Another Trip Up To The Farm With A Stop Along Route 28N

With work on the barn going at an exciting pace I was soon back on the road driving up to the farm. But this time I decided to take another route just for variety. I was driving on Route 28N through the Adirondacks near Newcomb, New York when I spotted a pull-off which I knew from previous trips had a nice place where I could give the dogs a rest stop. We all hopped out of the car and down a small hill to a brook:

Little Daphne and Clover stopped only momentarily for a drink before resuming their race through the forest:

Old Wally, in spite of his failing eyesight, happily walked across the water on a moss covered log:

And crabby old Winky did the same. These two old guys have not yet given up their spirits of adventure - they're just slower and more cautious these days. But this was just a quick rest stop and within minutes we were all back in the car and on our way once again toward the farm. I'll post more tomorrow:

The Wintry Adirondacks

I was on my way up to the farm with all six dogs and travelling through the Adirondacks. I hadn't been able to find any place to let the dogs out for a rest stop because of all the snow piled up along the edges of the roads. So I took a chance that the Keene Cemetery might be plowed and drove up there. Indeed, a loop had been plowed which enabled me to drive high up on that hill with its magnificent views of the surrounding high peaks:

No one else was around, so I let the pooches out for a romp:

Only Seamus ventured into the snow but they all got a chance to stretch their legs, relieve their bladders and have some fun:

And then we drove on past the Cascade Chain of lakes where the water's surface was iced over and the shoulders of the road were blocked with snow. By that time the sky was looking ominous:

The trip was uneventful and I did not find another place to let the dogs out. When we got to Route 458 in the northern Adirondacks, the winter scenery was Christmas card perfect:

I stopped along the road to snap a picture of the wintry beauty and the dogs, ever worried that I might have fun without them, watched me carefully:

Route 458 is mostly flat and straight, passing directly through some of the finest of the northern Adirondack wilderness lands:

A small stream burbled its way through the snowy landscape right next to the road:

Northern spruces lined the roadside all covered with white frosting. No florist with a can of "spray snow" could have been more artistic:

Wetlands appeared alongside the road frequently:

Small brushy patches of hardwoods appeared as I neared the farm:

And this little chapel stood in the tiny town of Santa Clara like a living Christmas card. We were almost to the farm, but I'll post more tomorrow:

Wonderful Adirondack Sights Along Route 73

We were on our way home from the farm, the dogs and I, after a marvelous weekend up at the farm. It may have been brown November in the Adirondacks, but the views in the high peaks region were wonderful nonetheless:

I pulled off the road near a (golf) driving range to snap a photo of the surrounding mountains. I believe that those are leaves scattered on the ground. not golf balls and not apples:

The air was clear and the scenery was spectacular:

Whiteface Mountain appeared just over the tops of birch and spruce trees. Whiteface is the one high peak which has a road to its peak. There's a tower at the top visible for miles though it doesn't show up well in this photo:

The dogs were watching my every move, anxious that I might leave them and hopeful that I might let them out for a romp:

A small stream rushed down through the rocks right alongside the road:

And rocky mountaintops appeared at very close range just over the tree tops:

I don't know if there are any trails up those mountains, but the abundance of treeless rocky surfaces would provide an abundance of magnificent Adirondack views:

A Rest Stop On Our Way To The Farm

Well, it was time to drive up to the farm for the weekend. I loaded all six dogs into my little red car and headed toward the north country. Yearning for a bit of a change, I exited the Northway (limited access highway) at the tiny town of Pottersville and began to travel northwest on Route 28N. I'd previously discovered a little rest stop along the way, so we stopped there. I let the dogs out and we all entered the forest. The youngsters ran ahead, but old Wally wobbled a bit as he crossed a small brook on this log carpeted with emerald moss:

Fergus first ran ahead with the youngsters but then came back to be sure I was alright:

Daphne investigated the sights, sounds and taste of the burbling brook:

Winky was working on keeping up with us but those darn logs kept getting in his way!:

Daphne couldn't resist taking another taste:

Big ol' Seamus led the smaller dogs through the forest grasses:

Fergus and Daphne went exploring. Clover, true to form, had passed that spot some moments earlier and was already checking out the forest:

"Here I am, Dad. Did I do good?":

Wally, also a bit on the geriatric side and rapidly losing his eyesight, contemplated the possible dangers of crossing a chilly, rocky stream:

But then he decided to go for it, picking his way carefully across the rocks:

We all enjoyed the Adirondack forest for a bit, but then it was time to return to the car and resume our journey up to the farm:

One last photo of Fergus and then we were on our way:

Videos Of An Adirondack Experience

In yesterday's post I talked about the beginning of my trip with the dogs up through the Adirondacks toward the farm and our first rest stop along Route 28N. Here's a couple of short videos of the dogs exploring the little ferny and mossy brook:



In this second video, I am encouraging old Wally to cross the brook. He'd already crossed it once in the opposite direction, so perhaps he was remembering how cold the water was. I finally gave up and turned off the camera, after which Wally immediately crossed the brook. We all piled back into the car and resumed our journey northward: