BALLOONS, BALLOONS EVERYWHERE

Up in the sky! - Is it a bird - or a plane????

 Well ... it's NOT superman that's for sure.

We actually 'beat' the sun up this morning --- crawled out of bed @ O:dark 30 --- stumbled to our van & headed to the hills .... in search of the illusive hot-air balloons associated with the annual Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival ........ all WITHOUT the aid of any caffeine I might add!

We've been trying to inundate ourselves with local color & culture, so this seemed the perfect opportunity to enjoy the beautiful serene early morning hours in our new 'valley'. Of course, a lot of other people had the same idea!          

This annual event is held at Lake Skinner - a beautiful nature conservancy that's 'just up the road a ways' from our new house. There are approximately 50-60 different hot air balloons participating in the early morning flight -- lifting from Lake Skinner in the north & lazily floating like multi-colored ultra-sized bubbles past the many wineries located on the valley floor. We felt like storm chasers in a way .... we kept driving - trying to locate just the 'right' spot for our viewing pleasure and photo ops. It was a bit smoggy/foggy - so our real life viewing experience was probably a lot more colorful than the pics we ended up with, but it was gorgeous and peaceful. There is something just so magical about these gargantuan spheres.

Here was a random balloonist -- he just set up his gear along the winery road and
attracted quite a crowd! Leo -- this one's for you!!! Would you go on a balloon ride with MiMi & Grampa sometime? It's almost like being a bird!

We're glad we went ....

altho I'm pretty sure a nap

will have to be on the agenda later today!

Come fly with us

   sometime!