All week prior to this event I was glued to the Weather Channel wondering if the weather was going to hold. A large weather system was moving across from California and due on Saturday and Sunday. Friday it began to look good for Saturday and Sunday a wash.
Friday night we had a party to start the rally. Subway sandwiches and other stuff filled the need. We had a nice band play for our listening pleasure. The location of the party was in the Carlsbad Recreation Center. My grandkids spent their time playing pool, ping pong, arcade games, and of course eating.
Saturday we got to the Carlsbad Beach to find fog and wind. My experience with fog was with no wind. Weather forcast gave us clearing fog by afternoon and wind picking up. I decided to go underground where neither wind nor rain nor cold or heat would bother us. We went to the caverns. After a fun time there with my grandchildren Phelan and Rainey we were nearing Carlsbad and discovered 8 balloons flying. Last year I hung around determined to get a flight in and succeeded with a great afternoon flight. This year with allegedly deteriorating conditions I left.
Saturday evening we took the boat tour of the Christmas on the Pecos. Nice displays again this year and we came prepared with a blanket. Rod and Fonda joined us on the tour.
Sunday morning we found the weather almost clear and the wind was light. As we took off we found most of the air going South. I found a little Southwest on my liftoff. As we moved slowly along I looked out at the river and mentioned to my sponsors that I usually try for a splash and dash. They were game so I went up a little and caught the South to the river.
(Left)HSSS Too flying close to the water in attempt to get as close to the water spout as possible without getting wet. (Right) We're getting closer
(Left)Too bad the photographer didn't get me skimming the water spout. My sponsor stuck his hand out and got it wet. (Right) We gain altitude to continue our ride.
(Left) Beau and (Right)Greg Brown had a first flight they will never forget. They also mentioned that they would like to do it again next year. Greg told his disappointed daughter that she couldn't go. But he told me next year he will bring her.
(Left)My grandson Rainey gets his second balloon ride and his second balloon rally. (Right) I snapped this shot as I was gaining altitude after playing with the river.
(Left)Another shot of the river. (Right)My sponsor this year is AutoPlex in Carlsbad.
Bob from Palestine, TX took this shot from the beach. He and at least half the balloons chose to stay on the ground as conditions were getting worse. I flew along with the rest of the group until I reached the end of the park then I went up 1200 feet and found a North Northwest wind at about 3 to 5 MPH. We rode that until over the Carlsbad Middle School where I ran out of wind and so we went down into the 12 MPH South wind. We soon found ourselves at the Carlsbad Drive-in theater and landed in an open field behind it. We were about packed up when it started to rain so we escaped getting the balloon wet.
I didn't take any pictures of my ordeal going over the mountain getting home. Cloudcroft, NM was having a snow storm.
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Last Updated December 13, 2002 by Jim Hoidahl
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