Adirondack Balloon Flights Blog

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon and no flights scheduled, the wifey and I took advantage of a rare August, Saturday afternoon off, to take a trip up into the mountains and visit Lake Placid. We rarely get to Placid on an August Saturday afternoon, and with the day so nice, we were in the mood to head north into the Adirondack’s to enjoy some of the offerings available during the warmer time of year, as opposed to the fall/winter season, that usually draws us north. We found the place bustling with activity and were not able to do all we were hoping to do. The boat cruise on Lake Placid was sold out, and a hike at Adirondack Loj didn’t happen since their parking lot was full, and to hike, you had to park nearly a mile away and hike to hike? So, we took a pass on doing that till a later date when it’s not so crowded. Lake Placid is a place that’s steeped in Olympic history and currently is one of the training sites for Team USA. It’s a 4 season destination, that is most busy during the summer and winter months, not so, spring and fall. If you are into hiking, the trip back into the Adirondack Loj, which is maintained by the Adirondack Mountain Club, is well worth the trip.

On Route 73, heading toward Keene Valley and Lake Placid.

This is the Noon Mark Diner in Keene Valley, a good place to eat-they are noted for their pies. Keene Valley is one of the popular hiking destinations along Route 73.

One of the first things you notice just before you get to Lake Placid, are the two Ski Jumping Towers that were built for the 1980 Winter Olympics. They are still used by Team USA for training and various competitive events during the winter.

Welcome to the Village of Lake Placid

The view down Main Street. There a number of good shops and restaurants to haunt.

We had lunch on the outdoor patio of The Adirondack Steak and Seafood Restaurant

They offer a fine selection of their own brews from their Adirondack Brewing Co.

On the far end of the main drag is the Brown Dog Cafe & Wine Bar. We've eaten there a couple of times and can highly recommend it.

Mirror Lake in the summertime.

On the Adirondack Loj Road, looking west.

On the Adirondack Loj Road, the view south toward Marcy Dam and Adirondack Loj.

Well, that’s it for this post. When visiting the area, it’s well worth exploring north into the Adirondack’s. Either take Route 28 north out of Warrensburgh at Exit 23 of the Adirondack Northway, or continue north to Exit 30, which takes you to Keene Valley and Lake Placid.

Saturday’s flying weather was crappy and I had canceled my flights for the day, so the wifey and I headed down to Saratoga Springs to enjoy some great music at the present day version of the famed Newport Jazz Fest, the Freihofer’s Jazz Festival at SPAC. The Jazz Fest is a 2 day event, we went for Saturday. We got there about 12 noon and left around 10 PM after a full day of enjoying some great Jazz, except for the last act – I’ll explain later. For the last 30 years or so, I’ve always been too busy with my seasonal balloon ride biz to consider taking the time to appreciate and enjoy an event such as this in my local area, and just figured it was time, again. I say again because when I was in my late teens to early 20s, a friend and I went to Newport for the Jazz Festival. Can’t remember much about the acts or the music, it was the 60′s for-peets-sake, but I do remember running into Bill Russell at the beer tent. I was a huge Boston Celtics fan as a kid, so I was definitely impressed by standing next to him. He towered over me, and I was considered a big man back then on my high school basketball team at 6’3″. Not very big by today’s standards, and neither was Bill. Anyway, back to Saturday’s event, there were 7 acts playing on the main stage in the Amphitheater and 6 at the small Gazebo, so there was constant music playing. Most of the bands I’d never heard of (don’t mean much) except for the last headline act-Michael McDonald, who for the life-of-me, I don’t know why he was booked as a headline act at a Jazz Festival like this, and the Jack DeJohnette Group, who was the main attraction for me. The first act opened at noon, with the last around 9:15  PM, like I said, a full day.

Arriving at SPAC, greeted by Colleen Corcoran scanning tickets. Colleen's bro Pat was a buddy of mine from highschool days.

The walkway onto the grounds.

The Amphitheater

The first act up playing world infused music, the Lionel Loueke Trio from the West African nation of Benin.

Next group, the Ben Allison Band. The crowd gradually grew as the afternoon went on.

While we had some great seats inside the Amphitheater, the lawn is the most popular for the party crowd that likes events like the Jazz Festival

Another view of the lawn crowd, which most had prepared for rain.

The small second stage, the Gazebo with Hilary Kole playing

Next act up on the main stage at the amphitheater, Eliane Elias whose music blends elements of jazz, pop, soul and Brazilian Bossa Nova.

Next up, the main draw for me - The Jack DeJohnette Group.

Next was the bigger group sound of George Wein & The Newport All Stars. George Wein spearheaded the first Newport Jazz Festival in 1954. In 1978, he opened a second location for his Newport Jazz Fest in Saratoga Springs at SPAC. On his 85th birthday celebration, jazz pianist Wein, led a very talented group of musicians after the dedication of a bronze star in the SPAC Walk of Fame.

The crowd in the amphitheater is growing as we head into the evening hour.

Next up was the 2011 Jazz Journalist Association Female Singer of the Year, Dee Dee Bridgewater, performing a tribute to Billie Holiday. This lady had a powerful voice and was the high-lite of the evening.

And last up at around 9:15 PM, was Michael McDonald, who for the life of me, I don't know why he was booked for this show? If you were looking for a hard rocking, top 40, pop/motown Grammy Award winner, he's your guy. He's not a jazz singer in my humble opinion.

While I have to admit, that both of us were disappointed with the scheduled head-line act of Michael McDonald, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the variety of music selected for Saturday’s show, the first of the two days of the Saratoga Jazz Festival.

Wifey and I decided to enjoy a nice Saturday afternoon, tripping up north for a picnic at the State Campsite on Paradox Lake up in the mountains.

Chillin' at Paradox Lake with a good book.

Someone with the "gone fishing" sign for the afternoon.

While we were in the neighborhood, decided to hop over to Fort Ti so wifey could check-out the posies at the Kings Gardens

Entrance to the Gardens

Next we decided to head to Crown Point and stopped at Frenchy's for some soft ice cream

The new Crown Point Bridge underconstruction and the temporary car ferry operation in use.

The Forts at Crown Point. The French Fort St Frederic marked by the white flag, and the British Fort at Crown Point marked by the Union Jack in the background.

The French Fort St. Frederic built 1734.

The ruins of the Fort's ovens.

In 1759, the British under General Jeffrey Amherst captured what was left of Fort St Frederic and began construction of what was to become the largest fort built in North America by the British, Fort Crown Point.

Into the grounds of Fort Crown Point.

The Officers Quarters

A view into the common Soldiers Quarters. Notice the fireplaces, 2 story construction. They really packed them in, 3 to a bunk, yikes!

A view back toward Lake Champlain and the fort's ruins. At this end, there was a chimney fire that spread out of control, burning down the armory and blowing the gunpowder magazine, destroying the fort in 1773.

Another view of the ruins