End of Fiesta.

Another AIBF comes to an end with all flying cancelled on the last day due to high winds. In all we did not fly on three days due to wind (2) and rain. The rest were great flying days. I managed a flight on Tuesday and had another great one, although the landing was pretty boring, a soft one with a couple of hops and a gentle stand-up landing. I much prefer when we come in at over 20mph and bounce, hit, crash and drag along the ground. When you walk away from those the adrenaline is certainly pumping.


We flew south of the field



past the balloon museum,



Over other balloons,


and little boxes laid out in neat rows, how boring,

Glad I don't live in places like this.

Looking back more were taking off,


Later that day when we were back at the field Keith was approached by a guy who asked if we could fly a banner in memory of a US marine killed in Afghanistan. As Keith and Tina are both ex-marines, and fly a flag from the back of the chase truck, they readily agreed. All we know about the marine is that he was called Sebastian, came from Santa Fe and died about 6 weeks ago. We took some pictures of the balloon flying the banner and Tina will try to find the man's mother who gave the banner to the guy who passed it to us.

In memory of Sebastian USMC, RIP.

The last week seems to have taken a lot longer as getting up hours before dawn, having 2 breakfasts a day as well as multiple naps daily stretches ones concept of time.
It affects some worse that others.

Ray taking another nap!

Sometimes looking out from the field it seems that the whole sky is filled with balloons


Finally the best banner seen on the back of a chase vehicle was this one showing that with age comes enlightenment:

Fiesta

On my holidays again ....... when am I not I hear you ask :-)

Had a few days in England where I visited the Blue Anchor in Helston whilst staying with my friend Robin.

Robin

Fiesta started with a pretty good day. Up at 03:30, to the field by 05:30 for breakfast which consisted of green chillie chicken soup which was very good.

Dawn patrol took off by 06:45 before sun-up and flew in all directions as there was a box forming.

Dawn Patrol

For those who do not know a box forms when the drain winds coming from the mountains are in the opposite direction from the ground winds. Today the ground winds were from the South whilst the winds higher up were from the north. This enabled many balloons to fly over the field a few times.

With The first two days always being mass assencion days, for the weekend crowds, we were in the second wave of over 500 balloons registered.

Mass ascension

After seeing the first wave fill the skies and head off into the distance,

The first wave goes

We inflated and launched Keith in SkyAngel off into the wide blue yonder.

Keith, Dennis and Sandra in SkyAngel