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:

A Boreal Forest Experience Along The Port Kent Hopkinton Turnpike

I was driving home from a visit to the farm and traveling, for the first time this year, on the Port Kent Hopkinton Turnpike. The dogs and I had the entire road to ourselves and were traveling along the seasonally maintained parts of the road when I spotted a clearing next to the road with a magnificent Boreal Forest just begging to be explored. The clearing was full of Balsam Fir seedlings and the forest was full of Balsam adults so the fragrance was enchanting:

I pulled off the road and let the dogs out to explore and to play:

There appeared to be a trail leading into the forest, by all appearances an old logging road. We all headed in that direction:

Deeper and deeper into the woods we went, feeling as if we were in the Forest Primeval:

The only catch, of course, was old Winky and Wally who were exceedingly slow and poking along sniffing here and there. They seemed oblivious to our desire to explore more deeply in the forest. But they were part of the family so I hung back, encouraging them to hurry along:

When I got Wally and Winky moving again, I walked ahead to where the four younger dogs were waiting for me:

The scene was exquisite, with moss carpeted trail:

There were occasional clearings along the trail and I guessed that cabins may have stood there years ago:

I walked back to encourage the oldsters and Winky gave me his "How am I doing?, Ain't this fun?" look:

But this was only a brief rest stop and I had many miles yet to drive. Besides, it was difficult to keep the old and young dogs together. So I gave them all a call and we began moving back toward our parked car:

Again, the young dogs ran ahead with all the excitement which characterizes their lives:

I stayed back, calling Wally and Winky, encouraging them through the Balsam seedlings. And soon enough we were all loaded back up into the car and on our way. Next time I may leave the old timers resting in the car and try exploring farther with the younger dogs: