A parade party and then an evening at a old-time country fair

HECTOR, New York, USA - Saturday evening was a return to old-time America with a parade consisting largely of firetrucks, Cub Scouts and homegrown musical talent, followed by a couple of hours wandering the Hector Fire Department Fair.

The fairgrounds had all the requisite things: rides for children, arcade games, a book sale, tractor sales (and demos) and, of course, a beer tent.

All did a lively business.


Amanda and Miguel photographing the Scotties

We watched the parade from the front lawn of Eric and Tina Hazlitt, who hosted a parade party before (and after) the 40-minute cavalcade of entries. The entries all got applause and whistles as they passed our spot on the highway winding their way on to a judging stand, just the other side of the post office.

There were a smattering of politicians in the parade, too, all handing out vote-for-me brochures and shaking hands with anyone who made eye contact. I shook all their hands, but having written about politics for years, I knew to make sure my other hand was firmly holding onto my wallet.

In most cases, the people in the parade threw candy as they passed by. It was supposed to be for the children, but some people (ok, me too) managed to snag a piece of candy or two. It's been awhile since I ate a Tootsie roll. They're still pretty good.


Waiting for the next parade group


Headed for some of the good food 
on the Hazlitt porch

After the parade, Admiral Fox, Amanda and I (yes, that Amanda, the Amanda of Watkins Glen who cures frozen shoulders, straightens bad backs, and is able to leap tall buildings in a single bound) all left the still lively party right after sunset and headed to the Fireman's Fair. Once there, we hit the clam tent, the book tent, the cake tent, the arcade, and finally the huge slide in the center of the fairgrounds.

I opted out of the slide adventure, but managed to make several passes by my favorite exhibit: the beer tent, where for $10, you get enough tickets for six beers. For the record, I have several tickets left over in case we head back today for the chicken barbecue.

Admiral Fox and Amanda were both big winners: Admiral Fox won a stuffed bear (already named Hector Bear) playing ski-ball. Amanda won a cake with a decidedly home-town inscription.


Amanda with her prize

Below are two fair-related videos. One of the parade, the other of Amanda and Sylvia taking a slide ride.

Cruising amigos head back to California, Hector Fair ahead

VALOIS, New York, USA - Amigos Dan and Lorraine Olsen left this morning to wing their way back to California where they live summers aboard their 26-foot sailboat, moored at the Oakland Yacht Club.

Sometime in October, they will be heading back to their big sailboat, moored in the Rio Dulce in Guatemala as they continue their cruising, this year to the Bahamas and Key West. With luck, the Admiral and I (and perhaps Eric & Tina Hazlitt and Jennifer & Keith Marshall) might catch up with them there aboard a chartered sailboat.

The Olsens took a moment out, before leaving for the Syracuse Airport, to have their photo taken with local celebrity, Arnold the Wonder Dog.


Lorraine, Dan and Arnold

We had, as usual, a great time, curiously hitting just one winery during the week for a tasting (Rasta Ranch), and had lots of adventures. We sailed the Red Rocket sailboat, kayaked up and down the Valois waterfront, hiked Watkins Glen, toured Brother Dan's plant in Big Flats and attempted to rescue Brett Beardslee's ring from the bottom of the pond at the Pee Wee Farm. All that in five days.

Hard to say which was the most fun.


Admiral Fox chugs up the steps at Watkins Glen - running


Watkins Glen trail and waterway


Lorraine and Sylvia head north in the kayaks

Thursday (my God, that's tomorrow!) the Hector Fireman's Fair starts its run, concluding Saturday with a big fireworks show. The tents are up already and many of the rides are being constructed. And, of course, the beer tent is ready to start dispensing for those of us in need of hydration.

The weather is supposed to be good for the entire fair- no torrential rain forecast, as least as of this moment. Several years ago, it rained for most of the fair, turning the fairgrounds into such a muddy swamp that people still talk about.

Friday night we will watch the Hector Fair parade on Highway 414 from the front lawn of Tina and Eric Hazlitt before heading over to the fairgrounds to try to win some silly prizes to take back to California.

The parade is always fun to watch, in good part because we know half the people in it.

Perhaps we should enter our newest automobile in the parade and join in. It's a  1996 Mercury Marquis which we purchased from our neighbor, Mary Crouch.

The car is a classic, after all.


Cousin Brett driving his signature van in last year's parade

Summer day on Seneca Lake - and a Hector parade

HECTOR, New York, USA - The fourth sunny summer day landed at Seneca Lake Friday, resulting in a warm day of boating, swimming and capped with a parade at the Hector Firemen's Fair. Perhaps the best part was that the good weather wasn't predicted. I was battened down for another day of rain.

We did have a windstorm roll through mid-afternoon that sent us scurrying for the dock, but otherwise, a great day all up and down the lake.

And two days ago, our amiga Laura arrived for a stay, escaping the cold confines of Calgary, Canada. Laura will be with us for a week or so. And this fall and spring she will be coming to Arroyo Seco to teach English to the children in the village.

Oh, and to surf, too, to surf.


Laura floats by at Cousin Roger's dock



This weekend is also the big fundraiser for the Hector Volunteer Fire Department, three-days of carnival rides, food booths, a huge beer tent, (of course) and last night an evening parade of tractors and floats.

The parade is all local: fire departments, farmers showing off their new tractors, children twirling batons and lots of waving to neighbors. We camped with Eric and Tina Hazlitt on the front lawn of their casa right on the highway and got a ringside view.


Cousin Brett parades by in his '57 VW


Parade vendor


Tractor 'float'


The Red Cat from Hazlitt's Winery tours in a '65 Triumph Spitfire