By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Friday night lights went on as planned, but not the football kind of lights one might think, but the 2019 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally balloon glow lit up the La Mesa Airfield.
Seven balloons filled and glowed shortly before 9:00 p.m. Friday night. It’s been a long time since the balloon rally has managed to get a balloon glow in the history books. Usually wind or a late evening thunderstorm is the reason for cancellation of the evening event.
But this year the storms came through early and the winds calmed down enough for pilots to fill their balloons and glow in the darkening skies. The parking area overflowed with cars, more than showed up Thursday morning. Based on those guesstimates there were probably well over 700 people at this year’s balloon glow.
The Salas family reunion committee decided to sponsor a balloon for the 2019 rally. It turned out to be an excellent decision. Our balloon was the Desert Viking, pilot Mark Heidleman and crew Dottie, Jeninne and Mike. They were terrific and very accommodating. We flew fifteen people and had session of tethering for all the reunion kid plus many other kids that gathered. On Thursday we also had a bar-b-que at Ripley Park that was very successful in part by co-operation of city employees starting with the very knowledgeable Desire’e Trujillo, Leonard Zamora and Jared Chatterley. Our reunion banquet was catered by Ann Mari at the Sweet Shop, along with her staff Bobby Padilla and Debbie Sandoval. Music by Bev Baca. Grrrreate time had by all. Thanks one and all