12 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | AUGUST 2020
By Randy Daniels, Resident
On July 27, Blanca and I went on our first hot air balloon ride. It
had been on our bucket list for some time. I scheduled it for Blanca's
birthday, and we were not disappointed. We used the Grape Escape
service out of Temecula. There are others, but we wanted to see the
vineyards and lakes in the Temecula area. The cost varies, but during
the week it is generally less expensive.
To get started, they ask you how much you weight for obvious
safety and weight limit reasons. They give you a location to meet,
very early in the morning. Our meeting time started at 5:30 am at
a local winery in Temecula. It's recommended to wear comfortable
clothing and tennis shoes. Also, bring a jacket, but once you're in the
air, the jacket will come off because it is warmer up there. Bring face
covering because you are very close to one another. The basket we
were in usually holds 14 people, but they had it scheduled for only six
people. Still, you are in close quarters.
We were able to watch them prepare the balloon for the flight
and our Captain (Mike) was very experienced and friendly. He has
thousands of hours flying and that put our minds at ease knowing
this. Be prepared because you have to climb into the basket. It wasn't
difficult, but for some it could be a challenge. The flight lasted about
one hour, and it was amazing. Once you are up in the air, it is very
surreal. We had done some parasailing in Key West a couple of years
back and we found the experiences very similar. The flight itself was
smooth and very quiet. We went to an altitude of about 6,000 ft. The
local scenery is breathtaking, and we believe you will enjoy it very
much. The landing was without incident and once on the ground,
you can help pack up the balloon. That part is voluntary, but fun.
We hope you enjoyed our story and if you have never tried a
balloon ride, but always wanted to like us, we highly recommend it.
Up, Up And Away!
