JUly 19, 2013 Passengers: Ashley & Kenny Rasmussen, Caroline Kurtz & Mark Rasmussen Today we return to the “Rasmussen” family farm for the final flight off the “old homestead” as Mark & Caroline have sold the place and will move to Bend to enjoy the “Golden Years” in the high desert sun. We have a nice sun peeking through the trees as the gang gets the balloon pumped up. They have a little cow pasture that we use and when the balloon is pumped up I have Cecil add some heat, and I call for them to join us for “lift off”. We are off the pasture and hang around for a bit as all get there LAST aerials of the farm as we drift off to the south. We track down State Hwy. 221 pretty much staying on the west side of the river at about 800 feet until we cross Zena road. I drop altitude to check the lower winds and get a STONG (check track) push to the east which I don’t’ want as that will put us across the river. I jump back up to about a thousand feet and get the push south again. Now we have a bit more west push than I like so over by the Limousine Ranch I drop again and correct us back to the east a bit with a better shot at our LZ’s in West Salem. We are into the residential area on the down slope of Eola Hills and LZ’s will be few and far between. The first one is a small open field that is “squeezed” behind a group of houses, I manage to get into it but we have too much “momentum” after the first bounce and I have to climb out to miss the trees next to it. I now have several schools in front of us starting with Kalapuya Elementary with a lot of room to park. As I set the shot I get some up-slope breeze toward the tree line and will miss this one. Next up the hill is a open field that I miss then it’s up the hill to Straub Middle School with twice the room as Kalapuya and some down slope shoves us off again. Next up is Brush College Elementary and (off course) I miss that one too. I’ve lost count of all the misses…5 I think…and next is West Salem High and this WILL be the one! We cross over Doakes Ferry Rd. at tree top and I spot the lower parking lot with the gang in place. I have a bit too much speed so clip the top of a oak tree and take off about 3 MPH, drop the line to the boys and we are safely into the lot at LZ # 6. We get the balloon deflated, tagged up and the bag sit is done. As we were loading up an “old” friend drives up, Capt Richard of the Willamette Queen (who’s house we buzzed) lives just down the road and stooped by. We load up the gear and head back to the house for the picnic. I get the story started, the toast is done and the certificates are presented. PASSENGER COMMENTS: Ashley: “What a fun flight! Thank you so much!” Kenny: “Great times, thanks for the adventure!” Mark: “My bucket list is complete! Thanks so Much!” Caroline: “Loved the ride, bumps and all!” A BIG thank you to today’s Crew (I can’t get in the air or back on the ground without’um) Mike, Ed, Cecil TRACK Average Speed: 5.0 MPH Distance Flown: 6.7 Miles Websystem hosting provided by WolfPk. | Site Map Copyright © 2003-2017 Balloon Flying Service of Oregon, Inc. Legal Information All Rights Reserved.