By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Friday Morning
The 2015 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally got underway Friday morning to cloudy skies.
The clouds were low enough that the balloons were kept on the field. Many of the balloonist inflated and gave tethered rides Friday morning.
The Kiwanas Club once again offered their pancake breakfast to fill hungry tummies while spectators waited.
Saturday Morning
Once again the weather delayed the ascension Saturday morning. At the pilot’s briefing Balloon Meister Bill Dimmit put a hold on activities till 7:30 due to the low clouds but things began to change and by the 7:30 briefing it was field is open to flying.
Several of the balloons held up inflating while the Beagle Maximus the star attraction inflated to the crowds delight. Once the beagle was up and smiling the others began to inflate and were soon ready to fly. The morning clouds were gone and the wind was light as the Raton box formed and a few pilots took advantage of the favorable winds.
The Kiwanas reported feeding over 350 pancake breakfasts Saturday morning proving a there was a big crowd on hand.
Sunday Morning
Bill Dimmitt, this year’s balloon miester, thanked the pilots for a safe and good flight on Saturday and gave the instructions for the morning noting the pilot competition of chasing the hare. It was a great morning with sunny skies and green pastures welcomed the balloons skyward. Light winds allowed pilots to go south while some found a different flow and flew north and west.
MainStreet Director Brenda Ferri told KRTN it was a wonderful weekend. She was really pleased with the success of the July 4th activities in downtown Raton beginning with the parade and festivities at Ripley Park. Fireworks lit up the Raton sky Saturday evening as many locals had bought fireworks and were shooting them off in dowtown Raton while the Raton Fire and Emergency Services provided another great display once again this year.
