Morning Patrol at the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic

[Guest post by Richard Sheppard in Sonoma County, California]

My alarm was set for 3:45 am for the Annual Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic in Windsor, California, but I awoke on my own, one hour earlier. Dawn Patrol begins promptly at 5:00 a.m. and I wanted to be sure to make it on time.

I entered the gates of Keiser Park, and passed through the concession tents, with the aromas of coffee and grilling pancakes warming the cool morning air.

When I walked onto the field, several trucks pulled into position and parked. Balloons were unloaded from trailers and with a flurry of activity, unrolled across the grass. Compressors then filled the balloons until they rose up like sleeping giants.

With four balloons now standing side by side, Dawn Patrol began. Hissing flames lit the brightly colored fabrics in a spectacular array of colors and soon after the balloons ascended into the morning sunrise.

Richard Sheppard is a freelance illustrator and fine artist based in Healdsburg, California. You can see a lot more of his work here on his blog.