapes day on field, and set up and flew quickly. I was in the basket with Kelly and Keith the pilot.

Had a nice slow pass of the field at around 5mph and saw some of the stragglers taking off.

Wells Fargo Stagecoach over Fiesta field

Flew on over the Rio Grande and splashed down just north of the little island in the middle. Current was pretty fast as well as airspeed picking up, we hit the water at around 11mph which ammounts to a lot of inertia in a 90,000 cubic feet balloon. First time I have hit a riverbed in a balloon.

Rio Grande, set down just north of the little island.

Managed to get water.....

and riverbed in the basket.

Flew over a maize maze set out in a field with the shape of a balloon as part of the path.

Maize maze.

Headed for Rio Rancho, north of Albuquerque for a landing. Wind was now getting up which leads to a hell of an exciting landing. Came in at around 30mph and just missed a house as we came a bit low, had to burn to rise above the roof and must have missed the chimney by inches as the owner was standing there waving and taking photos. Not sure if they were for fun or in case of an insurance claim. Hit the ground and bounced and dragged a good 20 yards with lots of other peoples crew hanging on to stop us. Balloons were laid out all over the area after lots of hard landings.

After landing.

Unfortunately there were some accidents due to the wind speeds. A young lad was caught in one of the lines and dragged by the neck for about 20 yards right next to our landing site, he was taken off to hospital. A worse accident occurred about a half mile away from us where a basket was caught in some power lines and the propane hoses were ruptured. The basket caught on fire and the pilot was thrown out to his death whilst the passenger hit the ground and sustained multiple broken bones. All balloonist's thoughts go out to all the families involved.

George Hahn, a pilot in the same launch square as us has taken what is commonly known as a cattle car, a large basket from a ride balloon, and mounted it on a truck chassis to make a vehicle for running around the field.

A cattle car on wheels.

As this is probably the last day for flying due to inclement weather coming in overnight we had the Sky Angle crew photo.

Bill, Tina (SkyAngel herself and crew chief), Dennis (tame weatherman), Keith (pilot), Kelly, me, Ray.

All in it has been another great week down in Albuquerque, thanks to all who have made it such an enjoyable time. Back to Illinois tomorrow.

Day 4 at Fiesta.

After two days washed out by the weather it was good to be back on the field and flying again.
Today was a competition day and the targets were to be on the field so everyone was supposed to leave and fly back across the target area and drop their baggies, sand filled nylon bags with streamers.

As many people did not want to compete it was decided to allow those to fly from the field. This is what Keith decided, Dennis fitted the burners the right way up!

Black bits to the top Dennis!

Other people to fly from the field today were from overseas with their special shapes.

The Swiss brought a cathedral

The Brazilians brought a chicken

While the Germans brought their pisspot!

We also found Nemo!

To launch a balloon you need the OK from a launch director, commonly known a Zebras due to their black and white striped shirts. Over the years the dress has become more outlandish and bits have been added to the costume.

Our Zebra says GO

Chasing is just as much fun as flying and in the truck the crew have a good craic. Today we saw a sign that shows that the good lord has the same problems as me sometimes, as stated by the following sign spotted outside a church.

I've had to say the same to some women in the past !!!!!!

Fiesta day 3

Fiesta started on Saturday 3rd October on a very mild morning. Up early, 03:30 and down to Fiesta field by 05:00 on a very pleasant, if dark, morning. Breakfast was scrambled eggs with chilli and was edible, just.

Just before sunrise the dawn patrol took off and flew in the dark to show everyone just what the wind direction was.

Dawn Patrol before launch.

Dawn patrol in flight.

After sunrise it was time to set up the balloon. This entails a whole lot of people laying out the balloon and the pilot inflating the envolope with cold air before turning on the burners. Once the balloon is upright then the crew need to lean on the basket to hold it down until the launch director, or Zebra as they are known, gives the go ahead to launch.

Chase crew holding down the basket.

Saturday morning is the first mass ascension where all the balloons fly from the Fiesta Field in waves. We were in the first wave but in no way the first as depending on the wind direction the balloons take off in order. Being in the middle of the field we are never first so get to see lots of balloons in flight before it is our turn.

Early fliers on day 1

Once the balloon is in flight the chase crew does what it there for and gives chase to the balloon so they are there to help with the landing. Sometimes on these days it is difficult to spot your balloon as there are hundreds of multi-coloured balloons in the sky. Doesn't help if the pilot goes for a dip in the Rio Grande.

Boating with a balloon.

On mass assencion day there are still hundreds of balloons in the air when our flight is over.

Still taking off from Fiesta field, view from out landing site.

After landing the crew then packs up the balloon and breaks out the beers, then back to the field for propane and off for a hearty breakfast.

After a great first day the weather changed and Sunday was a complete washout as it rained all night and was still lashing down at 04:30 when it was time to leave for the field. Gave us an extended stay in bed.

Monday was drier, well not raining although the field was like a swamp in places. The problem today was with the winds. They were strong, over 10mph, and in the wrong direction as they would have taken the balloons off over the military airfield south of town. Also down by the airfield they were gusting upto 23mph. Not safe conditions. So after getting up at 03:30, having green chilli stew at 05:00 we were in the Mule Barn Cafe by 08:30 for breakfast. Tomorrow is supposed to be much better with 5mph winds predicted for the rest of the week. Lets hope the weather men get it right.

Off to Albuquerque

Left Illinois last Tuesday to head out to Albuquerque for the 37th International balloon fiesta and to do some house hunting. Not for me, I want to move to the tropics, but for Ray and Karen. The journey is 1200 miles and we were taking a balloon basket to our friends Keith and Tina who own the Skyangel that we crew for at fiesta.

Left early in Ray's big truck below.


Headed south through Illinois

Illinois

past St Louis,

St Louis

and then across to Oaklahoma, through Texas

Texas

and into New Mexico. As you can see from the photos this part of the US is pretty flat, except for Missouri which is full of rolling wooded hills, was driving so no pictures.

Fiesta starts tomorrow.