Gloomy morning doesn't cast pall over Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival

By: BRIAN ECKHOUSE - Staff Writer | Saturday, June 2, 2007 11:05 PM PDT ∞

LAKE SKINNER ---- June gloom may have prompted the relocation of several hot-air balloon launches Saturday, but attendees of the 24th annual Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival refused to allow the cloudy ceiling to dull their day.

By midday, some of the cloud cover lifted, though a light haze remained, casting the hills to the west as a mere shadow of themselves.

On the ground, the central quad at the lake's recreational grounds was as packed as in years past: children, including 13-year-old Rudy Rousseau of San Bernardino and 12-year-old Andrew Pratt of Yorba Linda, tossed a Frisbee-like Flip 'n' Flyer back-and-forth, as adults sipped wine under umbrellas or on beach towels sprawled across the grass.

At the center, the band "Carmen & Camille" of Vancouver, British Columbia performed on what organizers dubbed the "Wine Stage."

Ron and Pat Savage of Desert Hot Springs took in the alternative music several yards from the stage, as they sampled the Merlot Rose varietal from South Coast Winery ---- Ron's fifth, and his wife's sixth, glass of wine. It was just 1 p.m., three hours after they arrived at the quad, enveloped with kiosks rented by area wineries.

"Quite a bit for me," said Ron, 58, of the wine he had already consumed.

His buddy, Hank Fikse, couldn't suppress a laugh.

"I'm just getting started," said Fikse, 57, of Pomona. "It's like one beer to me."

Wine may be Temecula's finest export, but when it comes to importing outsiders to the valley, it's hard to top the morning balloon rides.

At last year's festival, the balloons launched shortly after 7 a.m. just off the quad.

But Saturday's low-hanging fog, typical of a June morning, forced most of the balloons to take off from a field at Rancho California and Anza roads, near South Coast Winery, about 3.5 miles from Lake Skinner. Most of the balloons launched just before 8 a.m. Saturday.

"The closer you get to the lake, the more fog you get," said pilot George Rosander, 61, of Apple Valley. "We moved away from the lake, but we couldn't get very high, because the ceiling was very low. We went maybe 400 feet (above the ground)."

Ballooners didn't complain, said Bethann Thornhill, who observed the launches from the ground. Thornhill, 39, of Palm Springs administered the free tethered balloon rides near the lake's central quad.

"It was hugely successful: I mean, everyone came back alive," said a laughing Thornhill. "That's always a good thing."

At least the balloons could launch Saturday.

In recent years, inclement weather occasionally spoiled the balloon portion of the festival. Last year, visibility was ideal; hills miles away could be seen with great clarity. But there was almost no wind, so dozens of balloons remained suspended over the lake for about 90 minutes.

Rain or shine, the Savages plan to return next year ---- with their four children and grandchildren.

"I'm going to have them all come out with their trailers," Ron Savage said. "It's a good place for the family to come together ---- and be together."

Staff writer Steve Thornton contributed to this article. Contact staff writer Brian Eckhouse at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or beckhouse@californian.com.

24th annual Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival

When: Sunday 6 a.m.

Where: Lake Skinner, 37701 Warren Road, Winchester

Tickets: $15 for adults, $5 for children ages 7-12 and free for children under age 7

Information: (951) 676-6713

Web: www.tvbwf.com