Hot air rises. Capture that hot air in a nylon balloon and attach a basket to it and both the balloon and basket will rise together. With this basic scientific fact in mind, we boarded a hot air balloon basket in the middle of Temecula wine country and lifted off into the sky in Southern California.

Ready for Adventure

In our quest for exciting adventures, we arranged a hot air balloon flight. As this was a new experience for us, we didn’t know what to expect before and during the flight. Here is a recap of our day to help you prepare for your own hot air balloon adventure.

An Early Start to Catch the Sun

Our day started when the alarm woke us at 4:00 am. To catch the sunrise on a sunrise hot air balloon flight, you get up early!  The California Dreamin’ Hot Air Balloon Ride operates in Temecula, California. The instructions for the hot air balloon adventure set a 6:00 am check-in time with the caution that if we were late, we might miss the flight.

Pre-departure Instructions

When we made the reservation for the sunrise hot air balloon flight, we were advised to call at 2:00 pm the day before our flight to confirm and check weather conditions.  I called as instructed and received a return call stating that the pilot said conditions looked good and we’d be able to fly the next day. As the directional movement of a hot air balloon depends on the wind, poor weather conditions can necessitate canceling flights. Excited about this adventure, I was thrilled that we were cleared to fly.

Where to Meet

The meeting spot for the hot air balloon ride was the Vindemia Winery in Temecula, California. Both California Dreamin’ and the winery are owned by a husband and wife, Dave and Gail Bradley.  They’ve been offering hot air balloon rides for 33 years. Dave pilots the balloons in the morning then tends the grapes and makes the wine in the afternoon.

Arrival

Ample parking was available in the dirt lot of the winery. It was eerie arriving in the dark but a staff member was waiting in the lot with flashlights to guide us up to the patio.  Strings of bright white lights illuminated the decorated seating area. A friendly welcome from Gail and Gayleen set the tone for a happy adventure. After we checked in and signed liability waivers, they offered us cozy blankets to use in case we were chilly while we waited for our fellow passengers to arrive. There were deluxe porta-potties in the parking lot for last-minute pit stops. These had water and soap for handwashing.

How to Dress

The instructions requested that we bring only our camera and sunglasses – no backpacks allowed on the balloon ride. Although I expected to be cold up in the balloon, they explained that the temperature in-flight would be the same as it was on the ground. Additionally, the burners that make the heat to lift the balloon would provide additional warmth. A hat was recommended for anyone over 6-foot tall or with thinning hair. Closed-toe shoes were required, and dark-colored, comfortable outdoor clothing was suggested.

Heading Out

After all the guests had checked in, Gayleen gave us a quick overview of the day’s timeline. We had a couple of minutes to introduce ourselves to our fellow passengers, then it was time to load up in the large transport van.

Finding a Launch Location

Our pilot, Dave, and his crew of guys, Joe, Brandon, and Josh, joined us and we began driving to different launch locations in the area.  At each of the sites, Dave got out and checked the wind/weather conditions looking for a favorable spot to launch. Unfortunately for us, the morning of our flight was very foggy with no wind.  I began to worry that we’d not be able to fly.

Weather Considerations

As the crew explained, once aloft, the balloon goes where the wind blows.  It’s also imperative that the pilot can see as there’s no radar on board. A balloon pilot needs to be able to see trees, buildings, wires, and other stationary obstacles in addition to other hot air balloons that may be in the area.  When we arrived at a potential location, Dave and crew would get out and launch a helium balloon to test the wind conditions. Conditions weren’t favorable, but they did not give up. After a couple of tries, they found a suitable spot away from the fog and parked the van.

Set Up

After unloading the passengers, the crew began to unpack the balloon and basket. They’ve obviously done this process many times before.  They were super efficient at setting up, attaching cables, and preparing to inflate the balloon.

Filling the Balloon

After the balloon was laid out on the ground, they started fans to blow air into the balloon. The large, noisy fans quickly filled the balloon. Soon it was time to tip the balloon basket upright.

Here is a video of the balloon filling and tipping the basket, the speed is accelerated to save viewing time.

Time to Get In

Once the basket was upright and the balloon filled, it was time to board.  Climbing into the basket takes some agility. The basket doesn’t have a door. We needed to climb up the side and put a leg over the edge before dropping down inside. The crew was on hand to assist any of us who needed help getting into the basket. Our group consisted of me and my husband, an aunt and her niece from nearby Huntington Beach, California, and a couple from Perth, Australia, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary together with their friend. We all made it into the basket with no difficulty. After all of us entered the basket I understood the requirement of no backpacks.  Space is tight in the balloon basket. Backpacks strapped to our backs would make it difficult to turn around to see the sights out each side of the basket.

Our Group

Our basket was a medium-sized basket, and it was divided into three sections. We had three people on one side and four people on the other plus the pilot in a section of his own. We were cozy with our neighbors in the basket, but looking out at the open skies it didn’t feel cramped. Depending on the number of reservations for a flight, they have baskets that fit from 2 to 16 passengers.

Leaving the Ground

After a quick lesson on how to assume the landing position, it was time to take off. Liftoff was so smooth and gentle that at first, I didn’t realize we were moving, that’s until I noticed that the people and objects on the ground were rapidly growing smaller!

The skies were still overcast and foggy in the distance which prevented us from having a picturesque sunrise during our flight. Instead, we turned our attention to the West, the direction the wind was taking us.

Floating Gracefully

The first sight we enjoyed was an orange grove.  We flew at a low altitude, below the cloud cover, right at the tops of the trees.  

Our pilot brought our basket down and skimmed the branches as we glided along. If you’re familiar with the Soarin’ rides in Disney Parks, this reminded all of us of that ride. Smooth and peaceful, we drifted over the orange grove.  We could even smell the trees! We mentioned to Dave that this felt like the Soarin’ ride and he told us the Disney Imagineers rode with him on this same flight over the orange groves when they were designing the Soarin’ ride twenty years ago. How cool is that?

Vineyards of Temecula

After skimming the orange grove, we flew over the vineyards.  Over thirty-five wineries operate in Temecula. Most of these wineries grow the grapes on the property. The majority of the wineries also host a tasting room. The wineries are often family-owned and operated with the family home located right at the vineyard.

Nature Preserve

After the vineyards, we drifted over the Emerson Wildlife Preserve where Basque herders have herded sheep since the early 1700’s. The dry desert landscape and rugged canyons are home to mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, rabbits, deer, and other wild animals.

 We were able to spot coyotes and rabbits running below us.

Peaceful Stillness

One unexpected sensation while flying in the hot air balloon was that it didn’t feel windy because the entire balloon, with us in the basket, moved along at the same speed as the wind.  This made the time on the balloon very pleasant. It was as if we were suspended in the air.

Occasionally, a brief roar from the burners interrupted the quiet.  The heat produced by the flame caused the balloon to rise. Moving up and down by using the burners was how the pilot controlled the balloon.

Ending Our Flight

As we drifted over the preserve, the winds calmed and we stopped moving forward. We floated quietly for several minutes while waiting for the wind to resume. Dave took us up and back down a few times and soon found another current.

Looking for a Landing Space

Before long it was time to rendezvous with the van and trailer.  The crew didn’t fly with us. Instead, they followed the balloon in the van on the roads below.  This presents a challenge because the balloon flies over many areas with no roads. The pilot and his crew radio back and forth to determine a safe landing spot where the van can meet up with the balloon.  We ended up landing in an area undergoing construction for a new housing development.

The heavy machinery hard at work grading the land for the housing development was a stark contrast to the peaceful, pastoral scenes we’d been floating over for most of the flight. It was, however, an exciting place to land even though it did make me sad to see civilization encroaching on the beautiful countryside.

Touchdown

As we neared the ground, Dave told us to assume the landing position. This means we faced away from our direction of travel, held on to the rope handles at the edge of the basket, bent our knees and squatted down with our backs pressed to the dividing wall/basket edge. The reason for this is that sometimes, depending on the wind conditions after the balloon touches down, the basket will tip over.  The landing position hopes to minimize the possibility of injury if this happens. The wind cooperated, and Dave gently and skillfully landed the balloon, and we stayed upright.

The crew met us and snapped a quick photo before they walked the balloon over to an area of the field away from the heavy machinery working at the construction site.

Deflating and a Champagne Toast

After we hopped out of the balloon, the crew began to deflate the balloon while the pilot treated us to a champagne toast.  He explained that when the first hot air balloons took flight in France, they would carry a bottle of Champagne with the king’s seal on it to prove that the trip was sanctioned by the king.  This tradition has continued with balloon pilots bringing champagne along on the flight as a “peace offering” to property owners when the balloon lands on private property. 

We toasted our successful flight with the champagne while watching the crew work. Orange juice was offered for anyone who wanted a mimosa. Soon, the balloon was packed back into the trailer, and we were on our way back to the winery.

Breakfast

Back at the winery Gayleen greeted us and offered another mimosa and presented a delicious European-style champagne breakfast spread. Fresh thick-sliced bread with butter, local fruits and berries with whipped cream, grapes and brie cheese with crackers all served buffet-style.  Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, orange juice, and water satisfied our thirst.

Wine Tasting

There was a lovely outdoor seating area where we could sit and enjoy the breakfast with our newfound friends while chatting with the co-owner, Gail, about the winery operations. While we were eating the post-flight celebration, we were offered a complimentary tasting of their “More Cowbell” wine made right there at the winery.  If we were able to stay longer we could have enjoyed a full wine tasting with a special two-for-one offer included with our balloon flight. The winery holds wine tastings from 11 am – 5 pm every day.

Incredible Adventure

The entire day with California Dreamin’ Hot Air Balloon, from the arrival to departure, was well-organized, exciting, and outstanding.  Gail, Dave, and their employees are all passionate about what they do and this translated to a wonderful adventure for us. I thought this would be a “once in a lifetime” experience, but now I want to take another hot air balloon flight soon! The peaceful, floating feeling as the balloon glided silently along the ground was incredible and unbelievable. I enjoyed the low-level, flying close-to-the ground parts of our flight the best. I imagine this is what it must feel like to be a bird smoothly gliding over the Earth but without the hard work of flapping wings!

 

Thank you to California Dreamin’ for hosting us for this incredible morning so that we could feature their sunrise balloon flight.  All opinions are my own.

 

Have you taken a hot air balloon flight?  Is a hot air balloon adventure on your bucket list?  What is holding you back? Let me know in the comments below.

 

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