Woohooooo

Just got this photo from my little leap out of "Mike". Thanks to Melissa who sent the picture into the Canberra Times who then tracked me down to see what it was all about - I don't think they could understand that I did not really need a reason.

I mean look at the picture - it's good, clean fun.

The only problem with a little stunt like this is that you have to do it twice because someone always misses the shot first time.

A real bummer that, I hated having to do it again.

I could make all sorts of jokes about leaving another manufacturers balloon in such a way but that could be considered rude so I won't and haven't, no matter how much this read like I am....

Balloon Fiesta Australia 2007

Balloons, Balloons and more balloons. The Balloon Fiesta Australia (AKA Canberra Balloon fiesta) has come and gone in a flash. The compact four day version of the event was a huge success if not a bit too short for me. The flying was fun in a 240 with ten of my newest and best friends every morning (twenty on each of the weekend flights as we were doing hops).

Highlights included the night glow "spectacular" where I got to tether the Prime Television 240 before the start of the main show, get it packed away and then wander around and enjoy the main show. Truth be told, one of the Dawn Drifters Crew, Nicola did the glow once I got it standing up which was a good effort as we bounced around in the last of the days breeze.

Years of being on the burners during a nigh glow makes you a bit jaded as it is all the hard work with out the flight. It is rare for a pilot to get to actually watch this sort of thing as a spectator and I have to say it was really good fun to gauge the public reaction - they loved it and so did I.

I snapped this great shot of parliament house on Sunday morning. What do you reckon the chances of getting one of the Pentagon like this? I also got to play media slut with a crew from Lonely Planet and should get some notice before the segment goes to air in about seven weeks on SBS. Watch this space for the details.

As always there was the chance to be a kid again as we raced go-karts and I even did a few abseils out of a tethered Mike the Monster special shape. Hope to see some photos of that some time.

Another high was watching Lost in Translation. Fantastic film and very funny, particularly if you have ever been to Japan. Still makes me laugh thinking about it.

I had so much fun this year that my fingers crossed for the full ten days next year! A special thanks to my crew on the commercial flights Ian and Nicola - you made it easy and fun all at the same time.

PS: no fuel dramas on the way home and my wallet even made back with me ;-)

Wallet Part 2

Good news. Really good people are out there in the wild.

As previously mentioned, I entrusted my wallet to some total strangers on Monday. On Monday night I got an email from them asking where to send it back. That was fantastic.

On Tuesday morning I got a phone call because a family member of theirs lives in Sydney and was coming back home at lunch time on Tuesday. It could not have worked out better. A not so short drive from one side of Sydney to the other and my wallet was back in my hip pocket where it feels oh so right.

A romantic dinner for one on the beach and the long drive home and the Easter adventure was over.

Only one day to go then the drive down to Canberra for the festival and four days of bouncing passengers through the air. Looking forward to it as always.