I call for us to meet at city hall and check the winds with the pi-ball, then load up and move to the parking lot at the school. We get the balloon out and start the inflation then Cecil adds the heat. I call for the passengers to join me in the basket and we are ready for lift off just as the sun peaks over the hills. We are off the lot and slowly head out to the south then a push to the west follows. We are over Keizer for the first part of the flight, then head toward the river and will cross into West Salem by the gravel pits. I drop altitude to do a dip in the water and get becalmed so we miss the shot but do get a nice mirror shot. We head for Wallace Road for a couple of parking lots for our landing spot and when I se the shot we are again becalmed down low so I have to do a drop line on a residential street and we will use the street for the LZ today. We don’t do this often and it requires that we check with the neighbors and the all say welcome so we drop the balloon and do a “hot” blow out with the fan and get it off to the side of the road ASAP. We do draw the attention of Officer Max who shows up for a chat and directs traffic for us…THANKS! We get the balloon bagged, the gear loaded up and head back a cross the river for the picnic.
I get the story started, the toast is done and the certificates are presented.
PASSENGER COMMENTS: Christy: “A wonderful time and thank you so much. A great time with my boys! I would love to go again, thank you!” Jarod: “Awesome time riding in the hot air balloon!” Cody: “I had a blast! I’d do it again!”
A BIG thank you to today’s Crew (I can’t get in the air or back on the ground without’um)