Adirondack Photos - Part 2

I got a lot of lawn mowing done on Sunday afternoon up at the farm, but it drizzled rain pretty much continuously. It began raining harder and I finally gave up the mowing and went indoors where I rehearsed my music and enjoyed the solitude of a quiet farm house with no TV, no computer and no telephone.

Sunday night was so chilly that I had to turn on the furnace, but Monday morning brought clear weather, bird song and new hope. I began working early and the warm sun gradually melted the dewy shadows and dispelled the chill. After hours of mowing and weed whacking, I headed back through the Adirondacks for home.


The air remained cool but the sun was warm and produced a glorious effect. It was almost as if the plants and scenery were emanating life force, a kind of ethereal vibration which caused me to feel joyful, young and healthy. It was the kind of day which sometimes causes people to weep for joy. In my case, I felt like I wanted to run for miles and miles because I was happy to be alive.

The drive through the Adirondacks was a pleasure. I stopped often to view the scenery and listen to the White-throated Sparrows which seemed to be everywhere. I noticed this cemetery atop a hill in Keene and drove up there for the improved mountain views. The mountains above were extraordinarily rocky - the gray spots you see are rock.

The mountains in this shot, above, appear lusher, greener, softer. But if one is hiking them, it's the rockier mountains which provide the scenic vistas.

Above is my little car full of dogs parked at the Keene cemetery, with more Adirondacks in the background.

The cemetery above is yet another one, this one in a valley surrounded by Adirondack peaks. You can see why driving through the region on a sunny day is such a joy.

An Adirondack meadow with more peaks in the background.

All the highways through the Adirondack Park are old fashioned two lane roads. There's surprisingly little traffic as you can see. Above is a typical section of road with a small cabin set in a valley surrounded by yet another small old cemetery. In addition to being scenic, this area is also historic.

There are bogs, ponds and marshes throughout the park and this is one of them (above).

One of the highways, Route 458, is uncharacteristically flat, yet high and scenic. It's the last road I take before arriving at the farm.

I photographed this Adirondack wolf lurking in the brush. Oh, wait - that's Winky hopping in a meadow on his crooked little legs. In case you can't tell, I assure you that he's a happy little dog in this picture.

If you click on the above photo you can see one of the high peaks which, by its location and appearance, I believe to be Rooster Comb. From certain angles it's clear how some of the mountains got there name. Remember the photo of Nippletop?

Just as I was leaving the park I saw this snapper crossing the road. I always stop and assist turtles on busy roads, but this road had little traffic and I give snappers a wide berth. I did stop and make sure he or she made it safely, however.

And finally, I also stopped when I saw a sign off Highway 30 which said "State Trout Fishing Pond." The pond was called Mountain Pond and it was lovely. So I took a video of it which showed the Canadian Tiger Swallowtails flitting about and a pair of loons swimming nearby. Alas, it never occurred to me to zoom in on them. I'm not sure I even know which button to push to do so. I'll have to read the instructions again. I've seen loons from canoes, sometimes at fairly close range, but these were even nearer and seemed much larger than any I'd seen before.

Here's the video: