Civilian Aviation

Decided to pop along to this to as I'd never been to a Hot Air Ballon event before . Left the house at 3:15am , arrived in Windsor , CA at 4:30am , then ditched the car due to the traffic trying to get in and walked the last mile or so . Weather was perfect with a light wind and hardly any clouds once the sun came up . It's quite a popular event , held at Keiser Park in Windsor , which made for cramped conditions but the Balloonists and their crews were very friendly and you can get right up to the Balloons and even lend a hand when needed . Sometimes difficult to navigate through the people laying on the grass and things happen quite fast at times . Got there just as the " Dawn Patrol " took off , then there was a lull for an hour and then a slowish start but before I knew it there were nearly 20 Balloons inflating and lifting off all over the field . I know it's a little different to the usual CA stuff but I hope you enjoy my efforts .

Free Sprit / Sonoma Star
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Sonoma Star
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Kiphaven
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Tom Cat / Wanderer / Sun Dancer
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Tom Cat
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Dream Catcher / For Sale
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For Sale / Purple People Eater
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Indigo
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Tom Cat / Planet Earth
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Baby Bumblebee / Magic Moments IV / Coyote Moon / Love Birds / Spherical Turtle
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Asses Aloft / For Sale / Coyote Moon / Love Birds / Sushi / Spherical Turtle
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Remax / Yellow Bird / Pencil Boy
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Sushi
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Hot Flash
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Terry The Mouse
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Love Birds
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IMG_0874 by STEVIEJAWS, on Flickr

Nice shots, SJ; very atmospheric and something a bit different. Man, I miss that early-morning Northern California air!

Just wondering, have you ever been to any of the Schellville Display Days up Sonoma County way?

All the best,
M

mustang5861 wrote:Nice shots, SJ; very atmospheric and something a bit different. Man, I miss that early-morning Northern California air!

Just wondering, have you ever been to any of the Schellville Display Days up Sonoma County way?

All the best,
M

Thank you Mustang , much appreciated . I'd never even heard of the Schellville Display Days but now I have looked them up I will endeavor to check them out sometime . Next planned trip is Clear Lake Splash In , " the Largest Seaplane Fly In West of the Mississippi " in September . Have been trying to go for last several years but work always got in the way but this year I've got hotel booked and work has been told I am unavailable that weekend .

Spent a week camping at Clear Lake many, many moons ago - got 'buzzed' by a lowdown USAF C-130 and dropped my can of Tab into the lake. Happy days!