Part 4 - A Journey On The Port Kent Road

We were stopped at Grass Pond for a little fun and recreation on way home from the farm. Clover and Daphne were the first to arrive at the end of the boardwalk:

Clover jumped off the end of the boardwalk to explore the sights and smells of the marsh before the other dogs arrived. Madeline and Daphne watched her over the edge of the boardwalk but declined to join her:

When I got there, I was awed by the wild, natural beauty of the quiet pond:

This was the Adirondacks that most tourists don't get to see:

But this was just a rest stop, and soon we were headed back up to our parked car where old Winky and Wally slept, pretty much oblivious to all that was going on:

Seamus must have decided that he was a nature boy and refused to walk on the boardwalk, preferring only to step on the mossy ground alongside:

Madeline, she with the perpetual smile, was only too happy to use the easy wooden surface:

And we all paraded happily back up to the parked car, just visible through the brush:

There was a flurry of "Papillony" activity just as we reached the car, but everything went smoothly:

I did a head count and pulled back onto the Port Kent Road, here only a seasonal road:

And then we continued heading southeast toward Route 3, passing this logging operation on the way:

We passed through the little town of Loon Lake and turned south onto Route 3. I put my camera away and concentrated on driving, at least for the time being. But we were to have one more rest stop, and I'll post about that tomorrow:

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.

More Northern Adirondack Exploration

I continued to snap photos of the cabins along the Port Kent/Red Tavern Road and was fascinated by them. I saw no people nor even parked cars. So even though I was in an area with lots of private property and cabins, I still had the feeling that the dogs and I were all alone in the wilderness:

Under the pines:

I arrived in a small town alongside a lake. Both the lake and town were named Loon Lake:

I saw no Post Office, no general store, but only residences. The scenery, however, was spectacular:

This dirt alleyway was the access to a row of Loon Lake residences. I didn't think it odd at the time, but remember now that I never saw any people in the town. Not a single soul:

A bridge over the supply river for Loon Lake provided an opportunity to take a photo:

I left the town of Loon Lake and continued on my way, passing this restaurant in the "town" of Mountain View. As far as I could see, this one building was the entire town. It was not open and I had the impression that it was more of a social hall than an actual restaurant:

And entered State lands once again:

This old abandoned house appeared to be an old farm house:

I was by this time in full "exploration mode" and snapping photos as I enjoyed seeing all this scenery, both the cabins and the wild Adirondacks, for the first time:

I finally found a general store on the road but, alas, it was closed. This store is for sale if you've always dreamed of owning one. I kept driving and taking pictures. I was on a roll and will post more photos tomorrow: