Then we went to the local grocery store to get some supplies. 50 cents US for a huge bottle of water (bought that), but $6 for a box of bran flakes (didn't buy that).
After that we came back and started to get the equipment ready. We filled propane tanks (they were shipped empty) and picked up the rented helium cylinders. The entire venture (45 gallons of fuel + 2 helium tank rentals) cost $500 USD. The logistics of getting everything ready have been somewhat challenging, so we probably won't fly tomorrow morning. Maybe in the evening.
Most of the pilots will be using Ford cargo vans (like the one shown above) for the balloon, with various Ford cars, minivans, and crossover-type vehicles for lead vehicles (more on that in a later post). However, Johnny Petrehn opted for a 4WD Ford Ranger to haul his equipment. He might need it, as the fields around here are apparently very wet. Rumor is that the dirt roads aren't passable even with 4WD.
Most of the Americans have now arrived. As great as that is, it unfortunately means that the Internet at the hotel is incredibly slow. Even pulling up an email takes 45-60 seconds, and uploading the 7 pictures for this post took over an hour. The hotel has a single low-grade DSL connection (768k down / 128k up) for the entire facility. Any type of Skype call is unthinkable, so my wife and I have resorted to instant messaging. It's better than nothing, but still frustrating.
Unfortunately, still no news regarding Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer Davis, the American pilots that went missing during the Gordon Bennett gas balloon race. The latest statement from the event can be found by clicking here.
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| USA2 Richard Abruzzo Carol Rymer Davis |
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