Within days of returning from a wonderful vacation in the Caribbean, I had planned a much closer weekend getaway. We were heading down to San Diego! Sunny, Beautiful, San Diego!
It was going to be a Ballooning, Biking, and Baseball weekend!
It sure sounded like fun and that's exactly how it turned out to be.
It was going to be a Ballooning, Biking, and Baseball weekend!
It sure sounded like fun and that's exactly how it turned out to be.
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We drove out to Temecula to meet up with Panorama Balloons at the crack of dawn. Okay actually it was well before the crack of dawn. We got checked in, and even got weighed in (guess it doesn't pay to lie about your weight here!)
Then we were met by the Pilot and shuttled over to our "launching pad" - okay not really - but we needed to find a suitable field for take off. And suitable all depends on the time and weather conditions.
After about a 10 minutes drive we found our "spot". The crew got straight to work setting up the Balloon and Basket while I clicked away (at my shutter - not my keyboard). Not long before it was time for lift off, it was time for a safety review. Pretty sure that we all passed!
Then we were met by the Pilot and shuttled over to our "launching pad" - okay not really - but we needed to find a suitable field for take off. And suitable all depends on the time and weather conditions.
After about a 10 minutes drive we found our "spot". The crew got straight to work setting up the Balloon and Basket while I clicked away (at my shutter - not my keyboard). Not long before it was time for lift off, it was time for a safety review. Pretty sure that we all passed!
  |  Then came the time for what we were all waiting for, getting into the basket and going up up and away! Fog had loomed and the landscape was dramatic, in the distance we had spotted other hot air ballooners, and we reached the height of 6,000 feet. After about 1h and 15-20 minutes we had begun to make our decent. The only issue being that we didn't have an "okay" place to lower down onto. With the ground crew following along from below, we had eventually touched down and waited until it was safe to exit the basket. |
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 |  At which point it was time for a toast of either Champagne, Mimosa, or Sparkling Cider - we opted for the Cider and had listened to the pilot as he resited the Ballooners Prayers: May the winds welcome you with softness. May the sun bless you with its warm hands. May you fly so high and so well that God joins you in laughter and sets you gently back into the loving arms of Mother Earth. |
Next up for us was a quick drive through old town Temecula which was really nothing at all to write home about nor anything to write about on here. Enough said.
I was hungry and we were heading to breakfast at Ranchos Cocina, a Mexican restaurant that I've been hearing about for years. While I'm not a huge Mexican food fan, that's probably what's taken me so long to finally go and try this restaurant out. They offer a huge menu that caters to every type of eater/diet.
So off we went.
I ordered us a Quesadilla to share, an Enchilada combo plate, and Dave ordered the Chilaquiles. The food was BOMB, and the place was just adorable. This is definitely the best Mexican food that I've ever eaten and I will be going back, as well as doing a FOODIE FRIDAY feature on this yummy restaurant!
I was hungry and we were heading to breakfast at Ranchos Cocina, a Mexican restaurant that I've been hearing about for years. While I'm not a huge Mexican food fan, that's probably what's taken me so long to finally go and try this restaurant out. They offer a huge menu that caters to every type of eater/diet.
So off we went.
I ordered us a Quesadilla to share, an Enchilada combo plate, and Dave ordered the Chilaquiles. The food was BOMB, and the place was just adorable. This is definitely the best Mexican food that I've ever eaten and I will be going back, as well as doing a FOODIE FRIDAY feature on this yummy restaurant!
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After breakfast we headed into downtown, the weather was quite a bit warmer than we had expected, and we ventured out and around the USS Midway for some fresh air, and picturesque scenery.
At this point in our day I'll admit that there was tension between Dave and I.
I had got upset with him before breakfast, and we hadn't been speaking ever since...
*On the plus side it meant I didn't have to share the DELICIOUS Quesadilla with him!
So around this time, it was getting rather awkward and either we needed to spend some time apart or put the situation behind us.
At this point in our day I'll admit that there was tension between Dave and I.
I had got upset with him before breakfast, and we hadn't been speaking ever since...
*On the plus side it meant I didn't have to share the DELICIOUS Quesadilla with him!
So around this time, it was getting rather awkward and either we needed to spend some time apart or put the situation behind us.
Dave had been curious and wanted to know what the plan was for the remainder of the day (he knows that I'm the planner, and he had no idea what was next...) I explained that the plan was to go to Point Loma. And so it was. We headed over to The Cabrillo National Monument at Point Loma.
Spending time around the headlands, tide pools and eventually making it back to the lighthouse just before they closed.
*By now Dave and I were on speaking terms again just so ya know.
Spending time around the headlands, tide pools and eventually making it back to the lighthouse just before they closed.
*By now Dave and I were on speaking terms again just so ya know.
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We still needed to check in and at this time we had gone to do this. For this visit we opted to stay at the Hilton Gaslamp District based on the location for the plans that we had that weekend (including Bike the Bay).
*The staff and management at the hotel were absolutely just wonderful and helpful beyond expectations.
*The staff and management at the hotel were absolutely just wonderful and helpful beyond expectations.
 | After a short break in our hotel room, we had ventured out to Little Italy for a much anticipated dinner at Civico1845.  |
I have so many amazing and wonderful things to say about this dining experience, from the food, to the ambiance, to the staff, and everything in between. I cannot wait to publish the FOODIE FRIDAY feature that is all about Civico1845. I can't wait to go back, but since this is not an all about food post, I will continue on...
Working off a bit of our pre-bike ride carb load, we strolled back to our hotel and it was time to attempt some shut eye.
Our alarms went buzzing in the morning, and the time had come to don our biking duds and make our way to the starting line. The weather was definitely more bearable, and was overcast, which to me was just perfect for our nice little 25 mile bike ride that pretty much begins with pedaling over the usually closed to bicycles Coronado Bridge.
The overcast weather had remained for the entire day, which like I said was good for me, but not too good for pretty and colorful pictures. Oh well.
The turn out for the bike ride was much bigger than we had seen it before (this was my second time doing this ride and Dave's third time).
Working off a bit of our pre-bike ride carb load, we strolled back to our hotel and it was time to attempt some shut eye.
Our alarms went buzzing in the morning, and the time had come to don our biking duds and make our way to the starting line. The weather was definitely more bearable, and was overcast, which to me was just perfect for our nice little 25 mile bike ride that pretty much begins with pedaling over the usually closed to bicycles Coronado Bridge.
The overcast weather had remained for the entire day, which like I said was good for me, but not too good for pretty and colorful pictures. Oh well.
The turn out for the bike ride was much bigger than we had seen it before (this was my second time doing this ride and Dave's third time).
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The route passes through the cities of San Diego, Coronado, Imperial Beach, Chula Vista and National City and finishes at Embarcadero Marina Park South with a festive celebration with food, entertainment and a New Belgium beer garden (which we did not partake in).
After checking out a few of the vendors at the celebration, we made our way back to the hotel to shower and prepare for the next thing on our list - going to a baseball game.
It was San Diego Padres vs the first place St. Louis Cardinals and luckily for most of the game we were sitting in the shade - because the sun did come out after all.
The game was exciting, and fun to watch; a real hit fest. Padres fans were hoping that their team would sweep the Cards, but that just wasn't in the cards as the St Louis team took home the win.
After checking out a few of the vendors at the celebration, we made our way back to the hotel to shower and prepare for the next thing on our list - going to a baseball game.
It was San Diego Padres vs the first place St. Louis Cardinals and luckily for most of the game we were sitting in the shade - because the sun did come out after all.
The game was exciting, and fun to watch; a real hit fest. Padres fans were hoping that their team would sweep the Cards, but that just wasn't in the cards as the St Louis team took home the win.
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Our weekend was just about complete, we still had the drive back to Orange County and I had promised to cook everyone dinner upon my return.
Dave and I both had a fun filled Ballooning, Biking, and Baseball filled weekend!
What a blast - it was busy and if you're into that sort of thing, and I highly recommend it!
That's it, that's me, I'm T, and I'm outta here!
Dave and I both had a fun filled Ballooning, Biking, and Baseball filled weekend!
What a blast - it was busy and if you're into that sort of thing, and I highly recommend it!
That's it, that's me, I'm T, and I'm outta here!
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