Page 1 - North Hudson, New York, The Hub Of The Adirondacks

We left the rest stop at the Boreas River and continued on our way down the mountain on Blue Ridge Road. This was all in the town of North Hudson and when I saw this new sign calling it "The Hub Of The Adirondacks," I decided to take some photos and record its beauty:

And the views from Blue Ridge Road were truly marvelous:

There were a few homes and a few cottages along the road, though mostly it was forested:

A stone house up on a hill:

Lichen covered banks alongside the road with trees on top:

More Adirondack mountains on the horizon:

And up close and personal:

A matching house, shed and dog house, with lots of firewood and an American flag:

A natural wood-toned home with a stone retaining wall:

A brand new home:

And an old trailer, set way back in the forest:

Daphne was thrilled to have the windows open so I could take pictures. But we were just coming to the more populated parts of Blue Ridge Road. I'll post more tomorrow:

A Brief Stop At The Boreas River - Part 2

We'd stopped at the Boreas River atop Blue Ridge Road, the dogs and I, for a rest, leg stretching and pee break. We'd walked down to the river's edge and lingered there, enjoying the quietude of nature:

Wally was unusually energetic and happy for a nearly blind old timer. In fact, I began to wonder if his eyesight was improving as he was positively puppyish:

But of course this was just a rest stop and we had many more miles to travel. So I called the dogs back to the car:

Who, me? Back to the car? Aw, Dad!:

But back to the car we went, the dogs making a game of that also:

There was a bit of dawdling:

And a return to the picnic area to see if any bacon drippings had been added to the fire pit since they'd last checked ten minutes ago:

Wally continued frolicking like a puppy. I had no idea where such youthful energy came from, but it was a blessing to see him have so much fun:

I got all the dogs back into the car except for Winky. I went back down to the river to encourage him back up the hill but couldn't find him. I called and ran around searching, but no Winky could be found. I crashed through the forest until I finally found him, confused and unhurried. I began urging him back up the hill toward the car:

This was the second time Winky had wandered off and the potential for disaster due to his apparent age related dementia is increasing. I've since affixed a bell to his collar and put him on a leash when I think there's a potential for him wandering off. But on this day, I got him headed toward the car and continued urging him forward:

Once all the dogs were loaded back up into the car, we continued on our way:

A Brief Stop At The Boreas River - Part 1

On Tuesday morning I loaded the dogs back into the car and headed south toward Albany. We drove all the  way to the Boreas River atop Blue Ridge Road in North Hudson before stopping. By that time the dogs were anxious to get out of the car:

They ran around the picnic area first, always hoping for food scraps or interesting smells. Finding nothing of interest, they followed me down the hill toward the Boreas River:

There had been folks camping here, so we had a repeat of the hopeful sniffing and exploring:

The shoreline here is rocky and difficult, a lesson Seamus had learned the last time we stopped. So all the dogs stayed on dry land:

I walked down to the rocks to photograph the wild and beautiful Boreas River:

And little Daphne came down to join me. I think she may have been considering entering the water, but wisely decided against it. It was simply too rocky there:

Oldsters Wally and Winky arrived later than the other dogs and had to do their own exploring:

I was in no hurry and it was such an idyllic spot that I was content to rest and watch the dogs for some time:

Of course I don't know what they smell or how they interpret such things, but there apparently were some fascinating odors there which told quite an interesting story:

Little Clover was the first to make a move back toward the car. I'll post more tomorrow about our stop at the Boreas River:

The Drive Home From The Farm

When it came time for my weekend at the farm to end, I loaded the pooches into the car and headed southward early in the morning. I'd taken so darn many photos over the weekend that I decided not to take any more on the way home. But when a Ruffed Grouse ran across the road causing me to stop and then began displaying as if he dared me to come any closer - well, I had to snap a photo:

We made it all the way to Blue Ridge Road before I took another picture, this time at the beautiful Boreas River at the top of the mountain:

Oops! Seamus, used to sandy river bottoms with gradual slopes, was caught by surprise when he tried to enter the water at this spot. It was filled with large boulders with deep chasms between them. He wisely gave up that endeavor and just enjoyed the shore:

Clover and Daphne danced across the rocks and got a cool drink. And old Winky made it down to the river for a drink of mountain water:

It was all very beautiful and peaceful, but this was only a brief rest stop and we still had many miles to go. So I gave a call and we all began moving back toward the car:

All, that is, except Winky and Wally. They were moving, but very slowly. I was patient and kept encouraging them. When all six dogs were back in the car, we continued on our way:

It would have been a straight run from that point on except that I wanted to stop again at the Adirondack Buffalo Company and get a bit of grass fed Bison meat:

And I loved the view from their observation deck:

These Bison lead a good life:

The pastures are surrounded by mountains:

And the Bison live quietly. I made my purchase and then we continued on our way home:

Chapter 3 - Frontier Town And The Schroon River

Yes indeed, this is Chapter 3 of a simple rest stop. That's because it had turned into the longest, most varied and interesting rest stop ever. The dogs and I were exploring the natural beauty and old buildings of the former Frontier Town (see the previous two posts also):

After we'd all walked the "streets" and looked inside the old log buildings back in the forest, we walked back toward the old west storefronts where I'd parked:

Wild Thyme was fragrant and blooming everywhere we walked. I easily coaxed Fergus to sit and smile for the camera in the midst of all those purple blossoms:

I even got a happy smile from crabby old Winky as he waddled through the wildflowers:

But even though we'd begun this adventure at the Schroon River, only the Papillons had been sufficiently agile to get a drink of water. And it was hot that morning. So I packed the dogs back into the car and drove to the sandy beach on the Boreas River, still on the Frontier Town property. Seamus went in immediately:

Fergus, Daphne and Clover all took long drinks:

Even blind old Wally made it down to the shoreline for a refreshing drink while Seamus moved farther and farther out into the river:

And then, wonder of wonders, Fergus the "Nervous Nelly" waded out to give the water a try. I didn't say a word. I just let him experiment at his own pace. Daphne got her toes wet, apparently giving some consideration to following his example:

And then perhaps a wild, vicious minnow or something spooked Fergus, sending him flying out of the water and startling Daphne. But it was all good fun and they played afterwards:

The problem was that Winky refused to go down to the riverbank. He was tired and, I think, confused. He was also very hot. So we left Frontier Town and traveled up Blue Ridge Road to the Boreas River, which was easier for him to get to:

There were twenty or thirty motorcycles parked there, so before I let the dogs out, I walked down to where the cyclists were resting by the river and explained that my dogs were friendly and, though I'd walk to a different place on the river, the pooches might run over to say "Howdy." The cyclists were all friendly and agreeable. So the dogs and I enjoyed a cooling dip in the Boreas, much smaller here atop the mountain than it was down at Frontier Town:

Just as I'd predicted, Seamus, Daphne and Clover heard voices and ran over to the cyclists to make their acquaintances and get some attention. Fergus was too afraid to go with them and old Wally and Winky were oblivious to the whole thing. I finally got all the dogs back into the car - except Winky. He required much coaxing and patience, finally waddling his way up the path. After that, we continued on our way to the farm: