Vacation Post: California Adventure –
By Wayne Halm –
I promised a post about my California Trip if I did anything exciting – does hot air ballooning qualify as exciting?
In California I stayed with my ‘adventure buddy’, Linda. This time I was the houseguest – and this time we decided to go hot air ballooning as our ‘adventure’.
I know that lots of people have gone up in hot air balloons and returned safely. Good for them! But this was our first time and those people simply didn’t matter much – we were a tad nervous.
Linda and Wayne putting on brave faces.
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The balloon itself was something I didn’t comprehend until they started inflating it.
The balloon is simply huge.
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Make no mistake about it … it takes a lot of hot air to fill a balloon that size.
Linda accused the pilot and I of providing the hot air by talking – we did try but didn’t get off the ground.
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Fortunately we had a little help from technology.
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Working in tandem with the technology we were soon airborne.
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Up … up … and away!
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Our flight path took us over and affluent area, Rancho something or other.
Our pilot called it the land of single family hotels. The lots and homes were big.
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The California drought is having an affect even on upscale golf courses … looking kind of brown.
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If you’re not in a hurry hot air ballooning is a great way to travel (we went six miles in about an hour). The pace allows you to look around, point things out, and talk about them – and we did talk. Linda said the pilot and I swapped stories the whole way. You can talk because it is quiet, no engine roar.
The ride was smooth and comfortable, no bouncing around. It wasn’t a big adrenaline rush – it was just plain fun.
Would I do it again? You bet I will – just look at that happy grin.
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Linda and I are considering white water rafting for our next adventure … but that’s another trip.
Until then — Come play golf with me.
Click her to read about another “Linda Adventure”.
Golfing on Kauai 
Aloha Wayne,
I have never been hot air ballooning, and I imagine it would make me nervous as well. You look cool as a cucumber in the photos though!
Cheers
Josh
Aloha Josh,
I did look cool and confident didn’t I? Guess was showing off how well I can act. To everyone who has not ridden in a hot air balloon – DO IT. It is a cool experience.
A Hui Hou,
Wayne
Great photos. It is interesting how loud the burner gets when they fire up the flames, but then it is so quiet after. Sounds like you had such a fun time. 🙂
Aloha Krystle,
The quiet, the openness, and the quiet all combined into a wonderful experience. The wind was blowing but we were moving along with it – drifting along there was time to see things and talk about them. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
A Hui Hou,
Wayne
Awesome, sounds like you had a great time Wayne. I will have to add hot air ballooning to my bucket list 🙂
Aloha Allan,
Thank you. The balloon ride was good – it is worth doing. What did you think of my post as a story?
A Hui Hou,
Wayne
Hi Wayne, I think your post works well as a story. It is something you have actually done and it runs smoothly in chronological order, there is also some humour in there and you have expressed emotions such as fear, excitement, happiness, etc… good work.