Beano’s Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Loveland – 2012 Sweetheart Balloon Rally [PICTURES]

This morning I got to relive what it's like to be awake at 4AM, but it was well worth it because I was able to ride in a hot air balloon over Loveland, thanks to Engaging Loveland and the Sweetheart Balloon Rally. I had to share some of the amazing photos I took.

The balloon rally continues this weekend at the Larimer County Fair at the The Ranch.

My wife and I were teamed up with balloon pilot Michael Hill. He is a professional photographer as well as an avid balloonist and he helped make our ride very, very enjoyable. (I'm now darn-near convinced to go crew for him and go on another ride in the future.)

He'll have one of the many balloons in the sky again tomorrow and Sunday morning (weather permitting). He'll also be part of the "Balloon Glow" slated to happen Saturday night at The Ranch.

If you've never been in a hot air balloon, trust me, try it if you ever get the chance! (And that's coming from a guy who's not a fan of heights.) The views are spectacular, and there is nothing quite like the feeling of gently floating thousands of feet above the earth.