August 18, 2013 Passengers: Elaine & Jen Roper, Del Krehel I call for the West Salem launch site and the pi-ball shows that the winds are out of the north so this site won’t work today. So I move us north to Keizer and shoot another pi-ball and the school will work for us. The gang gets to work on the balloon, get it filled with air and Cecil adds the heat for us. Time for the passengers to get on board and we are off the lot… “the Adventure Begins”. We follow the track of the pi-ball and head out to the south at an easy pace. I have a shot at Terry’s house today but we get shoved off to the east and I’ll miss my free beer from him. We travel across central Keizer then toward the old Houck gravel pit and a good spot to get our feet wet. As I slip down to the pond we get shoved to the east and will miss the water. It’s a bit early to land but I call the gang to set up at the fairgrounds for the first shot at an LZ (landing zone). It’s not going to work so the next spot is the State Hospital, which is where Elaine works and she said “I took a day off to do this” so I assume that she would prefer NOT to land there. Just past the hospital is a big park that will work for us today. I set the shot for the ball fields and the wind dies off with a shift to the west so we miss the grass and wind up in the “pucker brush” off to the edge of the park. Once we cross the trees We are on the “crud” as the gang come to give us a tow to some grass for the lay down. We get the pack-up started, then the “bag” sit is done and we are on our way back to Keizer for the picnic. I get the story started, the toast is done and the certificates are presented. PASSENGER COMMENTS: Del: “This is now off my bucket list. WOW, It was great! Thanks so much.” Elaine: “We so much enjoyed our flight. Thank you so much.” Jen: “Thanks for making my Mom’s birthday so special.” A BIG thank you to today’s Crew (I can’t get in the air or back on the ground without’um) Cecil, Tim, Ed, Richard, Kathy TRACK Average Speed: 5.0 MPH Distance Flown: 5.4 Miles Websystem hosting provided by WolfPk. | Site Map Copyright © 2003-2017 Balloon Flying Service of Oregon, Inc. Legal Information All Rights Reserved.