Moose Festival, Day 1

August 26, 2011 — On Monday the five-day forecast indicated good weather through Saturday, so I made a reservation at the Colebrook House for Friday night, so I could be in the area for the first two days of the Moose Festival in Colebrook, New Hampshire and Canaan, Vermont. Hurricane Irene was moving up the east coast, but wasn't expected to arrive in New England until Sunday.

I arrived in Colebrook at about noon on Friday and checked in at the Colebrook House, from which all the Moose Festival action is within walking distance. I had lunch first, then strolled along Main Street where vendors and crafters were still in the process of setting up their tents. I stopped at the field where Bob Cloutier offers helicopter rides, but there was a delay because the helicopter was in Nashua undergoing repairs, not very confidence-inspiring. I stopped in at Trinity Methodist Church where they were having their annual quilt show and took a series of photos. From there I visited the historic museums at town hall and the Tillotson Center. By the time I returned to Main Street, it was after 3 and the street was closed to traffic and opening ceremonies were in progress. Later, a rock band took the stage, and still later the Moose Valley Squares danced in the street and offered free lessons. At 5, I wandered up to Colebrook Academy for the chicken barbecue on their lawn while a local band played, one of my favorite Moose Festival attractions.

After dinner, I noticed the helicopter flying overhead, so I headed back to its landing site and got on a flight. As he had done two years ago, the last time I flew with him, Bob removed the door next to my seat leaving me with just a car-type seat belt the only thing saving me from a parachute-less free-fall. It was scary but thrilling, especially when he rolled toward my side of the helicopter, placing me horizontally over a doorless opening hundreds of feet in the air.

Once again this year, as last, they parked the show cars in the elementary school parking lot, instead of on Bridge Street as they had done previously. This parking lot is a terrible place for photography, with the cars parked so close together there's barely room to walk between them. Later in the evening, the cars paraded up Main Street, but I found the selection of cars disappointing this year.

You can see my photos and videos of the first day at this link:

http://www.linwoodstreet.com/colebrook2011/