The Flight of the Saltire

[wildrover]

No Saltires were harmed much in the making of this adventure. All I can say is, I hope we paid off the bank loan on that thing.

Also, previous pilots of the Saltire may have neglected to notice the "submarine mode" button on the captain's console...I will provide a demonstration.

It might take a day or two before I get all the photos online. It didn't fly up any 14ers...we were too tired & weather was too poor in the mountains to go up Evans on Monday, plus I needed new boots, I was in no rush to be doing hand-wash laundry, and since Longs Peak is C2+/3 after the Keyhole, I wasn't kilted anyway.

Where we DID go...point your Google Earth map here:
39.208888 (lat), -105.4031 (lon)

...then tilt the perspective, so you're looking north by northwest up the valley. We went that way.

BDA:
-Five or so threads from the middle fringe on the outer apron. TBDW.
-Part of snap on sporran closure non-violently separated. No idea there.
-Slight scratch on lower front of sporran. Gives it "character".
-Lack of sufficient swalls and swass on Day Two led to extreme chafing.
-Wire tie on back of Saltire is MIA. Came up with 50's-era steel Royal Crown Cola can instead, later recycled.
-Cameraman's proximity to ladder nearly required mind bleach.
-Moderate current in thigh-deep water overcame loose garter and led to large quantity of small rocks in right sock.
-Minor degree of "antiquing" applied to vehicle's finish.

Pics & full report later .

Wouldn't mind getting a pic with her in the frame somewhere on Saturday during the solo piping competition, if I play .

-Sean

*edit* It will be about a week before I get the pictures over to my own computer...but they will be worth the wait!

[Ancienne Alliance]

Great voyage !

Thank you all !


best,

Robert

[Livingston]

Stop by our tent as early as possible, we'll be there at about 7:30/7:45. We can set up a time and still get her around the grounds.

[Nighthawk]

Are we ever going to get any new pictures in here?

[wildrover]

I have about 50 that I need to resize, they're a hair over 4MB, so the image host won't allow upload. Here's a taste, though, and a showcase of the Saltire's previously unknown "submarine mode".

By the way, the image host has been screwed up lately, not properly loading the fullsize...but if you save the image to the hard drive with the button up top of the page (the "save image" button, or right click and "view image" on the "loading" button where it's supposed to appear), you'll be able to see it. Most of these are pretty big.

Preview time!

The evening before dropping in, letting the kilt dry out from the t-storm:


Looking down Lost Creek, at one of many rock piles we had to negotiate:

("Send ONE PING ONLY.")

Looking down at Lost Creek, or rather looking at Lost Sock in Lost Creek. My right garter got loose, the sock fell, and the next ten or twenty yards walking up the creek filled it pretty good with river gravel. Not hard to shake out, but I wish I'd brought another pair of kilt socks, and some gaiters. Water is fine. Small rocks are annoying.

[Arlen]

Well, Folks, the Wee Airship landed here today and we'll have some pictures of her adventures in Idaho up for you shortly!

For now, here is Petty Officer Cody giving her a welcome to our home.

[Riverkilt]

Boy...that's in harm's way for sure!! The ship looks much like a Milkbone!!

[Nighthawk]

You've had her less than 24 hours and already have a picture posted? You're putting the Colorado rabble to shame!!

[Arlen]

Boy...that's in harm's way for sure!! The ship looks much like a Milkbone!!

Well, that is, of course, just a representative model.
The real Airship is tethered in safety at Gowan air field just down the road.

You've had her less than 24 hours and already have a picture posted? You're putting the Colorado rabble to shame!!

We've just had some time to plan out where we might want to take her so we could snap out a couple of pictures.

[Arlen]

A few pictures taken this morning at The Wee Airship attended The Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic.
More pictures and adventures to come tomorrow!


Hovering over the Boise Train Depot.




Floating over Ann Morrison Park.




The variety of balloons!





The foothills look so lovely in the mornings.