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:

From Grass Pond To Vermontville On Scenic Route 3

I'd just left from our rest stop in the Boreal Forest along the Port Kent Hopkinton Turnpike when I saw this sign for Grass Pond Fishing Access Site. Just completed a year or two ago, it is a handicapped accessible walk down to the lovely Grass Pond. Of course I stopped:

Since we'd just had a rest stop, I left old Wally and Winky napping in the car and proceeded down the walkway with the four younger dogs:

It wasn't far, and I shortly saw Grass Pond just ahead:

We walked to the edge of the pond and took in the magnificent Adirondack views:

Aptly named, Grass Pond's edges are chock full of grasses which seem to filling in the pond from the perimeter in, much in the same way that Sphagnum does:

Clover and Daphne wasted no time and ran right out onto the grass/water combination. They were light enough to get away with it but I knew better than to try it myself:

But then giant Seamus ran out there also and he didn't seem to be sinking. Nonetheless, I decided not to chance it myself. Maybe some other time:

But as always, this was only a brief rest stop and withing a few minutes I called the dogs back toward our parked car where Wally and Winky snoozed comfortably:

Seamus was reluctant to leave the water but ran right ahead of me after he'd done so:

We turned south on Route 3. By then it was lunch time, so I stopped at the Birch Bark Deli for a sub. Their restroom was not yet open. That had to wait for summer when they didn't have to worry about frozen pipes:

I headed south on Route 3 toward Bloomingdale, where I passed this field of Herefords with a backdrop of mountains. This looks more like Wyoming than New York. I guess that's part of why they call it the Empire State:

The farms along the way were beautiful, framed with forests and mountain peaks. I ate my sub and kept driving toward home. When I got to the town of Saranac Lake, I turned onto Route 86 and continued on our usual route:

Wending Our Way Home Through The Adirondacks - Part 1

I was driving home after a very busy visit to the farm and the dogs were needing a rest stop. I drove down the snowy, unplowed access road to Hays Brook Horse Trail and knew I'd made a mistake the moment I'd begun. But I couldn't stop, slow down or turn around. I kept going and was able to stop and turn around in the parking area:

The dogs got their rest stop although none of them ventured off the parking area:

When it came time to load up the car and once again traverse that rutted, snow and ice packed access road, I steeled myself and gunned it. I made it back to the highway but later learned I'd destroyed a splash guard on my car's underside. I'll not be so adventurous in the future:

In the town of Brighton I stopped for coffee and then took a spin through the former hay field which is becoming an upscale housing development. There's only a few houses built but they sure have terrific views:

I stopped once again near the Brighton Cemetery for a quick shot of the mountains:

The views were fantastic all along Route 86:

The forests and hay fields came right up to the road, always with a backdrop of Adirondack mountains:

I traveled through the lovely little town of Saranac Lake:

And stopped for a quick shot of the homes along the shore of Lake Flower:

There was still debris left from their February Winter Carnival, giant ice blocks piled up along the shoreline. One structure which looked sort of like a flying saucer was still standing. We were making good time on our journey home. I'll post more tomorrow:

Route 73 Through The Adirondack High Peaks

I left The Raybrook Frog (see yesterday's post), passing beneath lovely old pines and past a chainsaw statue of a pioneer. The Tail O' The Pup BBQ was directly across the road with its giant red lobster. The dogs and I were on our way home:

There are cabins for rent along the road with mountain views and lake access. They're busy in the summer, but this was wintertime so I turned in to take a closer look:

And everywhere the Adirondacks framed the view:

These cabins were cute and looked inviting, but a winter pass-by is all I'll get to see of them:

And then we continued on along Route 86 to the town of Lake Placid and south on Route 73 through the high peaks region:

The turnoff for Adirondack Loj Road has always provided marvelous views as long as the peaks are not covered by clouds:

I hiked many of those peaks in my younger days and gazing at them now stirs up good memories:

But as always, I had a long drive ahead of me and had to continue on toward home. I'll post more tomorrow:

The Raybrook Frog

I was travelling home from a visit to the farm when I passed this store on Route 86 in Ray Brook, New York. With Christmas just ahead, I decided to stop and look for possible gifts:

The store is called The Raybrook Frog, a curious name until I encountered this froggy bit of chainsaw art on the front porch. It was holding what appeared to have been a cupcake (or ice cream cone?) and a coffee cup. Furthermore, the porch/deck floor boards had been cut out to accommodate the frog, suggesting that it'd been carved out of an existing tree stump when the place was built:

The store was open for business and hoping to attract Christmas shoppers. I left the dogs in the car and went inside, bringing my camera along so that I could take you shopping with me:

And discovered a sort of Adirondack themed wonderland:

They had expensive Adirondack style furniture and furnishings as well as much cheaper knickknacks and old fashioned souvenirs. Furthermore, everything was on sale:

If I had been a wealthy owner of an Adirondack Great Camp, I could have furnished the whole place here:

The Adirondack theme seemed to revolve around Balsam, Birch, Pine, Deer, Moose and Chipmunks. Hey, I was good with that!:

Candles, birch Art, balsam sachets and incense, woven throws and lots of atmosphere:

Hand woven pack-baskets, more candles, less expensive Adirondack themed items:

Strings of lantern and trout shaped lights, wilderness sound recordings, Native American and old timey pioneer folk music, more baskets, pine and balsam scented soaps, towels, place mats:

It was indeed a fun store, just filled with everything I could imagine:

More Adirondack furniture:

And even beds and lamps. The beds were covered with Adirondack furs, quilts and plush moose and bears:

So much was made of birch bark that I momentarily worried if the birch trees were being wiped out for use in Adirondack themed furniture. But then I realized how much of it there is and how it is cut for pulp and firewood. It does grow like weeds up there. I guess the birch population is safe:

I did buy some Christmas gifts and took them to the counter. I'll show you some of them on a future post: