St.Jean-sur-Richelieu

Left: Celebrating with the landowners after the flight. Starting at top left: 3 landowners, and crew: Pascale, Martin, Nathale, Maryse, Gene(me), and Carole (photo by Jenn Goldbloom

Right: Locomotive taking off from the airport (photo by Gene Burnstein)

Looking back at the balloons setting up at the airport (photo by Blair Beard)

Right: ClipAway Balloon over the Richelieu River (photo from local Canadian Newspaper)

ClipAway Balloon between the trees (photo by Barney)

Flying over farmland (photo by Gene)

ClipAway's handlers: Mario, Jean-Jacques, Pierre, Gene(pilot), Dominique

2004 ClipAway"s handlers (Top L-R):

Jean-Jacques, Dominique, Mario, Pierre, Sylvain

Gene (pilot) kneeling

(photo by Gene)

AHHHH I"ve got just the thing for you .....

(photo by Gene)

Stephanie and Marie-Claude enjoy hanging out in the sky (photo by Gene)

ClipAway landed before the rains came (photo by Jenn Goldbloom)

Watching balloons filling the sky as they cross over the Richelieu River

Finally after a few years Dominique"s mom gathered up the courage to take flight in "ClipAway" on August 18, 2006.

I snapped this picture as we descended to 4000 feet just after the crew called to ask 'how she was doing' ---- (is there really any question?)

After landing, "mom" was ready to go again!!

My crew and I together enjoying a dinner. Starting on the left: Olivier, Katrine, Stephanie, Pierre, Dominique, and myself

Balloons adding color to the morning sky (credit: Marie Giroux, Daniel Auger)

Balloons waltzing over the cloud reflection on the Richelieu River

Balloons invading a quiet neighborhood (credit: The Bedard family)

ClipAway starting to cross the Richelieu River in the morning sunshine. (credit: Laura Peterson)

The flight was cancelled, but my crew stuck around for a few laughs and to enjoy the double rainbows.

During pack-up on the last flight of the festival, my passengers (2 on right front) and crew

Hurry to the pitstop,,,, the fog is lifting ... we are going to fly!!!

Over the years I've landed many times on this one landowner"s property. This particular morning we landed here once again. But this time it was different - Ghislaine (the landowner) flew with me. She's in the center of the picture, and wore the ClipAway crew shirt in flight !!!

St.Jean-sur-Richelieu has drawn ClipAway and her pilot back since her first appearance in 2002. I hope these pictures show why.

Thanks to my crew, wonderful people, and memories, I again look forward to returning.