July 30, 2014 Passengers: Hannah Green, Kynz & Karston Williams, Jenga Gates, Meesh Unwin Today we are doing a sin-dye (farewell flight) to the longest “gang” member (our chase crew) EVER! Erik (with a ‘K’) joined us in August of 1998 as we were landing on a St. Edwards parking lot (now building a new church there). He was going to work on his motorcycle and pulled in to see if we needed any help…dah!!! We tossed him some gloves and had him HOOKED from that day on. I call for a site that Erik loved as it was 5 minutes away form his Keizer home. We have a LOT of his family and many friends, all the crew today is here at his request. We get the balloon out and pumped up with cold air as Erik chats and has fun with the camera (he invented the “selfie” in 98). Cecil adds some heat then we get the passengers on board and are off the field, the “adventure” has begun. We start out in the farm country, then drift over Egan’s Gardens and say “hello” then cross over river Road and head into Antique Powerland which is currently hosting the annual “Steam up”. The drift continues to the south over the Marion County recycle center and I spot my friend ‘Big Dan” in the lot waving to us as we float by. We cross some ore farm country before we get into Keizer and our planned landing spot. We miss several schools and I decide that a little park spot at Island Shores will work with the help of the Gang and our drop line to get is to the lay down point. We get the air out and packed up for the trip back. The toast.is done and the certificates are presented. PASSENGER COMMENTS: Hannah: “Wow, thank you so much! That was beautiful, God Bless!” Karston: “That was so awesome, the landing was so cool!” , Kynz: “This is something I’ve dreamed of since the first day helping you. Thank you for making it come true!” Jenga: “Thank you so much for the experience of a lifetime. It is something that I will never forget.” Meesh: “Thank you so much for a lifetime memory! Weather, crew & balloon were great! I will never forget it.” A BIG thank you to today’s Crew (I can’t get in the air or back on the ground without’um) Cecil, EriK, Colby, Jarred, Brandon, Cal TRACK Average Speed: 4.0 MPH Distance Flown: 5.9 Miles Websystem hosting provided by WolfPk. | Site Map Copyright © 2003-2017 Balloon Flying Service of Oregon, Inc. Legal Information All Rights Reserved.