It all began with Deby and I waking up at 3’o clock in the morning. We drove one and a half hours from Los Angeles to Temecula to catch our balloon flight and to see sunrise. Driving at that time of the day in California wine country was like driving without my soul. There were nothing moving on the road. It was dead quiet, and my line of sight was purely restricted to where my headlights shone.
When we got there we were asked to wait in the car because the pilot had not arrived. Growing up in the city, I have never been to a place this dark. The stars were clearly visible, and there were a lot of them in the night sky. Above picture shows the sun is peeking over the horizon.
We were taken by a group of men, stuffed us into a white van. It was sketchy. I thought they were going to blind fold us and kill us in somewhere remote. We were dropped off at this open field, supposedly to be our launch site.
By the time those men were setting up the balloon, the sky was already well lit, and our competitors had already flown up in the sky.
I was [almost] able to pull them down, but it was a cold morning. I rather have my hands in my warm pocket.
This is my postcard shot of our competitor’s balloon in the sky. They can fly away from me but they can’t hide!
Here is how it’s done to setup a balloon. You lay the balloon and the basket on its side, and blow it. Don’t forget to put a big ass sheet on the ground to protect the grass.
No you don’t blow it with your mouth. You blow it with a big ass torch. Like how these guys are doing. They teach that at Hot Air Balloon school.
Climbing into the basket was a little challenging, for some. Luckily, my parents have given me long legs. I just leaped in. That giant laundry basket can fit all 9 of us! It was cold, but the torch kept me warm. I think the liquid fuel got into my pilot’s eye. Uh-oh.
Off we go! Up and up! Those are vineyards below us.
For those of you who think farmers are not rich, think again. At least grape farmers live larger than life. Their houses are built to house the Hulk, and his entire family.
This house has a pool, a basketball court, a tennis court, a guest house and a detached garage. I’m tempted to quit my job and become a grape farmer.
Once again I have spotted my competitor’s balloon.
This is Temecula, California. Beautiful, isn’t it?
This is our balloon coming back home. I jumped out the basket before the balloon fully touched down, that’s how I captured this shot.
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Jan 14, 2012
Hot air balloon ride in Temecula California to see sunrise
1/14/2012
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