Hot Air Balloon Flight Record - 28Jun2003
Northwest Connecticut Balloon Festival

Friday night was winded out. It started out very hot during the day and then a cold front moved in, creating cooler but unsettled conditions. Some areas experienced thunderstorms that popped up in minutes.

Saturday morning was still breezy, but the front had passed and conditions were forecast to get better. I had a single passenger which made it easier for windy conditions also.

While everyone started inflating together, we ended up spread out because of the wind. We were cruising past Litchfield before we knew it and the hare balloon was completely out of sight. There was not a lot of directional control. Up high we shifted a little right (west) but not much. At least we were running parallel to roads so the chase crew could keep up.

Started looking for a good field after we passed Bethlehem, but the open fields we passed over were mud or standing water. Popped up high to swing west for open areas and dropped into a field with tall grass --- and poison ivy. So far we have survived (knock on wood).