Fly 'n Things

Where is Goat Island?

For the last few years, I have been hoping to pull off a trip to Niagara Falls, NY to fly the awe-inspiring racetrack over the falls. The plan was multi-function: beat the summer crowds, enjoy fall colors, catch the fireworks and most important of all, catch a glimpse of the falls from a few thousand feet above the surface. Each October, I tried diligently to make the plans, got a few people excited, and unrelentingly, each year, brought gloom and disappointment. The weather refused to cooperate. Sometimes it was the weather in the Mid-Atlantic, other times, it was in Niagara Falls. Either way, plans canceled we flew close to home to Tangier Island, attended refresher classes or just stayed home to catch up on other activities.

Photograph: Courtesy Gert

This year, I was adamant I would try to make it in August when the…