The Adirondack Fish Hatchery In Lake Clear, New York

It was a hot, hot, hot Sunday morning - far too hot for me to be out working in the sun, so I drove down to the town of Lake Clear to visit the New York State Adirondack Fish Hatchery. There were lots of buildings, but these two were the ones which allowed visitors:

The first building was a visitor's center. That stone pond was supposed to have fish in it, but didn't. The canoe was a classic Adirondack guideboat and there were mounted fish, all New York State species, hanging on the walls:

I only photographed a few of them, beginning with the Rainbow Trout:

Brown Trout:

Splake, which I later learned was a cross between a male Brook (AKA Speckled) Trout and a female Lake Trout:

Steelhead Trout. In spite of all the trout species mounted on the walls, this fishery was entirely devoted to the propagation of landlocked Atlantic Salmon:

I never saw another human being all the time I was there, neither tourist nor worker. I entered the next building, a cavernous place filled with two rows of large, circular tanks:

The first several tanks held larger salmon, in the one to two foot range:

Water constantly flowed, cleaning and aerating the salmon's environment:

I walked over to the tanks with smaller fish. They must have been the fingerling size because they were just about the size of a finger:

I exited the fish hatchery, still never having seen another human being, and walked to my parked car. There were many other complexes of maintenance buildings along the road, so I decided to keep driving and see what else I might find. But I'll post about that tomorrow:

Adirondack High Peaks Region In Autumn

The dogs and I got on Route 73 at Exit 30 of the Northway and headed toward the High Peaks Region. I was again taken by surprise at the colors I was seeing along the road. This  first photo shows both lovely autumn colors and low clouds shrouding the next mountain:

Driving through mountainous country between rainstorms is always a favorite of mine. Being able do so right after a rain while the clouds are low, caressing the mountains, is even better:

This autumn colors were outstanding:

My three Papillons in the front seat watched with great interest as we passed by a pond:

And white birch trunks accented the reds and golds near another pond:

I stopped on a hill in the town of Lake Placid and saw this gorgeous scene:

And the dogs were all waiting for me back in my little red car. Notice the row of trees across the road:

Patches of brilliant color mixed with green wherever I looked:

I stopped at Lake Flower in the town of Saranac Lake to photograph  this autumn scene, with New England Asters and a brightly colored mountain with its head in the clouds. Empty docks lined one shore as apparently folks had already brought in their boats for the winter.

As we passed by near Lake Clear, I aimed my camera out the car window just as Madeline turned to look at me. Which is prettier, Madeline or the colorful trees?:

Church Pond in the town of Brighton was especially lovely that morning:

And Route 458 was breathtaking as it passed through the high Adirondack flatland not too far from my farm. The only mountain which I could see here was almost hidden by the clouds:

Lake Clear, New York - Part 2

I had some trouble taking photos along a certain stretch of Route 30 in the hamlet of Lake Clear because road crews were working and I had to stop with all the other cars and then proceed with all the other cars. I couldn't stop during one of the "proceed" episodes in order to snap a picture. I missed what I'm sure would have been some stellar shots of beautiful homes with flowers blooming profusely, but I did manage to capture a few gems such as this woodsy Adirondack home:

And this small one, which may have been a summer cottage all nestled beneath the maples and pines:

And back at the end of a long driveway through the trees was this home sitting right on the lake:

This beautiful old home looked at first as if it might be abandoned, but I then decided it was just in need of a bit of paint and roof coating:

Mac's Canoe Livery rented canoes for exploring the lake and was brightened by Rugosa Roses near the road and Day Lilies up by the building:

A rather large boat squeezed into a rather small carport. Did that make it a "boatport?":

A very friendly, comfortable looking house sheltered by White Pines and Paper Birch:

Viburnums galore:

A wagon wheel at the mailbox, a boat in the yard and a large patio with an umbrella. These folks knew how to enjoy life:

A series of very old structures which I guessed was once a summer resort. It seemed now to be someone's home:

Old country style living on a spectacular Adirondack lake:

The last house I photographed caught my attention for all its ripped curtains and shades. But there was firewood outside and a light on inside, so I decided that someone, perhaps wisely, had decided not to worry about such trifles as blinds on the front porch. But I was on my way to Floodwood Mountain, so I drove out of Lake Clear and began consulting my map and directions. I'll post about hiking the mountain tomorrow:

Lake Clear, New York - Part 1

I was up at the farm for another long weekend and left early on Monday morning to hike Floodwood Mountain. I loaded my four youngest dogs into the car and headed south on Route 30. But when I arrived in the village of Lake Clear, New York, I began snapping photos:

Lake Clear is a gorgeous Adirondack lake as well as the hamlet on its eastern shore. The houses were well kept and looked prosperous:

Daphne and Clover watched with interest as we passed the St. John In The Wilderness Cemetery:

Lake Clear had its own Post Office:

And woodsy homes nestled into the forest:

Some rather grand old estates:

There were simple, lakeside homes:

And a fascinating church, St. John In The Wilderness, with a clear window which showcased statues:

This was a very pleasant community, and though some homes were surely only occupied in the summer, I think most were year 'round residences. But I wondered where these people worked, for there were no bigger cities nearby and not much agriculture:

A section of the road revealed a short stretch of land and railroad tracks adjacent to the lake. Several homes were built in that space and their lake access required walking across the tracks:

This owners of this home on a hill were selling firewood to vacationers and cleverly using an upturned canoe as a display case for it:

The woodsy, Adirondack theme was common. I'll post more pictures of Lake Clear tomorrow: