Friday, October 23, 2009

Napa Day 4: Hot Air Balloon

This vacation has been filled with firsts. The alarm went off at 5am and we were off to meet up with Joyce from the Boneventura Balloon Co. After picking up a few other riders we arrived at the launch site while the crew was preparing the balloon. There were four couples plus the pilot. After thirty minutes or so we were off the ground, literally. The ride was as smooth as you could expect, better than a quiet elevator ride.

Before we knew it we were 300 feet in the air and ultimately at 3500 feet. The views were breathtaking. Seeing 360 degrees of Napa Valley and Sonoma. The fog was clearing out and most f the mountains were visible. Hard to describe but toasting champagne, half a mile above the earth in open air is a unique experience.

After touching down, we drove to a nearby town (St Helena) and had breakfast at one of the regions most popular cafes (Gillwoods). We took advantage of St Helena's picturesque Main street filled with shops, cafes and hardware stores.

After a trip back to the cottage and a quick respite, it was off to Cindy Pawlcyn's Mustards Grill another Top Chef restaurant and another winner.

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