Part 5, Mountain Laurel Heaven

The dogs and I had hiked to the top of Mount Everett and back down. But before beginning the trip back home, we stopped at beautiful Guilder Pond to enjoy the views and get refreshed:

Seamus was sorely tempted to wade right in as he usually does, but for some reason did not. I was happy that he did not cover himself with mud. But all the dogs were fascinated by the shoreline and investigated it carefully:

My little red car waited for us beneath a canopy of cedar and hemlock:

At this lower altitude, the Mountain Laurel was still mostly in the bud stage, though still lovely. Nevertheless, I knew that we'd pass through a forest of full blooms on our way down the access road. I was looking forward to it:

After one last parting shot of beautiful Guilder Pond, the dogs and I piled back into the car and began our journey down the access road:

As we descended the mountain, the Mountain Laurels became taller and more numerous. Still mostly in the bud stage, I kept alert for the spots I'd seen on the way in where it was in full bloom

And then we were at a low enough altitude for the Mountain Laurel to be mostly fully open. I was not disappointed:

This surely is one of nature's most beautiful plants, and a woodland filled with them is a breathtaking sight:

Mountain Laurels are not tiny bushes. Just look at this one towering above my parked car:

When our hike was over and we were on our way home, I stopped for a cold diet sports drink (well, I actually had 3 of them because I was dehydrated). And then we drove along the small highways through Copake Falls and Hillsdale, New York on our way to the Taconic Parkway. But I couldn't resist stopping for one last photo of this totally unique little shop along the way. I suppose I should have stopped in to see what they had for sale, but in truth I was tired. So I snapped a photo and continued on my way toward home:

Three Taconic Valley Towns

I'd hiked up Mount Everett with three of my dogs and was on the way back home when I decided that I just had to take a few more pictures of the countryside. Mount Everett itself is on the Appalachian Trail in western Massachusetts. The closest "town" is Mount Washington, Massachusetts. This church is about the closest thing you'll see around those parts resembling a town center. That garage-like building behind it has a sign proclaiming to be the Mount Washington Town Hall:

The tiny town of Mount Washington, Massachusetts has a few very expensive looking homes, beautiful scenery and lots of state land which is mostly kept natural. It's right on the New York border and one of New York's two Taconic State Parks, which include the magnificent Bash Bish Falls. I was struck by this historic and serene cemetery resting quietly along a mountain road:

I passed over the New York state line, through the Taconic State Park, past Bash Bish Falls and into the tiny town of Copake Falls, New York. This is its Post Office:

And the only church I could see. A family next door was having a picnic as I snapped this photo:

Surprisingly, for such a tiny hamlet, this rather large, stone pillared tavern seems to do a pretty good business. I ate lunch there once with a friend many years ago after hiking up Mount Everett:

And continuing my drive home, I passed through another very tiny town - Austerlitz, New York. Most of the photos I took didn't come out well, but I wanted to share two of them. This sign proclaims it as the former home of the poet, Edna St. Vincent Millay. She lived there for 27 years in a farm house named Steepletop on 230 acres, most of which are now State owned preserves. I had performed in a choral performance the previous night which included a song with one of her poems as its lyrics, so I was especially interested. By the way, if you want to hear the performance of that song, "Afternoon On A Hill," you can find it here. Or if you'd like to hear more of the choral performances, the play list may be found here:

And one last photo to illustrate the small town of Austerlitz. Their Post Office looks to me like something out of the old west: