Part 1 - A Journey On The Port Kent Road

Tuesday morning dawned and it was time to drive back home to Albany, this time knowing that I'd be moving permanently very soon. So I decided to drive along the Port Kent Hopkinton Turnpike. It's a series of small, rural roads now, but once was the major thoroughfare through the northern Adirondacks:

The road took me alongside the lovely and wild St. Regis River:

And I stopped to admire the beauty, hear the roar of the water against the rocks and smell the pines, spruce and balsams:

Even though there was no traffic at all, I didn't let the dogs out because we were parked on the side of the road. There'd soon be more chances for the dogs to get out and have fun:

Everton Falls was just up ahead. I've walked in to see it in the past, but this time just photographed it from the road:

The Papillons also enjoyed the view. Well, Madeline and Clover enjoyed it, anyway. Daphne was totally focused on what I might be up to. She just never knows what mischief I might get into:

There was a small parking area and canoe access near the falls which, I've read, includes a hiking trail. I've not yet tried hiking it, though:

I pulled away from the river and continued along the Port Kent Road:

Until, that is, we reached the Red Tavern Hotel. This is a truly historic site and still in operation:

When I reached the Deer River Corridor, I pulled off the road into one of my favorite and most remote rest stops:

I followed a narrow dirt lane back into the forest and let the dogs out, being careful to keep an eye on old Wally and Winky. Both of them had shown signs of faltering health lately:

We walked down to the Deer River to admire the scenery. You can see why I love this spot. But I'll post more tomorrow:

Driving Home On The Magnificent Port Kent Hopkinton Turnpike

As soon as I'd eaten breakfast, shut off the water supply and cleaned my apartment, it was time to leave the farm for Albany. This trip had been far too short. But the weather was grand so I decided to take the scenic route home, traveling the old Hopkinton Port Kent Turnpike, once a major access road through the wilderness but now a series of back roads, some only seasonal. Along the way I passed a farm pond with Canada Geese in residence:

And that same farm had a small flock of red hens happily clucking around the barn. I was using my new camera's zoom lens:

Some of the more adventurous hens strayed farther from the barn and toward the woods. They looked happy and peaceful and I wished them well, but I also knew that lots of chicken eating wildlife lived in those woods:

And at that same farm were three contented horses who watched me with interest as I snapped their picture from my car:

But then I continued on along the Port Kent/Red Tavern Roads (part of the "Turnpike"), stopping when it came right up next to the St. Regis River:

The water level was surprisingly low for a spring day but I supposed the lack of snow that winter would mean less water all spring and summer. At any rate, the scenery was lovely:

The dogs waited, though not particularly patiently, for me in the car while I explored and took photos:

A little bit farther up the road I stopped again and walked down to the river to see Everton Falls:

When I got to the seasonal roads, I was happily surprised to find them in reasonably good shape and as scenic as always:

I heard one loon crying off in the distance but didn't see any on this trip:

The edges of this pond are so marshy that I couldn't get too close to the water. But the road is so remote and seldom traveled that I saw no other vehicles anywhere and could stop in the road at any time to take pictures. The mountain air was clean and fresh with a hint of Balsam and I was very much enjoying this journey. I'll post more about it tomorrow: