Up, Up and Away in Temecula
I wasn't nervous until I saw the other balloon taking off. Until I watched the flimsy wicker basket piled with people bob and bump among the grass, before starting its shaky ascent into the air.
"It's actually powered by nothing but hot air. And wind." I thought to myself as our group travelled to the launch site for a hot air balloon ride over Temecula wine country with Grape Escapes. Talk about stating the obvious - it's called a hot air balloon for a reason. But you don't truly appreciate that fact until you're staring right at the wicker and material that's apparently going to take you soaring high into the sky.
Luckily, any nerves I had quickly dissipated and were replaced with fizzing excitement as we watched the team inflate our rainbow balloon. We climbed one by one into the basket - genuinely, it feels only slightly sturdier than one you'd fill with strawberries and cheap prosecco for a picnic - and kind of giggled nervously as we waited to take off.
Our guide periodically pulled on a handle, which send plumes of fire roaring up into the balloon. The noise added to the drama of the whole experience, and sure enough, before long our little basket started to shake and shudder. We vibrated bizarrely for a few moments before rising slowly, as if pulled by a rope, into the sky.
And what surprised me was that it wasn't frightening at all. Not at all. I mean, not unless you looked straight down over the edge of the basket (which I wouldn't advise!). It felt just like floating - like taking a slow train ride through the countryside with a bit of vertical travel thrown in. For the next hour, we lapped up gorgeous views of Temecula as it started to wake up, soaked in sunlight, roads filling with commuters. Rabbits darting wildly on their own highways in the fields. We were treated to panoramas of the various vineyards of the region, as well as its expansive fields, neighbourhoods and lakes. When hot air wasn't being propelled into the balloon to make us float, we heard nothing but silence. There aren't many words to describe how peaceful it is; to be up up and away, away from everything below.
The wind carried us wherever it wanted to - sometimes pushing us far away from the launchpad, sometimes almost grounding us completely. We'd approach the earth surprisingly quickly, but the thud we waited for never came. The bottom of the basket kissed the ground warmly, as if greeting an old friend, and we were off again.
That was, until the time came to land.
"Hang on, this might be bumpy", our guide grinned as our landing site came into view. We hadn't had much to do with choosing it - it was the wind's choice - so our guide had to navigate between giant concrete structures in the field. The wind somehow became stronger the lower we got, and everyone went a bit quiet as the ground got closer and closer.
Thud.
We all felt it, and a couple almost got tipped out of the side of the basket as the team desperately tried to right us. We bumped and skidded for a few feet, the balloon tossing wildly and threatening to take off all over again, but eventually we came to a tentative standstill. Behind us, a trail of churned up mud and grass revealed our dynamic landing. A few seconds passed before everyone laughed in that extra-funny, relieved way.
I loved the whole experience. Especially as it was followed by a mimosa, and a 2 for 1 wine tasting at Europa winery!
We'd only just got to Temecula, but it was already time to get on the road to San Diego, where we'd be spending a few days before driving up the infamous Route 101. Until next time!
