Three Days in Lake Havasu, Arizona - Days 1-2 - Havasu Balloon Festival
/“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward. For there you have been, and there you will always long to return. ‘”
Lake Havasu City is only 2-1/2 hours from Las Vegas and an easy ride. We took an alternative route (of course, we did) and avoided the interstate as much as possible heading through the tiny Nevada desert town of Searchlight, then Cal-Nev-Ari (where three states meet), crossing briefly into California at Needles, then crossing the Colorado River into Arizona, an interesting little drive.
Official crew… wahoo!
The purpose of our trip to Lake Havasu was not to visit the famous London Bridge (although that’s a draw), but rather to attend the 11th Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair. We’d met balloon pilot, Jeff, at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta last October and had stayed in touch. When we found out he was participating in the Havasu Balloon Festival, we asked if he needed ground/chase crew. We were novices, of course, but willing to learn and work hard. He said ‘Sure’… and here we were. There’s something about hot air ballooning that just grabs you and begs you for more.
The festival would feature over 70 hot air balloons as its highlight, but live entertainment, a beer garden as well as food and souvenir vendors added to the carnival-like atmosphere. An anticipated 25,000 visitors were expected to attend the 4-day event. After the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta which is huge and world-class, we were a bit spoiled. This seemed like a small event, but Jeff assured us this was a good-sized event for balloonists and lots of fun. We were anticipating a good time and a novel experience and we were keen to participate.
Layout of the Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair
We checked out the balloon field as soon as we arrived. We saw Jeff’s truck was already parked there, but Jeff wasn’t around. He’d left us a message with a schedule of events for the festival along with crew instructions. Because of the breezy weather, the first day of events including a late afternoon mass ascension and night glow were both canceled. Tomorrow would hopefully be calmer and we’d begin the balloon festivities. We were looking forward to it.
Balloon events usually begin in early morning… the winds are usually the calmest then. We were right on time when we met up with Jeff in the hotel parking lot at oh-dark-thirty (0545) the next morning. His truck/ balloon trailer and the rest of the crew (7 of us in all) were all ready for the first day of the festival. It was very dark and cold and a bit breezy. We parked at the launch site and while Jeff headed to the pilot briefing, the rest of us headed to the mess tent for breakfast. A mass ascension was scheduled for 0800 and there was much to do to get ready. After breakfast, we helped unload at the field and waited for instruction.
The main duties of the ground crew are two-fold. First, we needed to unload the balloon and equipment and help get it rigged, inflated, and ready to fly. Then, once Jeff was launched, we became the chase crew. We were responsible for trying to keep the balloon in sight at all times, keep in touch with Jeff via 2-way radio and drive the truck/trailer to his landing spot to help with deflating and packing up the balloon. The tricky part of the chase was not knowing the area very well and having no idea where Jeff would choose and/or be able to land.
Belinda and Donny from Happy, Texas were experienced ground and chase crew.
The rest of the crew had worked with Jeff in the past. Belinda and Donny had driven up from Happy, Texas. Kim was from Iowa, but he and his wife, Lou, wintered in Lake Havasu. Spyder had traveled from Reno, NV with his wife, Debbie, just to work the event. All were experienced crew, but affable and helpful to us neophytes.
We unloaded the basket first and helped to rig it, attaching the frame and loading the burners, routing the propane lines, attaching chafe guards, securing the envelope (the balloon itself) to the basket… all with Jeff’s help and under his watchful eye. Once attached, the envelope was stretched out on the ground. Next, Jeff turned on the fan while David and Donny held the envelope open. When the balloon was inflated sufficiently, Jeff started the burners and added heat. It didn’t take long for the balloon to fully inflate and the basket was turned upright. Voila! Synchronicity was ready to go.
Jeff had a corporate sponsor for his balloon and once the passengers were loaded, the balloon lifted off gracefully and took flight. Now, we waited to hear from Jeff once he was aloft. The flights last anywhere from 15-20 minutes to an hour, based on wind and currents.
Synchronicity gracefully lifts. As soon as Jeff pulled the release line, she was up, up and away.
We were in the chase truck in about 20 minutes, negotiating the labyrinthine streets of Lake Havasu neighborhoods. Jeff radioed that he was planning to land on a street in a small neighborhood. We had him in sight and arrived shortly after he touched down. The local neighbors, delighted at the up-close balloon opportunity, were out en masse and several were helping to anchor down the balloon until we arrived.
The passengers disembarked and we expected to deflate the balloon at this point, but Jeff looked at David and I and said “Jump in… we’re going for a ride.” Without hesitation, the two of us scrambled into the basket and we rose quickly and were away in minutes. The sky was a brilliant azure and the day was sparkling clear as we soared towards the lake with stunning views everywhere we turned. In another 20 minutes, we were on the ground once again. We landed in someone’s front yard and once again, the local neighbors were on hand to help till the chase crew arrived.
This time, Jeff let air out of the envelope as we helped to guide it down, lash it and roll it up neatly. All the equipment was dismantled, the envelope was stowed in the basket and all was loaded into the trailer. It’s quite a lot of work. Tasks completed, we headed back to the balloon field. We’d reconvene at dusk for a balloon glow which would involve inflating the balloon, but not launching it. The propane burners would keep the balloon inflated, as well as providing a beautiful glow inside Synchronicity’s colorful envelope.
The wind had increased during the day and when we all met for the evening activities, Jeff announced that the glow had been canceled. Instead, there would be a candlestick event. No balloons would inflate, but instead the burners would be attached to the basket and pilots would shoot up a propane flame in sync with music over the loud speaker. A bit anticlimactic, but still a show for attendees.
Evenng candlestick burn… all synced with music over the loudspeaker.
The thrill of the balloon ride lingered as we packed for up the night and got our instructions for the morning. The same drill… meet up at oh-dark-thirty and be ready for the new day.
Tomorrow, hopefully, another mass ascension and a balloon glow. We’ll see what the weather holds for us.