Crewing Squirt the Fire Hydrant

Today Eric and I are crewing for Jean Francois, aka "Jeff" and Ian of Montgolfier Adventure of Quebec, Canada.  Today's crew members include Dave, Kathy, Ed and Kassandra.

Squirt the Fire Hydrant is
filling with air.

He's starting to take shape.

Squirt & Kermie the Frog

Eric \& Dave hold the throat

of the balloon open as Jeff

fires the burners to heat

the air inside.

The basket is set upright
as Squirt inflates.

Dave & Kathy are flying

with Jeff today.

Dave urges the crowd

to cheer as Squirt

takes off....

Squirt rises above many

inflated balloons.

Eric and I climb into the chase truck with Ian, Ed and Kassandra to follow Squirt.

Squirt landed in the field adjacent to where Eric and I are camped.

Ian maneuvers the truck

into the field.

Let's get to work....

It takes a long time to squish

air out of Squirt.

Balloons land around us as we work.

Eric takes a turn straddling

Squirt as we fold up 

the balloon.

Closing Squirt's

balloon bag.

Fellow Escapee Boomers

Ed & Kassandra had a

great time crewing

Squirt.

Balloons continue to

land around us as we

celebrate today's flight.