June 3, 2012 Passengers: Anita & Alvin Keithley, Wanita & Stephen Butler Today we have another “surprise” Birthday group and it’s TWIN sisters with some really “sneaky” husbands that have pulled off the “party” on the DAY! Mother Nature has cast her blessing on the morning and we meet at the private airstrip on the Weathers property in Brooks. The pi-ball (15” helium test balloon) tells me that we will be in Keizer at the end of the hour. We have 2 really FUN powered parachute pilots on scene this morning to. Jason and Jim join us to play with us and they are really welcome as they give us some FANTASTIC film every time they come out. The gang get to work on the balloon and we have Molly and her TWINS on the ground too. We get the balloon pumped up, Cecil gets the lines inside squared away, Jason and Jim are prepped to take off, and we are ready for the passengers to board. We are all off the runway and the adventure begins. Jim and Jason play with us for a bit as we leave the field then they both head off to “do their thing” and we head to the south on our own at about 4 MPH. We pass over the Knife River gravel operation for a bit and Steve spots a Bambi below us as we head over the tree line into the tree nursery. The winds are light up top today but I noticed that the Iris fields still had a lot of color so I’m going to “attempt” to talk Mother Nature into giving me so help to get over some of the fields. I call the gang on the radio and have them move that way so if I make it there we can get some ground shots to post here. Mother Nature is kind and I get a shot at the Schreiner’s main office and some of the smaller fields around that area. We scoot across the fields on the short side and in a few minutes I have to climb out to miss some power lines on the edge of the field. Now we are going to cross BIG iris field this year, but from a high view as I’m looking for a shove to the west and better LZ’s. I do find my shove to the west and we are again on the “right” side of the road as I look for our LZ for today. I spot the perfect landing zone, the nice dry parking lot at the Volcanoes Stadium. The “gang” is right on the spot as we drift over the hummers and then the edge of the field for the drop into the lot. The lower I get the slower we go so my biggest fear now is running out of “steam” before we get to the gang. We are on the lot and the “boys” want to do the dump? A bit light for that job but we will send some help when needed. We get the balloon tagged and read for the bag, then all do the sit and we are headed back to the strip for the party. I get the story started, the toast is done and the certificates are presented. PASSENGER COMMENTS: Anita: “Awesome flight, lots of fun!” Wanita: “Wonderful! I have wanted to do this for a long time, awesome!” Stephen: “Great job avoiding the “powered buzzards”! The low flight over the Iris was beautiful!” Alvin: “A fantastic flight in a hot air balloon, wonderful crew and the most beautiful view from above!” A great day to play with new friends, and with some not so new too. A BIG thank you to today’s Crew (I can’t get in the air or back on the ground without’um) Lance, Brett, Molly, Cecil, Tim TRACK Average Speed: 4.0 MPH Distance Flown: 4.4 Miles A Special “tip of the hat” to Jason for the great video he shot for us! Websystem hosting provided by WolfPk. | Site Map Copyright © 2003-2017 Balloon Flying Service of Oregon, Inc. Legal Information All Rights Reserved.