Adirondack Balloon Flights Blog

We’ve been on the road again, visiting our friends the Leahy’s in Clayton two weeks ago, and this past Saturday Rick and Roseann for lunch at 2 Brothers in Middlebury VT.

On the road to Clayton on Rt 28, just past North Creek, along the Hudson River.

The further we got up into the Adirondacks, we found snow on the ground. It has been a mild winter so far.

The Rt 28 bridge crossing Long Lake - all open water, no ice so far.

Arriving in Clayton

Casa Leahy on John Street in Clayton.

Tani and Jane enjoying the evening holiday parade in Clayton

great fireworks after the parade.

An early morning stroll down to the river.

Boat on the water - Clayton is part of the 1000 Islands district, right on the St. Lawrence River.

a very sleepy downtown Clayton, early morning.

Wall mural art at the Koffee Kove Restaurant.

Another early morning view of the St. Lawrence River, looking toward Canada.

Sunset over the Adirondacks, heading south on Rt 87, after visiting w/bro Steve in Plattsburgh. It was a good lunch, but a long day of driving - about 4 hours to P'burg from Clayton, and then another 1.45 hrs. to Qby and home.

Last Saturday, we met our friends Rick and Roseann in Middlebury VT for lunch at the 2 Brothers. We went via Crownpoint to cross Lake Champlain on the newly built bridge.

The new bridge over Lake Champlain at Crown Point, toward Vermont.

We had our own bit of March Madness around here recently, and I’m not talking about hometown boy Jimmer Fredette that plays for BYU and got as far as the NCAA Sweet 16, but, the New York State Public High School basketball championships, the NYSPHSAA. I met up with high school chum, Pat Corcoran, who was in town from Maryland to watch the semi and finals of the tourney. The most impressive game that I caught was the Saturday afternoon game between Mt Vernon and Half Hollow Hills West. The most impressive player was the big kid from Jamesville-DeWitt, Dajuan Coleman, a 6’8″, 280 lb Junior who was the MVP of the tourney in class A, and, who drew the attention of the University of Kentucky head coach, Jim Calipari. Calipari was at the Sunday championship games at the Civic Center to check out his prospect Coleman, who I understand will be playing for Kentucky after he graduates from high school.

Saturday's semi final game between Harborfields and Byram Hills

After our area has gotten between 4-8 inches of rain for the last week, we get some drying heading into the long Columbus Holiday Weekend and into the following week, which is my last week of flying for this year. My last flight will be on the 17th. According to the National Weather Service forecast, the forecast discussion from Albany NWS, and forecast weather maps for the coming week, the best flying opportunities appear to be the Saturday PM flight, both flights on Sunday and Monday morning. There is a chance of rain forecast for later on Monday and Tuesday, but the forecast computer models are not in agreement if and when the precipitation will happen. The 7 day forecast maps show that next Wednesday will offer good flying conditions, and whether that will extend to Tuesday PM and Thursday, I have no clarity at this time.

We had great flying conditions this morning and flying conditions should remain good for tonight’s flight. I am noticing that the fall foliage is starting to come on strong and may actually peak in a week or so, which is about 10 days early.

Tom and Alice from Voorheesville, and daughter Donna from Urbana IL.

The flying weather forecast for the balloon festival isn’t looking that good other than on Sunday. It should be flyable for them tonight from Crandall Park, except for the direction which isn’t the best to fly from there. The Friday PM and both Saturday flights may not happen because of the weather. Right now, Sunday is looking like the day to go view the balloons out at the airport.

It was a decent weekend for flying until Sunday. We had good flying conditions on Friday and Saturday. I don’t have any pics to post of the Friday PM flight due to computer not recognizing my camera in IPhoto for pic upload, (I had just set up my new 3G IPad and it was still recognizing it as connected, it was late at night and was too tired to fuss around to fix, so I just dumped them after loading them onto the web site’s photo page). But I have pics from the Saturday flights, plus a youtube video from DJ, Ralph Renna’s birthday flight on Saturday PM.

Paul and Lorraine on the Saturday AM flight

Cassandra and Ralph on the Saturday PM flight

And here’s a link to Ralph’s 40th birthday balloon flight YouTube video,  <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So4IteVhF_Y>. You can check-out Ralph’s internet radio show at capitalundergroundradio.com

Just went out for a walk with the wife between rain systems blowing through today. Good Grief, what a temperature drop just in the last hour out there behind that last rain that weather service said was moving through at 50mph. Also, weather service is advertising wide spread frost early Monday AM. Be careful with your Mother’s Day posie plantings.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL YOU MOTHERS OUT THERE!!

Last week was still fairly mild for late Fall, but, by the weekend, the 1st real snowfall of the season.

Friday 12/4 was still fairly mild in Lake George Village

Another 12/4 Lake George View

Early morning 12/5, first real snowfall of the season!

The Schroon River in Warrensburg

Later I’ll post some pictures of today’s snowstorm which produced around 8 inches. The ski hills should be much happier now and should be able to open more terrain for sliding. Prior to today’s snow, the local ski hill-West Mt-barely had any snow made and was not open. Gore only had one trail open over the weekend and Whiteface also had limited terrain open for skiers and boarders. Over in VT, Okemo, Killington and Stowe were open but Stratton had not as of the weekend.

After getting skunked again on a weekend due to the weather (rain on Sat., fog on Sun AM-tho did notice 2 of the younger local pilots doing a flight w/less than ideal-read legal-visual flight conditions, and wind Sun PM) we had beautiful flight conditions on Monday AM for a couple from Egg-harbor NJ and a guy from Thomaston CT.

Mike, Andrea & Chip

Flight weather should be good on Wednesday and we have space available on both flights. Weather may go down hill Thursday/Friday and improve again just in time for the weekend. We have space available, call to schedule your flight.