We are signed up with the Northeast Hot Air RV’ers to camp for the three days just off the festival grounds (the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airfield) in Queensbury NY.  Our fulltime travel complicates getting parking documents but hopefully its all worked out now.  Kent makes a reconnaissance run in the car to find the entrance gate we are to use and confirms, we are all set.

We roll in, park the car in the towed lot, and make our way to the front row on the crest of the hill overlooking the launch field.  It is a hay field, just recently bush hogged, so bumpy underfoot and tire but the location is prime!

Night one.  It is cold and winds gusting to 23 mph.  Launch is VERY unlikely but we take the shuttle down to the field to check things out anyway.   The crowds are surprisingly large.  We maneuver through the souvenir tent emerging with only my medallion.  We grab cider donuts and a gyro for diner.   We see that the balloon pilots are making their way to the briefing tent.  The answer is as anticipated.  There will be no flying tonight.  We are a bit disappointed but know we have a couple more chances to see a launch.  We head off to warm up and to bed early.  We need to be up at 5am.

Day two is perfect.  The early launch is a go.  We are down on the field again right among the balloons as they inflate and take flight.  We get a glimpse of the patterns and colors as the first hump on the ground forms then they pop upright like brightly colored lightbulbs.  Each one makes me smile as we are swallowed up by the action all around us.  Winds aloft move them off from the field quickly once they are airborne.  All but a couple colorful orbs are gone.  Left standing among them are a huge Panda Bear, an enormous Snowman, and a towering Tasmanian Devil; the lovable special shapes.

The evening launch is splendid. The air is calm and the balloons linger over the field.  We are among them again for the launch and revel in watching them overhead.  Two new special shapes come in; a lion and Mr. sun.  20 or so balloons, including the special shapes, stay grounded for a tethered moonglow.  The pilots pulse the burners to create a light pattern.  That part is not overly impressive tonight but it gives us a little more viewing time for the special shapes and a nice closing for a great day.

One more launch.  We sleep in a bit and watch the final mass ascension from the hilltop where we camped.  Weather is great for ballooning.  As they lift off, I am reminded that this perspective is great too. One gets a better feel for how grand the whole thing is.  The balloons swirl in the light currents over the field moving right, left, away, and toward as they mill about seeming to linger just so we can enjoy watching them.

This festival is great fun and I can’t imagine an easier way to experience it than with this group from this hilltop.  People are friendly, helpful and fun.  The shuttle runs regularly and smoothly.  They have activities and games for kids and adults.  There is no traffic to contend with and you can come and go through the day between the launch field and home.  There is free coffee and donuts in the mornings and bargain priced Stewart’s ice cream throughout the day.  What more could you want?

We are in covered bridge country and the nearest is in Cornwall, just 30 minutes from here.  It is a curvy drive along the Housatonic River past quaint towns and lots of fishing access points.  The bridge is beautiful and wonderfully maintained.  We hang to appreciate it a bit then head to the Cornwall Country Store for some ice cream.  A roadside history signs explains why there are so many “Cornwalls (Cornwall Bridge, West Cornwall, Cornwall, Cornwall Village…).  This area was occupied during post-religious-freedom settlement days.  They didn’t settle A town centered on a church.  They settled their land as separate farmsteads.  Ultimately little burgs each declaring its own name formed around many of those individual farmsteads so….lots of Cornwalls.  Cool historical tidbit.

We finally make it for a full tour of Opus 40 sculpture garden.  It is just 20 minutes from Kingston but we managed only an abbreviated evening visit this summer. Huge rock structures/earthworks emerge from a retired bluestone quarry.  Spring-fed pools are scattered throughout.  The scale is amazing and the fact that it exists as a labor of love of one artist, Harvey Fite, created over nearly 40 years is remarkable.   He used traditional quarryman’s tools and was definitely obsessed with his work.  Probably was tough to be married to him but we are fortunate to be able to come here to enjoy his work.  Very cool.

Ok, not exactly what I expected but actually cooler.  “Largest Kaleidoscope”, I am thinking a big telescope looking thingy that you hold and turn to get the shapes.  Nope.  This one actually resides in an old silo – yeah, big.  We are “seated” in a viewing room.  They turn down the lights.  Accompanied by a great story reminding us that we, actually all things, are born of star dust; they animate the kaleidoscope so that shapes form, combine, disappear, and reform as a new image on the ceiling of the room. I loved it and found it hard to resist buying a more reasonably sized one to create the show for myself when the mood presents itself.  The kaleidostore had stuff to buy of course and some cool exhibits.  My favorite was a mirrored and decorated chamber that when you stick your head in the images seem to go on forever reflection in reflection in reflection.  Amazing.