Part 2, Green and Hayden Roads in Parishville

I continued on my driving tour of Green Road and saw a few very nice, suburban type houses. I guessed that these were folks who worked in the city but loved living in the country:

But most of the homes were farms. This one had not only a gazebo but a magnificent barn:

I drove through mixed forests:

And places where Winterberry, Ilex verticillata, (our native Holly) lined the edge of the road with brilliantly crimson berries:

I stopped the car and got out for a close-up of the berries. Now, this certainly put me in a holiday mood:

I passed more farms:

And farm equipment, such as this old time hay rake:

A modern modular with a split rail fence:

And another modular behind tall pines:

I passed through a forest of Red Pine and White Pine:

And then realized that the road was taking me through Whiskey Flats State Forest:

I crossed over a lovely little brook and arrived at Route 72, which runs from Hopkinton to Parishville. Green Road ended there, but with a slight jog after I crossed Route 72, I continued on Hayden Road. But I'll post about that tomorrow:

Adirondacks From Keene To Brighton, New York

We were on our way up to the farm, the dogs and I, and traveling Route 73 through the High Peaks Region. This photo was taken just as we began to climb up into the mountains:

Route 73 took us past the Cascade Lakes with what I think was Mount Marcy up ahead:

Past an old farm:

With mountains visible in nearly every direction:

I stopped on Adirondack Loj Road to snap a photo of the mountains, but the dogs got into the act also:

And from there I could see Lake Placid just ahead. Those are the Olympic Ski Jumps towering over the town:

And entering Lake Placid, I got a better look at the ski jumps:


Another great view from the highway:

We traveled on Route 86 through the town of Brighton and stopped for pictures. You can see how full the back of my car was. I move more up to the farm house with every trip even though it crowds the back seat dogs:


These remaining shots were actually taken on our way home. This one was taken at the intersection of Adirondack Loj Road. The three Papillons were fascinated with it all:

A great view of snowy peaks:

And finally, one photo of Whiteface Mountain just about 10 miles away:

The Adirondacks From I-87 To Keene, New York

Another Sunday dawned bright and clear, albeit cold, and it was time for another trip with the dogs up to the farm. I drove north on I-87 for over an hour before I began to see the real Adirondacks just ahead:

Though it's been a cold, snowy winter, there'd apparently been a recent thaw as this mountain alongside I-87 was almost completely snow free:

And once we'd pulled off onto Route 73, the first big mountains which came into view were Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge:

Unnamed mountains and valleys lined both sides of Route 73 and driving on such a clear, bright day was a scenic delight:

As we gained altitude, the mountains alongside the road began to show more and more snow:

This one, however, must have been too steep to hold its snow. I think it had just all fallen off:

The highway began to drop down into the Keene Valley, after which we'd drive right back up into the high peaks:

I stopped to take a picture and the dogs watched me with concern:

I stopped in the hamlet of Keene Valley (which, of course, is in the Keene Valley) and turned down Trail End Road to see what I could see. The view was wonderful:

 On we drove through the Keene Valley, with mountains rising up on both sides:  


These homes sure had spectacular views:

And this must surely have been a farm at one time. They still sometimes have horses in that pasture:

The High Peaks In Winter, Part 2

I was on Route 73, driving through the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks, on my way to a visit to the farm. The dogs and I had passed through the Giant Mountain region and began dropping down into the Keene Valley:

Daphne and Clover watched the passing scenery with interest:

We passed through the hamlet of St. Huberts:

There was a deep chasm right next to the road and then more mountains:

And once we were in the Keene Valley, there were flatlands surrounded by mountains:

A few farms have survived in the Keene Valley, but mostly it is now a place for tourists:

And the old barn I photograph on nearly every trip:

When we reached the high plateau of Route 458, the scenery became different but altogether gorgeous, kind of like driving through the Black Forest:

My front seat buddies:

And then, just ahead of me, I saw a Bobcat slowly crossing the road, not overly concerned with me or my car:

I pulled off the road onto the shoulder in order to watch his progress into the forest:

He became a little bit nervous after I'd stopped to watch him. When he reached the trees, he positioned himself behind one of them, stuck his head around the tree trunk and watched me suspiciously. The dogs never seemed to notice him, which was a good thing as they'd likely started barking. But we were close to the farm at that point and I pulled back onto the road to finish the journey:

The High Peaks In Winter, Part 1

We were on our way to the farm and had begun our trek through the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks. The dogs were very happy, but then they seem to be happy all the time about everything. I envy their bright, cheerful dispositions:

We headed onto Route 73 and immediately began to see snowy forests and high mountains. If I remember correctly, that was Giant Mountain up ahead:

All along the road were mountains:

And frosted forests of great beauty:

The views are better in winter than in summer because the leaves are off the deciduous trees:

I slowed down to pull over and snap a photo. That got Daphne and Clover interested in finding out what I was looking at:

And this was what I was looking at. The nearby mountain had a dusting of snow on it which produced a striking effect and brought the trees and rocks into sharp contrast. I thought it was breathtaking. By the way, don't miss the big pile of snow alongside the road which the snow plows had pushed there:

And on we traveled on Route 73. I drove and ogled the mountains. The dogs mostly slept:

More mountains, some big - some small:

Chapel Pond with its surrounding hills:

Another look out over Chapel Pond:

A bigger mountain just through those trees. But we were just getting started and there was much more winter beauty to see along the way. I'll post more tomorrow: