Canada highs
Reaches new heights over jaw-dropping Quebec scenery
There I was, slowly tip-toeing towards the huge wicker basket when my Montreal tour guide, Frederic, bellowed over, “Hurry up, this is gonna be magical”. Turns out he wasn’t full of hot air, but it’s a good job the balloon was! After my mission to hike, bike and eat my way around autumnal Quebec was almost complete, all the while taking in what the locals simply refer to as “the colours”, I plucked up the courage in order to experience some of the best views on the planet. Getting in a hot air balloon has always filled me with dread, but as the burners roared into overdrive and the basket left the luscious green grass of Terre à Boire’s cider vineyard and distillery below, fear and trepidation gave way to one, simple word. Joy.
Looking out from on high, you gain a newfound appreciation for the region.
The rivers, lakes, and valleys that crisscross Quebec become more apparent and the tapestry of forests below, in every shade of dusky green, brilliant yellow, sultry orange, vivid red and moody brown, seem never-ending.
In the calm, chilly sunset air, I found myself looking around trying to take it all in, all with a smile on my face. Even the bustling city of Montreal, which loomed large in the distance, seemed peaceful, dwarfed by the sheer magnitude and beauty of the 360-degree vista below.
The sense of tranquillity was only interrupted by the occasional blast of the burners, leaving us floating amid a sea of fire, surrounded by the blazing colours of the season.
Moving on up
Of course, the best way to see the colours is to brave a hot air balloon, – but if that is a step too far, there are plenty of other