THURSDAY - After a fairly typical <100-mile moving day we arrived at another New York State Park.
This time it's Letchworth State Park, which runs along both sides of the Genesee River for a 20+ mile distance here, just west of the Finger Lakes Region of New York state.
We reserved a beautiful spot with a trail along the Genesse River Gorge right at the back of our site. It's beautiful to look at, but with zero cell signal and too many trees for our Starlink dish to operate under, we are going to be changing campsites on Sunday afternoon when all the local people go home and free up some sites in the sold out campground this weekend.
Our beautiful site, but way too many trees for Starlink.
Our site was a bit downhill, but we were able to get level without much trouble.
It's going to be tough giving up this view!
FRIDAY - After arriving yesterday and all day today we intentionally didn't go out sightseeing anywhere in the park. We did this so our "first view" of the park would be from overhead.
Letchworth State Park is well known for several things. One is the beautiful 20+ mile, 500+ foot deep river gorge. The second thing are the 3 wonderful waterfalls along the river. Thirdly is the fact that there is an opportunity to experience the park from 2500' overhead in a hot air balloon.
When weather permits and demand supports it, the balloons fly twice a day, once at sunrise and again at sunset. We elected the sunset time slot and are so glad we did, it was in the mid 50°Fs this morning and closer to 80°F when we lifted off at 6:00PM.
We have so been looking forward to this afternoon since making the reservations months ago. It comes at a pretty steep price of $425 each, so this will probably end up being a "once in a lifetime" experience for both of us.
BALLOONS OVER LETCHWORTH
SLIDE NUMBER
1
OF
54
Everything needed to launch our balloon into the air can be found inside this trailer. Well, maybe except the pilot, and the chase crew to bring us back to the launch field.
SLIDE NUMBER
2
OF
54
This is the smaller basket that will lift 8-passengers, plus the pilot, into the air.
SLIDE NUMBER
3
OF
54
Our larger basket and larger balloon can carry up to 10-passengers plus the pilot.
SLIDE NUMBER
4
OF
54
They carefully lay the balloon out on the grassy field to begin inflating it.
SLIDE NUMBER
5
OF
54
This is the important part, "securely" attaching the balloon to the basket.
SLIDE NUMBER
6
OF
54
Their ready to start the inflation process, cue the big fans.
SLIDE NUMBER
7
OF
54
I'm glad to see three hugh propane tanks onboard. I just hope they're all full.
SLIDE NUMBER
8
OF
54
That's our pilot, Lee, getting ready to send up a small helium balloon to check the winds.
SLIDE NUMBER
9
OF
54
Both balloons are now starting to fill will air.
SLIDE NUMBER
10
OF
54
That's our pilot Lee making sure everything inside of the balloon is ready to go.
SLIDE NUMBER
11
OF
54
About halfway there now.
SLIDE NUMBER
12
OF
54
One more final look around inside before we lift off.
SLIDE NUMBER
13
OF
54
The smaller balloon is up and piloted by Lee's older brother, Lance. Ours will soon be ready to go.
VIDEO #1
With just a few short blasts of heat our balloon also rises up into the air.
SLIDE NUMBER
14
OF
54
Both balloons are up and we'll soon be invited to climb into the basket.
SLIDE NUMBER
15
OF
54
The smaller ballon leaves first and is being "walked" out to the middle of the launch field.
SLIDE NUMBER
16
OF
54
And just like that they are away and gone. Our turn next!
SLIDE NUMBER
17
OF
54
I'm glad to see that our balloon is happy.
SLIDE NUMBER
18
OF
54
The smaller balloon appears to be stuck in that tree, but it's not.
SLIDE NUMBER
19
OF
54
I'm also glad to see we have a trusted copilot on board in case of emergency.
VIDEO #2
Then it was our turn to be "walked" across the launch field and before we knew it we were also (sing along here) UP, UP, AND AWAY IN OUR BEAUTIFUL BALLOON.
Where are they going? I thought this ride would be higher in the sky by now.
20
OF
54
VIDEO #3
This reminds me of the Stephen Stills song "Treetop Flyer".
I'll be damned! Lance took their balloon right over the Middle Falls.
21
OF
54
VIDEO #4
I guess where Big Brother goes, Little Brother follows. I swear we got the bottom of our basket wet and it wasn't from any of the passengers.
You don't get this up close view of the falls from anywhere else in the park.
22
OF
54
The Middle Falls in the foreground with the Train Tresle Bridge in the background.
23
OF
54
I just had to include this one more photo of the Middle Falls.
24
OF
54
VIDEO #5
After the falls we traveled about 100-yards down between the gorge walls.
SLIDE NUMBER
25
OF
54
We now began our ascent out of the gorge.
SLIDE NUMBER
26
OF
54
The gorge walls are over 500' deep at this point.
SLIDE NUMBER
27
OF
54
Our shadow on the trees below, some of them showing the beginning of fall colors.
SLIDE NUMBER
28
OF
54
Now we're gaining some elevation, eventually reaching 2500'.
SLIDE NUMBER
29
OF
54
I spotted ROVER down there in the parking lot, right where I left him.
SLIDE NUMBER
30
OF
54
One word: BEAUTIFUL
SLIDE NUMBER
31
OF
54
A little more heat gives us a little more rise.
SLIDE NUMBER
32
OF
54
Scraping the tree tops the pilot reached out and grabbed a few leaves.
SLIDE NUMBER
33
OF
54
That's a view of the Upper Falls just below the train bridge.
SLIDE NUMBER
34
OF
54
We are really getting up there now!
SLIDE NUMBER
35
OF
54
There's Big Brother always up above watching us.
SLIDE NUMBER
36
OF
54
Right about now I'm thinking the pilot is searching for a landing spot.
SLIDE NUMBER
37
OF
54
That doesn't look like a good soft place to land.
SLIDE NUMBER
38
OF
54
There's our "Chase Crew" down below getting in position to retrieve the balloon.
SLIDE NUMBER
39
OF
54
Nope! We're not landing just yet.
SLIDE NUMBER
40
OF
54
There's Big Brother again.
SLIDE NUMBER
41
OF
54
The Chase Crew has repositioned and is once again ready.
SLIDE NUMBER
42
OF
54
Nope! Not here and not yet anyway.
SLIDE NUMBER
43
OF
54
What makes someone think they need a kayak to get around in that little dried up pond?
SLIDE NUMBER
44
OF
54
I'm not seeing too many landing opportunities on the horizon.
SLIDE NUMBER
45
OF
54
Big Brother has dropped down below and behind us now.
SLIDE NUMBER
46
OF
54
This family were all excited to watch us fly over their home, especially the little ones.
SLIDE NUMBER
47
OF
54
The Chase Crew is now hurrying down some dusty farm roads trying to stay out ahead of us.
SLIDE NUMBER
48
OF
54
Still looking for a place to land.
VIDEO #6
Here we come across a large shallow pond with a beaver lodge in the middle, but thankfully that didn't seem to be a suitable landing spot either.
Up ahead we have some plowed and cleared fields, maybe that's where we'll land.
49
OF
54
VIDEO #7
It looks like we've finally found a suitable landing area. The good news is the Chase Crew have already received permission from the property owner.
VIDEO #8
We walked our balloon over to the edge of the field to make room for Big Brother, but a light breeze developed and he had to land in the field next door.
SLIDE NUMBER
50
OF
54
The smaller balloon is also safely on the ground.
SLIDE NUMBER
51
OF
54
Here I am adding a little extra weight to keep our balloon from lifting off.
SLIDE NUMBER
52
OF
54
I also got to briefly hold the red emergency cord, until our pilot took it away from me.
SLIDE NUMBER
53
OF
54
That's the lazy way of keeping the balloon from lifting off.
SLIDE NUMBER
54
OF
54
Here's my Certificate of Survival.
In case you can't make out the text on the certificate in the photo above it reads:
CERTIFICATE OF SURVIVAL
Be it known to all to whom these presents shall come that
Patricia Kelley
did, with great courage and heroic aplomb, demonstrate cool resourcefulness in the face of imminent death, disfigurment,
and destruction. Furthermore, this esteemed Aeronaut did show exemplary depth of character in gaining victory
over no small amount of fear and trepidation, and having ascended into the troposphere of the planet Earth in the
gondola of a hot air balloon, did return victorious from the atmospheric realms to the safelty of Terra Firma.
This incredible aeronautical feat is witnessed and attested by
Lee Teitsworth - 9/20/24
All due respect, courtesies, admiration and deference shall be afforded
the bearer of this document from this day forth and forevermore.
The French pioneered hot air ballooning as a mode of human transportation way back in 1783. They also began the tradition of celebrating each successful landing with a Champagne Toast.
Today, after awarding everyone with their certificate, Lee magically made a bottle of Sparkling Grape Juice appear, plus a handful of plastic cups with the company logo on them.
After everyone had a cup, we raised them high, and with a heartfelt round of Cheers! we too celebrated our successful landing.
What an amazing experience we had!
SATURDAY - Yesterday we really enjoyed our hot air balloon ride over the park, but today we're going sightseeing from ground level, like we are used to.
We are going to start down in the south end of the park, very near where the balloon launch field is. Yesterday we noticed there was a snack bar and picnic grounds there, so we waited until lunch time to start our day sightseeing.
LETCHWORTH STATE PARK
(GROUND LEVEL SIGHTSEEING)
SLIDE NUMBER
1
OF
30
Classic photo of the Upper Falls with the railroad bridge overhead.
SLIDE NUMBER
2
OF
30
Without climbing too many stairs we got this photo of the Upper Falls.
SLIDE NUMBER
3
OF
30
This brings back fond memories of last evening.
SLIDE NUMBER
4
OF
30
These are the Middle Falls which we flew over last night.
SLIDE NUMBER
5
OF
30
Absolutely our favorite of the three waterfalls in the park.
SLIDE NUMBER
6
OF
30
There's a pathway that leads up to a higher vantage point, but the view isn't any better.
SLIDE NUMBER
7
OF
30
The 7-mile long Gorge Trail is the most popular in the park.
SLIDE NUMBER
8
OF
30
One of several historic restored homes in the park.
SLIDE NUMBER
9
OF
30
This view of the Middle Falls is found at Inspiration Point.
SLIDE NUMBER
10
OF
30
Same location but zoomed in qute a bit.
SLIDE NUMBER
11
OF
30
This pedestrian bridge gains you easy access to the east side of the park.
SLIDE NUMBER
12
OF
30
Without this bridge you'd be getting your feet wet to visit the east side of the park.
SLIDE NUMBER
13
OF
30
These are the Lower Falls and require a little bit of hiking to see.
SLIDE NUMBER
14
OF
30
The cascades below the Lower Falls.
SLIDE NUMBER
15
OF
30
One more shot of the Lower Falls and the cascades.
SLIDE NUMBER
16
OF
30
This is the view from the center of the pedestrian bridge.
SLIDE NUMBER
17
OF
30
The East Side of the park is fairly undeveloped, mainly used for hiking.
SLIDE NUMBER
18
OF
30
There are quite a few stairs to climb to get back to the bridge height.
SLIDE NUMBER
19
OF
30
Looking upriver this time from the center of the bridge.
SLIDE NUMBER
20
OF
30
More stairs to get back up to the Gorge Trail.
SLIDE NUMBER
21
OF
30
The view from just one of the numerous Overlooks along the roadway.
SLIDE NUMBER
22
OF
30
Most of the Overlooks are well marked and have small paved parking lots.
SLIDE NUMBER
23
OF
30
Again, just beautiful forested hills in New York state.
SLIDE NUMBER
24
OF
30
Along the roadway most of the guardrails are made of stone by the CCC.
SLIDE NUMBER
25
OF
30
The pedestrian bridge will get you safely across Wolf Creek.
SLIDE NUMBER
26
OF
30
Even the retaining walls are made of stone.
SLIDE NUMBER
27
OF
30
Here's a little fall color in full display.
SLIDE NUMBER
28
OF
30
At the very north end of the park you'll find the Mt. Morris Dam built by the ACOE.
SLIDE NUMBER
29
OF
30
It's mainly used for flood control during heavy rain and spring thaw events.
SLIDE NUMBER
30
OF
30
Tricia found these clouds interesting enough to photograph, so I'll share it with you too.
Everything needed to launch our balloon into the air can be found inside this trailer.
This is the smaller basket that will lift 8-passengers, plus the pilot, into the air.
Our larger basket and larger balloon can carry up to 10-passengers plus the pilot.
They carefully lay the balloon out on the grassy field to begin inflating it.
This is the important part, "securely" attaching the balloon to the basket.
Their ready to start the inflation process, cue the big fans.
I'm glad to see three hugh propane tanks onboard. I just hope they're all full.
That's our pilot, Lee, getting ready to send up a small helium balloon to check the winds.
Both balloons are now starting to fill will air.
That's our pilot Lee making sure everything inside of the balloon is ready to go.
About halfway there now.
One more final look around inside before we lift off.
The smaller balloon is up and piloted by Lee's older brother, Lance.
Both balloons are up and we'll soon be invited to climb into the basket.
The smaller ballon leaves first and is being "walked" out to the middle of the launch field.
And just like that they are away and gone. Our turn next!
I'm glad to see that our balloon is happy.
The smaller balloon appears to be stuck in that tree, but it's not.
I'm also glad to see we have a trusted copilot on board in case of emergency.
We now began our ascent out of the gorge.
The gorge walls are over 500' deep at this point.
Our shadow on the trees below, some of them showing the beginning of fall colors.
Now we're gaining some elevation, eventually reaching 2500'.
I spotted ROVER down there in the parking lot, right where I left him.
One word: BEAUTIFUL
A little more heat gives us a little more rise.
Scraping the tree tops the pilot reached out and grabbed a few leaves.
That's a view of the Upper Falls just below the train bridge.
We are really getting up there now!
There's Big Brother always up above watching us.
Right about now I'm thinking the pilot is searching for a landing spot.
That doesn't look like a good soft place to land.
There's our "Chase Crew" down below getting in position to retrieve the balloon.
Nope! We're not landing just yet.
There's Big Brother again.
The Chase Crew has repositioned and is once again ready.
Nope! Not here and not yet anyway.
What makes someone think they need a kayak to get around in that little dried up pond?
I'm not seeing too many landing opportunities on the horizon.
Big Brother has dropped down below and behind us now.
This family were all excited to watch us fly over their home, especially the little ones.
The Chase Crew is now hurrying down some dusty farm roads trying to stay out ahead of us.
Still looking for a place to land.
The smaller balloon is also safely on the ground.
Here I am adding a little extra weight to keep our balloon from lifting off.
I also got to briefly hold the red emergency cord, until our pilot took it away from me.
That's the lazy way of keeping the balloon from lifting off.
Here's my Certificate of Survival.
Classic photo of the Upper Falls with the railroad bridge overhead.
Without climbing too many stairs we got this photo of the Upper Falls.
This brings back fond memories of last evening.
These are the Middle Falls which we flew over last night.
Absolutely our favorite of the three waterfalls in the park.
There's a pathway that leads up to a higher vantage point, but the view isn't any better.
The 7-mile long Gorge Trail is the most popular in the park.
One of several historic restored homes in the park.
This view of the Middle Falls is found at Inspiration Point.
Same location but zoomed in qute a bit.
This pedestrian bridge gains you easy access to the east side of the park.
Without this bridge you'd be getting your feet wet to visit the east side of the park.
These are the Lower Falls and require a little bit of hiking to see.
The cascades below the Lower Falls.
One more shot of the Lower Falls and the cascades.
This is the view from the center of the pedestrian bridge.
The East Side of the park is fairly undeveloped, mainly used for hiking.
There are quite a few stairs to climb to get back to the bridge height.
Looking upriver this time from the center of the bridge.
More stairs to get back up to the Gorge Trail.
The view from just one of the numerous Overlooks along the roadway.
Most of the Overlooks are well marked and have small paved parking lots.
Again, just beautiful forested hills in New York state.
Along the roadway most of the guardrails are made of stone by the CCC.
The pedestrian bridge will get you safely across Wolf Creek.
Even the retaining walls are made of stone.
Here's a little fall color in full display.
At the very north end of the park you'll find the Mt. Morris Dam built by the ACOE.
It's mainly used for flood control during heavy rain and spring thaw events.
Tricia found these clouds interesting enough to photograph, so I'll share it with you too.
