First Flight in Chile!!
David’s travel & ballon buddy, Wendy, gave us this update yesterday……
Well our second day in Chile brought us light winds on the coast at Los Vios. (northwest of Santiago) Yesterday was very windy and we never would have guessed we would have flown this am. The flight this morning was for the benefit of the media which was well represented. Launch time wasn’t until 8-8:30am. After all the government officials spoke at the briefing (the Chile version of the FAA, City government, Fire Department,etc ) they decided we should have coffee before proceding (how funny). So after 15min or so we found a launch site in the massive field we were in near the ocean. Everyones flights were in the neighborhood of 10 min. That might seem like an awfully short flight to some but the fact that the Pacific Ocean was about 2000 yds away definitely affected the length of the flights.
We are planning to fly this afternoon in the same spot, then we will pack up and move to Illepel. But that information could change before the end of the day. It seems schedules here are made to be changed.
They have provided an interpreter for us and he has become our best friend. A very small amount of my high school Spanish is coming back to me. It helps now and then.
Right now there is a cerveza callying my name.
Adios amigos,
Dan and Wendy
Have a wonderful trip, I enjoy reading about your adventure and look forward to following you guys as you travel around Chile.