Unless you’ve seen 600+ hot air balloons aloft at one time, it is hard to explain.  I left the house at 5 a.m. to be at the park for Dawn Patrol then the mass ascension at 7:15 a.m.  No time for coffee, too early for breakfast, I practically sleep drove to the Park and Ride station.  It was dark.  We arrived at the park and it was still dark.  I found coffee, and spent the three dollars in cash that I had on me.  The event begins with Dawn Patrol, which is when a select group of balloons launch prior to the mass ascension.  This allows the other balloon pilots to see how the balloons are responding to the weather.  It was amazing to watch these balloons in the dark, aglow from the inside from the blast of lit propane.  Once the mass ascension began I went from amazed to astounded, overwhelmed and I cried because it was so beautiful.

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