This site was the website for the Hawkeye Balloon Club.  But seeing as though there is not, and never was, a club, I decided that there was no purpose in having a website.

    Why is there no club, you ask?  Well, there are 2 reasons.  First: money.  Ballooning, as you well know, is not cheap.  No matter how you look at it, ballooning is expensive.  I wanted the club to have it's own balloon, but reality stopped me dead in my tracks before there was ever an official club.  I didn't have the money, and I there was no way to raise the large amount that was needed.

    The second reason, to put it bluntly, was that I was getting too much bull shit and hassle from the university.  They eventually, after my continued pressure, made it very clear that they did not want there to be an active balloon club.  They specifically said that they would not allow balloon activity on their land (which is odd because balloons take off and land from university property quite often).  

    I was die-hard about this for awhile.  I was so excited about the idea.  But it got old.  It became too much work.  Some people may think that I gave up too soon, or that if I really wanted this club to become a reality I wouldn't have given up, ever.  But I am a busy person.  I work, I go to school, and I try to relax and have fun sometimes, too.  It was not worth my time.  It never would have become what I envisioned it becoming, anyway.  And you can believe me when I say that, because I am probably the most optimistic person you know.

    But to those of you who supported the idea, who helped and gave me advice, to those who gave me encouragement, got excited about it right along with me, and cheered me on when I made a step forward,  I would like to sincerely thank you for all you did.  I am sorry it did not work out, not just for my sake, but for everyone else who wanted it to happen.

Thanks, and have a nice day.

                            Mark

p.s.  Email me, if you are so inclined.