From Keene, New York To The Hays Brook Horse Trail

We were traveling through the Adirondacks, the dogs and I, on our way to another visit to the farm. I stopped in Keene, New York at the North Country Taxidermy And Trading Post:

And began snapping pictures of their amazing merchandise and displays. This is where I discovered that my new camera's settings were accidentally changed every time I slipped it into my pocket and often just by handling it. I then began checking the main setting before every shot:

There were animal skins, heads and displays everywhere I looked:

I climbed up to the balcony and looked down to the showroom below:

Taxidermy is their main business but they also have many Adirondack themed gifts:

But we were on our way up to the farm, so I got back into the car and continued driving Route 73. Arriving at the Cascade Chain of lakes is always one of my favorite moments:

And when we got to the entrance to the Hays Brook Horse Trail, I pulled in. The access road is where I'd torn off a splash guard beneath my car on our last trip but that had been repaired and the snow had been packed down. I parked my car and the dogs and I began walking the trail:

This is a wonderfully scenic trail and a calming pinewoods sure to thrill one's soul:

For the dogs it's an explosion of fascinating aromas:

We didn't go far in on the trail because of old Wally and Winky. I returned to the parking area and let the dogs play in the surrounding forest:

Seamus was very happy to be able to stretch his long legs:

Daphne and Clover ran, wrestled and sniffed. But this was just a quick rest stop and we were about 45 minutes from the farm. So I loaded all six dogs back up into the car and continued on my way:

Traveling Through The Adirondack High Peaks Region

I was on my way home from a two night stay at the farm and traveling through the Adirondack high peaks region. When I got to the town of Brighton, I just couldn't resist snapping a few pictures of mountain scenes which always thrill me:

With high peaks all around, this field of wildflowers was just spectacular. But what was that odd yellow plant in the foreground?

Its flowers looked like the yellow buttons of daisies without the white rays. I found it in my Peterson's Field Guide and identified it as Common Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare. I once would have known that but had forgotten. The field guide said that its fern-like leaves are strongly scented. If I see it again I'll take a whiff:

Many of the old farm fields are now going uncut and beginning to grow trees. This was once marginal farmland but is now quite valuable real estate. I suppose it'll soon be sprouting new homes:

I could drive right into this field because it was already being prepped for new homes. But for the time being, the views were still excellent:

Some day soon McMansions will be blocking these views:

We traveled on to the town of Keene where I stopped once again at the taxidermy store:

And this is the farm field which became totally flooded this past spring. Perhaps that will save it from development:

This is one of my favorite shots and worth clicking to enlarge. This is why people love to travel Route 73 through the high peaks region:

Another quick stop at Marcy Field with its great views:

Adirondack Mountains in every direction. We were at that point getting close to the highway. I'll post more tomorrow:

A Driving Tour Of The Adirondacks

My sister and I were taking a driving tour of the Adirondacks with all seven dogs in the back of the car. We'd had a nice hike on the Hays Brook Horse Trail, so the dogs were relaxed and reasonably quiet. The weather, however, was not cooperative. So when the clouds parted momentarily, I snapped a photo:

Snow was falling and the skies were overcast as we pulled off the road alongside the Cascade Lakes:

And the wind was blowing so hard that my sister stayed in the car when I got out to snap a few photos. That's the three Papillons in the front seat with her (right to left): Madeline, Daphne and Clover:

And we got as far as the high peaks town of Keene, the home of my favorite store. So of course we stopped to look around:

They sell many Adirondack themed gifts in addition to the taxidermy of animals, both local and exotic:

And much of the taxidermy is set in action poses with artificial plants or other animals to complete the scene:

Overhead are antler chandeliers:

My sister was surprised and impressed by the awesome size of the bison:

And a stuffed bear next to the stairs which led up to a loft filled with pelts and other items:

It's a fun place to visit but one has to have lots of money and be truly into taxidermy to buy much there. I have, however, purchased other, smaller items as gifts:

On the way out we took each others' photos beside the chainsaw art mountain man and the pillar of moose antlers:

And I got my turn also. As kids, we used to pose for such photos at tourist stops all across the country, so this brought back some happy memories: