Getting A Little Bit Farther Into Frontier Town

Another "farm Sunday" came around and I loaded all the dogs into the car with as much other stuff as my little car would carry. We drove from Albany northward for over an hour and half and then got off the highway at Exit 29, home of the abandoned Frontier Town. That had been the location of the best rest stops in the world until the winter snow piled up, preventing us from getting back into the forest. I had high hopes that it was all melted by this time - and apparently, so did the Papillons:

We got a few hundred feet back along the old road before ice and snow forced me to stop. But we were far enough in for me to let the dogs out for a romp:

The old, abandoned hotel was visible as well as the closed gas station. But what we wanted were the grasslands:

The dogs explored and sniffed and played. And all was well until Fergus and Clover ran out onto that ice covered pond. The thought of them falling through the ice was so horrible that I immediately called them back and steered them away from the pond:

Wally and Winky, old and handicapped, stayed near the car. But I could see Wally wanted to find us, so I began calling him:

Following the sound of my voice, Wally began making his way across the snowy field. Winky stayed near the car:


Pretty soon all the dogs but Winky were enjoying their time in the field. We stopped at this old piece of split rail fence for a photo:

The old fence was covered with gorgeous lichens. Such intricate beauty is available just for the looking. One only needs to pay attention:

And then we began making our way back to the car. Can you see that little black dot in front of the car? That's Winky, who hadn't ventured out across the field with the rest of us:

When he saw us getting close, Winky waddled out on the snow to join us. He didn't get very far, but that, I suppose, was a big adventure for such an old dog:

Seamus encouraged him back toward the car:

I got everyone back into the car except Winky, so I took a photo of the crew while we waited. I finally had to put a leash on him, both to lead him and to help him back up into the car. He always snaps at everything in sight when he first gets helped up into the car, so I seldom him. But once all the dogs were in the car and comfortable, we proceeded on our way to the farm:

An Almost Blizzard At Frontier Town

Another wintry Sunday morning, another trip north to the farm with my dogs and as many boxes as I could fit in the back of my little car. We made it as far as Exit 29 and exited, hoping to find Frontier Town still accessible as a rest stop. It would likely be our only option as most every other place would be blocked with piles of snow. I pulled off the road into the parking lot and drove to the front of the old, abandoned hotel. The snow was only about 5" deep, but there was ice beneath it and my tires would only spin. But we were there, and we all needed a rest stop. So I let the dogs out, deciding I'd worry about getting my car moved after we'd had our rest stop:

We walked around the side of the old hotel and to the rear of the building. I was hoping to walk farther, exploring the low building which I could see from the lane which, in better weather, often took us to the old village and the shore of the Schroon River:

Wally and Winky, unsurprisingly, were lagging behind and needed constant encouragement:

We made it to the rear of the hotel, but the walking became too difficult for the two old dogs and a heavy snow squall began. I decided that we'd better get back to the car as quickly as possible:

The snow and wind were fierce, which is why Fergus was shaking his head. I was calliong the dogs back toward the car:

The youngsters found it all to be great fun, and ran playfully from spot to spot:

Madeline, less active than the younger dogs, just enjoyed sniffing things:

She did, however, get playfully silly for a brief while:

It was snowing heavily and the winds were gusting strongly, even though you can't see it in the photos. I was becoming anxious to regain the relative safety of the car. That gas station across the road, by the way, is also closed and abandoned:

Clover, ever the athlete and adventuress, continued running full speed - just for the joy of it:

We reached the car and I told the dogs to get inside:

Once I'd gotten all the dogs back into the car, I had to concentrate on rocking it until it began moving again on that snow covered ice. But all went well and we were soon back on our way toward the farm:

Another Journey, Another Stop At Frontier Town

Once again it was Sunday morning and I was on the way to the farm with all the dogs and a lot of boxes in the back of the car. We reached Exit 29 and stopped, as we often do, at the old, abandoned Frontier Town. Alas, there was by then so much unplowed snow that I couldn't get out of the parking lot - and even that was dicey. So I let the dogs out right there:

Clover ran full speed while Madeline gave everything a thorough sniffing:

Even the two old-timers, blind Wally and deaf Winky, seemed to be having fun:

Madeline went exploring, quitting only after the snow became too deep for her to go any farther:

There was almost no traffic on the road and we were far enough off of it anyway, so I didn't worry as the dogs sniffed, explored and played:

The three Papillons went running off as a group:

And then the other dogs had to find out what was the big attraction (I'm guessing it was nothing):

A bit more sniffing, a bit more pooping and peeing. Even here in the parking lot the scenery was superb:

The three "Silly Sisters" seemed to enjoy each others company:


That building in the background is a place we have not yet explored. I plan to do so when the snow has melted:


I called the dogs back to the car:

And loaded them all back in. I counted noses several times to assure myself I hadn't forgotten anyone, and we continued on our way to the farm. Rest stops are hard to come by when there's lots of snow on the ground. That makes the trips shorter, but less fun:

A Return To The Schroon River

Another Sunday morning dawned and I loaded the pooches into my little red car and began a trip north to the farm. We made it as far as Exit 29 on the Northway before I pulled off the highway to give the dogs a rest stop. I drove into the abandoned former Frontier Town and headed right for the shores of the Schroon River. The dogs knew this place and just where to go, but they had a lot of sniffing to do on their way down to the water's edge:

Wally and Madeline seemed particularly fascinated by the base of an old fence post. I'd bet it'd been the site of a lot of canine leg lifting, perhaps recently. I certainly can't be the only dog owner who has discovered this spot:

Seamus, Fergus, Daphne and Clover wasted no time getting to the river:

Madeline, as is her custom, went slowly with her head down, sniffing like a Beagle:

And then from the water's edge they all ran up to the top of a sand dune:

And back down to the pebbly shore of the Schroon River:

This time we went farther, pushing through the brush along the river just to see what was there:

There wasn't much there of interest, but I did get a nice action shot of Fergus in mid-frolic:

And then we all began our march back toward the car. As you can see, the scenery was fantastic:

Clover and Daphne took a drink of water but kept their feet dry:

And then back up to the car which was parked in the trees:

Well, there were two holdouts. The two old timers, Wally and Winky, were not moving as quickly as the youngsters. They took more time to make their way back to the car. Once all the dogs were safely back in the car and I'd counted noses several times to assure myself I hadn't left anyone behind, we resumed our journey up to the farm. But I'll post more about that tomorrow:

A Schroon River Rest Stop

Another Sunday morning dawned with preparations for driving up to the farm. I was very anxious to get there and see the fence work which had been nearly completed. We drove up the Northway, the dogs and I, as far as Exit 29 and exited for a rest stop at Frontier Town. I'd tried to think of some place which we hadn't been before, but what could possibly beat this pristine, scenic spot?:

The dogs ran down to the river's edge but didn't go it. It was simply too chilly:

Even Seamus stayed on dry land. I concentrated on getting old Winky and Wally to stay with us and not lag too far behind:

Winky's mind often wanders - and as a consequence, his feet do also. I walked over to him every so often and reminded him of our existence and that he should make an attempt to stay with us:

Little Madeline was feeling like a regular member of our family by now, accustomed to adventures in such places - and this place in particular:

We'd walked down the river for some distance, so I gave a call and got everyone moving back toward the car:

Daphne and Clover made a side trip to the top of a sand dune. Hey, a dog's gotta explore, ya know:

It took just a few minutes before we spotted our red car parked just ahead in the forest:

I began walking toward the car after giving a call to those dogs reluctant to leave the water's edge:

The sandy trail through the forest toward the car was looking like Thanksgiving to me:

Seamus posed for the camera, looking noble:

But once all the other dogs were loaded up into the car, I still had to urge Winky forward. This can be a difficult job, and picking him up is no fun either. So I called and clapped. I learned a long time ago with elderly, nearly deaf foster dogs, that clapping is something they seem to either hear or feel. It usually works with Winky. I got him up into the car with the other dogs and began backing along the sandy lane in the forest so that we could continue on our way: