October 21, 2017 - Flight to Vermont Part I
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| Today's weather was perfect fly both flying and foliage viewing: sunny, warm, light winds. There were no fly-ins and I had nothing going on so I decided to do a flight I had been thinking about for a few years. I would fly up the Hudson River, then continue north along Lake George and Lake Champlain to the Canadian border. Then bop on over to the Green Mountains in Vermont and check out the foliage. Let it be done! |
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Heading east across the Eastern Shore. The weather guessers were not wrong; flying conditions were perfect.
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| You've seen aerial pictures of Massey Aerodrome many times. But have you ever see an aerial picture of Massey, the town? Well, here it is. Preeettty small. |
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I continued across the Delaware Bay and over the New Jersey Pine Barrens, until I could see Atlantic City and the ocean.
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| It's interesting how the woods stops suddenly and marsh takes over. Followed by a narrow strip of habitable land and then beach. |
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| Once I reached the beach, I turned north and headed up the coast. |
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| It looks like they are in the process of building sand dunes here. |
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Passing by Atlantic City.
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| This hotel looks empty and vacant to me. |
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In fact, the whole town of Atlantic City has always seemed empty and vacant to me. Look at all those vacant lots down there in what you would think would be prime real estate.
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| Continuing up the Jersey Shore. |
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| Fancy hotel overlooking the ocean. |
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| The New York City skyline becomes visible in the distance. |
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I've passed the Verazonno Bridge and am over New York Harbor. Look at all the ships down there.
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| The Freedom Tower really stands out. |
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Looking up the East River.
There were helicopters all over the place.
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| This unusual building caught me attention. |
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The aircraft carrier Intrepid is covered with stuff. Can hardly see it.
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| Lots of construction of the George Washington bridge(s). |
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Continuing up the Hudson River, approaching West Point.
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| There it is -- the U.S. Military Academy. Think of all the great Army generals who have passed through here: Lee, Grant, Sherman, Longstreet, Eisenhower, Patton, Ridgeway, Abrams, Patreaus. |
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The Hudson River valley opens up in front of me.
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| A chateau overlooking the river. Am I in France? |
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| Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome is just to the east of the Hudson River so I bopped over there to take a look. |
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| The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, founded by Cole Palen, is a living museum, having many examples of airworthy aircraft of the Pioneer Era, World War I and the Golden Age of Aviation between the World Wars. They have over 60 aircraft, 15-20 which are flyable at any one time. |
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Although I don't see it down there, I know they have a 909 Bleriott, a Fokker DR-1 Triplane and an extremely accurate reproduction of The Spirit of St. Louis, all of which fly. Rhinebeck is on my bucket list to attend. They were having an airshow today, their last one of the season.
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The Hudson River was still pretty wide at this point.
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| Passing by Albany, New York, the State Capital. The original Erie Canal ended at Albany. |
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| About ten miles north of Albany, at the town of Waterbury, the Hudson River continues north and the Mohawk River runs to the west. |
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| Looking west at the Mohawk River. |
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Notice the locks on the Hudson River.
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| Continuing north on the Hudson, I started seeing mini-dams, with an adjacent lock, so that boats could get through. |
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That sure looks like a runway on that otherwise tree-covered island.
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| This stretch of the river reminded me of flying the Missouri River out west. |
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| Another lock. |
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This definately was a private airstrip on an Griffin Island. I saw a windsock and at least one plane.
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| A short ways further, I came to a branch in the river at a place called Fort Edward. The Hudson River bears to the left (northwest). I wasn't sure what river that was that continued to the northeast. I learned later that it was the Champlain Canal and runs from here -- Fort Edward -- to Whitehall where it runs into Lake Champlain. |
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I turned northwest to stay on the Hudson River. This is Hudson Falls. A good-sized non-towered airport for the town of Glenn Falls -- The Floyd Bennet Memorial Airport (KGFL) was just to the north.
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The Hudson River ran west for a while before resuming its northerly course. I didn't want to go that way, so I left the river and headed north to Lake George.
Here, I'm no longer in the Hudson River valley and have entered some foothills where I'm beginning to see some color.
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| At the southern end of Lake George, looking north. I hadn't realized Lake George was in the mountains: sort of an east coast Lake Tahoe. |
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About one third up the Lake, on the west side, is the Sagamore Resort Hotel, built in 1883. Looks like a nice place!
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| Continuing north on Lake George. |
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Besides Lake Tahoe, Lake George reminded me of the Lochs in Scotland.
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