These first three shots were taken by Wayne MacFarland, but I wasn't paying attention at the time =)

Me, apparently looking at the wrong camera (and notice the WOW Sticker >:)

Thanks for the pictures, Wayne!

All the rest of these pictures were taken by myself. Here's Robb Stasyshyn's balloon before I took off.

Keith Sproul preparing to lift off in his chariot, "Blue Thunder"

Robb undergoing hot inflation while I take to the air

And Keith takes an early lead!

Jack Ponticelli begins inflation as Robb readies to lift off

Aloft ten minutes after sunrise

At this point I could tell this flight was going to be a GOOD one!

Same idea here too

Tom Robins is ahead & above, and the Coach 'N Paddock guys are wayyyy out in front

Nice!

Rt. 78 just east of Exit 12

Looking back towards the launch field (to the West), just beyond the Exxon

Let me know when you get tired of looking at blue balloons

Spruce Run Reservoir in the background... Still low from the drought called 'summer'

Well, I'm getting tired of looking at blue balloons

Another blue balloon shot. Hey, at least my crown line is in the picture!

Looking down on Tom Robins

I hope he didn't hear what I just said!

Hahahaa!!! >:)

Well, I couldn't resist. It's a decent picture.

Oscar, the recycled balloon. I always sort it out before I take off.

16,000,000 BTU's of trash-incinerating, plastic-melting fury!

The leaves were very late to peak this year

Too many good pictures - I'll just forget I said anything about blue balloons, OK?

Tom Baldwin from the Coach 'N Paddock

Playing down low by a small stream

A Sky Manor renegade in the distance!

This time of year is AWESOME for foliage flights

Keith gets down with the funky rhythm of the treetops

As does Tom.

How low can you go?

Tangoin' with the trees

Yeah, so I hang tight with the trees sometimes; they tell me all their dirty embarrassing secrets about Keith =)

At the Helm!

Concentric

All homebuilt, except for the burner & tanks

Lightweight silicone fabric up top, Diamond Weave down low

Big Mouth. I can't remember if I made it 10 or 12 feet... I'll have to look that up.

Incoming... Keith's trying to make his way over to land near me

Keith is navigating towards the landing site quite nicely

Who's flying this piece of garbage anyway?

Close, very close. I was expecting him to land directly on me, however.

T&C Single Burner in the chariot

Store-bought & Homebuilt

Homebuilt & Store-bought

The propane attendant waits for nobody. We must fly on!

Jack caught up while we were on the ground plotting our next devious maneuver

I had to let the trees in on our plan - after all, they keep me in the know!

The rest of the pack stayed behind, keeping west of Rt. 31.

Jack's Firefly 8B, with Keith Erwin & Tom Baldwin in the background. They're probably curious as to our next move.

Keith (Sproul, of course) drops down for his next precision display of aerial showmanship

Presenting: The 'VENTING'

Round Valley Reservoir, a man-made spot of water with a touch of class. It's very deep, very frigid, and there are supposedly a lot of missing boats & bodies down there. Wanna go for a swim? ;)

Farm country

On the horizon

I think I was saying something about trees before... Well, here they are

Lots of trees

NICE colors

Shadows

More Shadows

As Keith flies off into the sunrise...

...our hero is busy admiring his parachute and load ring.

(well, maybe not INTO it - perhaps a couple miles shy!)