FLOATING over MURIETA

Photos by Jeff Winger

[October 22] It was a fairytale come to life for 4-year-old Mason Winger and other children Sunday when a bright green hot air balloon wafted down from the sky and landed on a street in Murieta North. Mason and his father, Jeff Winger, had watched two balloons take off from the ranch across the highway from their home in Murieta South Sunday morning and decided to follow the Emerald City balloon's support vehicle. After landing on Pera Drive, the balloon was tethered to the vehicle and the friendly crew offered Mason and others in the crowd of about 30 the chance to climb in and take an abbrieviated ride, bobbing about 20 feet overhead. "It was kind of a whim where you're hoping to see the balloon up close and the next thing you know, your kid's in one," marveled Jeff.