A Return To Fishhole Pond Road

We were on our way up to the farm, the dogs and I, and it's a darn good thing we weren't in a hurry because I kept taking detours and making stops. I decided to swing by Fishhole Pond again and drove up the tiny dirt road as far as the pond. I'd fully intended to take the road past the pond but it had been gated, apparently for the winter. So I turned around and found another spot to stop and let the dogs out:

Daphne and Clover ran full speed into the forest, finding a clearing in which they could wrestle and race:

I followed their example, but at a more leisurely rate with Seamus and Fergus keeping me company:

Alas, old Winky and Wally were, as always, lagging badly behind. I can't trust them to find us so I have to keep going back to collect them and urge them forward:

Daphne explored a bit farther into the forest:

And then Clover and Madeline came along:

 Pretty soon all five of the younger dogs were sniffing, exploring and playing:

And I was left tending to the old timers. In all honesty, though, Winky and Wally were as happy to be out as the youngsters. They're just slower and a tad more easily confused:

And then we all walked back to the car. Just look at that natural beauty! It's no wonder I love traveling through the Adirondacks:

Winky got stubborn, or possibly confused, and I had to go find him and hook a leash to his collar to lead him back. I believe that someone must have taken him for walks when he was young, for the simple act of snapping on a leash fills him with a great joy and puts a puppy-like bounce to his steps:

We were all back in the car and ready to resume our journey when I snapped this photo of my three front seatmates. What a happy crew!:

Chapter 4, Autumn Beauty On Port Kent Road

The dogs and I were on our way home from the farm by way of the Port Kent Hopkinton Turnpike, a historic route through the north country which now consists of a series of small back roads through the Adirondacks. I'd taken a side road to find Fishhole Pond (see yesterday's post) and was on my way back to Port Kent Road when I just had to stop and snap a photo of this lovely, colorful mountain:

The dirt road took us through forests ablaze with color, sometimes looking almost as if they were on fire:

I had the windows down, partly for the dogs' enjoyment and partly for picture taking:

Another colorful mountain just ahead of us. You can also see what a small, dirt road we were traveling:

And more color to our left as we traveled:

Colors so vivid I could hardly believe my eyes:

This was a magic land of autumn enchantment and I was glad I had chosen to take the Port Kent Road and that I'd chosen to leave it briefly to find Fishhole Pond:

We returned to the Port Kent Road and continued on our way, driving through the hamlet of Loon Lake:

The scenery was breathtaking, with the blazing colors of trees and white puffs of clouds mirrored in every body of water:

We were almost to Route 3 when I snapped this photo:

I wasn't looking for house photos on this trip, but this A-Frame Chalet was so picturesque that I couldn't resist:

And one more mountain alive with color before I turned onto Route 3 and headed for Saranac Lake. I'd spent several hours traveling the Port Kent Hopkinton Turnpike and needed to speed it up or it'd take me all day to get home.

Chapter 3, Autumn Beauty On Port Kent Road

We'd reached the most remote part of the Port Kent Hopkinton Turnpike, a seasonal road through the northern Adirondack forest which I consider my favorite route home. I stopped to take photos of many lovely scenes, including this wetland with a patch of fiery orange on the far shore and leaves so brightly colored on the base of the mountain that one could be forgiven for thinking it was on fire and spreading up toward the summit: 

The dogs watched me with great interest every time I got out of the car to take a picture:

I know what you're thinking now, that I've gone overboard hitting the "Enhance" button. I assure you that this scene photo got only the usual editing and, in fact, my software doesn't even have an "Enhance" button. Breathtaking, isn't it?:

The Port Kent Road descends from there down through a mixed forest which was also spectacularly beautiful. I could see through the trees that mountains were just ahead:

The road leveled out but the glorious colors continued:

I stopped at Grass Pond to let the dogs out once more:

Old Wally and Winky seemed happy snoozing in the car, so I just let the younger dogs out for a romp down the wheelchair ramp toward Grass Pond:

And the dogs were appreciative, basking in the natural wonder of the Adirondacks:

But this was just a quick rest stop and within minutes we were walking back up toward the car:

We continued onward and I rolled down a few windows for the dogs' enjoyment (that's sweet Madeline's freckled face in the side view mirror):

Near the hamlet of Loon Lake, I turned off on a small dirt road because a state sign said there was a public fishing spot that way. In fact, it was called Fishhole Pond. The road to it took us through dense forests with lots more autumn color:

We reached Fishhole Pond and it was indeed spectacular. But I went no farther. I snapped a photo and turned back toward the Port Kent Road. But there was a lot of autumn color along the way, and I'll post about that tomorrow: