NEW YORK STATE SIGHTS--

WonderWorks, Forestburgh, Bashakill         



                         Andy maneuvers the controls
of a spaceship as he tries to land the craft.

"I never in a million years would have imagined I would see so much of New York State!" marveled Andy recently, as we headed back to Tara's house. "The city, maybe, but we have been all over this state and seen ever so much more than the average New Yorker!"
He was absolutely right.
After four State Conventions for FFA to Medina, Albion, Morrisville and Syracuse that lasted five days each and weeks and weeks of animal sitting at Tara's house, we have covered many interesting spots in the state.
Two visits to WonderWorks, Destiny U.S.A. in Syracuse were connected to FFA travels. Both times we chaperoned large groups of teenagers, but there was plenty of time to test out the scientific theories and try our hand at manipulating experiments.
Andy landed the shuttle, or at least he tried.  In November of 1983, the Space Shuttle Discovery was delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, and it took its first mission flight on August 30, 1984.  After 39 successfully completed missions in more than 27 years, Discovery is now a retired orbiter. Andy maneuvered the controls of the Space Shuttle to make a clean landing onto the airstrip.  Well, maybe it wasn't so clean, but he earned the label "You tried, Astronaut!"
Sue joined some of the FFA members from Tara's chapter in the Laser-Tag battle black-lit maze. It will take a bit more training and experience to be competitive, but she got off shots and managed to even hit a few targets, including Tara, who repeatedly shot her in the back!
Andy became a human lightning rod when he put his hand into the experimental mesh, steel armor glove of the Tesla Coil and watched 100,000 volts of electricity pass through to his fingers.
We both entered the 4D extreme Motion Ride XD Theater for a ten-minute trip through a coal mine and a plane flight through the Grand Canyon. Then we watched some of the kids try the World's largest Suspended Indoor Ropes Course. In spots some 70 feet over our heads, the kids tried three levels of ropes as they encountered 81 different obstacles and activities.

Sue didn't dare move as she napped on a bed of nails.

We tried to Strike a Pose in another display. The secret to the exhibit was the wall where we posed. The sign explained that the flash behind us cast a shadow on the wall, which was unable to absorb light. The image on the wall had not become darker; instead, the rest of the wall became lighter. We were actually witnessing our own shadows.
Every great scientist knows that pressure is the application of force to the surface of an object. And the mandatory assistant at this stop was no slouch. He only allowed people over the age of 18 on this experiment. He explained that when a person steps on a single nail, the foot puts a large amount of force onto the small surface area of that nail, easily piercing the skin. So here Sue lay down on a whole Bed of Nails. That's a lot of pressure on the surface of an object!  But the weight was spread across 3,500 nails. As long as I maintained level position, it was safe and almost... but not quite... comfortable!

Andy and Sue relax in the casual atmosphere of the playhouse.

Illusion artwork covered many of the walls and stairwells of WonderWorks, as well. Some paintings had hidden objects, and some had eyes that followed us wherever we went. We had to open our eyes and our minds to see all the pieces of every picture.  It was a challenge in observation and imagination.
Several other stays at Tara's house, where we fed, cleaned and cared for the school animals and her three cats, gave us theater opportunities. Three evenings we drove to Forestburgh to see summer stock performances at the Forestburgh Playhouse: The Adaams Family, Tommy, Into the Woods. An intimate old barn setting, well-attended performances and talented young actors and actresses highlighted the evenings for all three presentations.

High above the main building, the
back property offers tables and chairs
where visitors can sit, relax and sip.

One night we even had buffet dinner, compliments of Tara, and enjoyed the accompanying cabaret. Another trip we stopped in the backstage shed to snap pictures with the camera ten-second timer. The third night we strolled the grounds, emblazoned with summer flowers in reds and oranges, before the bell call to show.
Bashakill Winery in Wurtsboro was another stop in our summer New York exploration.

With spectacular views of the Catskills Mountains, Bashakill
Vineyards is a hidden gem in Sullivan County, New York.

The first winery in Sullivan County, Bashakill Vineyards is even now one of only two wineries in the area.  We picked a spot high up on the veranda to quietly take in the view. Below us the fountain spewed water in gentle sprays. Music wafted up from the main serving hall, but few people disturbed the solitude.  Those who did come out to share the view with us picked their own spots for quiet relaxation. Even with the threat of rain, the view was spectacular.

Other visitors offer to exchange photos and prove to be
quite able with my camera.

We chatted with some, talked to the owner/winemaker Peter and sipped several delicious varieties of his Bashakill cellars. It was a lovely afternoon in Wurtsboro and a place we wouldn't hesitate to visit again.