Oh Canada Part 2

[Dawn Chase]

Friday already! Where has the week gone? Yesterday they got a flight off in the morning, but we didn't join in. Raindrops on the windshield & a rainbow in the direction the wind is blowing was enough for us to go for an early breakfast at Eggsquis. If you ever get up here, you must go. The food is excellent and there is a massive mural on the wall with all balloons that fly here in the festival. The rain took it's time to move in but finally arrived near noon. At 4 we were gathering outside the hotel prior to going to the field and it's raining, lightening in the sky, the works. Many people left their balloons at the hotel thinking there was no way we'd fly. Well, there is something up here with the weather that can only be called the Richelieu effect. What ever you think it will be, you are probably wrong and we'll fly anyway. By 5:30 PM the sun is starting to come out for the first time all day. We have our briefing, they want us to wait at the hanger for a 2nd briefing at 6:15 PM. At the 2nd briefing it's looking good...clear skies, only one tiny storm about 40 km to the west. They send us out to the the field and by 7 PM we get the green flag to fly. About 70 balloons flew last night, many had to return to the hotel to get the balloon first. We had no passengers and chose to help some friends out instead.

Just when you think that weather was a bit crazy we got up this morning. Our hotel is right on the river...throw a stone from the patio and you'll find water! A crew friend was up at 3:45 AM and tells us there was pea soup fog. By 4:15 AM it was all gone execept for a bit here and there on the water. We left at 5 AM for the airport and as we pull in the whole of the runway and fields are awash in thick fog. The forecast looks good, off to the morning launch fields to wait for the fog to lift. It didn't take long...we had a green flag by 6:15 AM and launched the balloon around 6:30 AM. The direction wasn't the best...power lines, crops, high tension lines, crops, more high tension lines, more crops and then a small river. After about a 45 to 50 minute ride we have a landing in a cut field. We pack up and as we are getting ready to leave the field the fog is settling in around us again! The town and the countryside for about 7 miles or so are now covered. The odd thing...we had a nice steady low wind with this fog. So, we snuck on in today. Hopefully we will get the last 3 flights in...cross you fingers for us!