July_4

Northeast '06 July, p.4

Wednesday, July 26

Today, we got to see more of the Adirondacks. We started south on Hwy 30 and 28N towards Green Mountain Lake. The first side trip was to Bog River Falls and Horseshoe Lake. The first picture is of Big Tupper Lake, the second of the Falls. Note the birch trees (and rocks) which are everywhere. Birch trees are the predominant hardwood tree, just like the oaks are in the south. Horseshoe Lake was nice, but we have already been jaded and took no pictures...all of the Adirondack lakes are pretty! One day, I'll have to go through our pictures of the Adirondacks we have taken in the past, especially those in the fall with the tree colors, and post them on this website. (I did it: see New York '02. There's a link there to get back to this page, July p.4).

On the way to Horseshoe Lake, we first passed a bog area that was very scenic, then a stone building that was the home of one of New York's Governors. On the right, we thought the architecture of the building on the right was interesting (how ornate for just a garage) and very Adirondack, later found that it was one of many buildings of the same style (including a church, mess halls and hospital) all in a cove on Big Tupper Lake that was the site of the American Legion Home for disabled veterans of World War I. These were men who had suffered the effects of nerve gas, loss of limbs, and what we now call battle fatigue. In the 1920's, about 5,000 people were living here! The property is now broken up into 14 private estates.

Couldn't resist this picture of 2 butterflies on the one flower. I think my brother-in-law Mike might jokingly consider taking this picture "voyeurism". That's what he called our picture of salmon spawning last year...

Near Blue Mountain Lake, we decided to try to hike the trail to the top of Blue mountain, but the 3 mile hike uphill over rocks (see the trail picture), and the high temperature and humidity took their toll, and we maybe got half-way up before we turned around. It's the pits getting old!

Further down the road at Long Lake, we stopped and laid out the blanket on the grass to watch the kids enjoying themselves in the beach, and for an afternoon snooze. Hard day hiking.

The airplanes were rental flights and this plane took off three times while we were there. I wonder what a 20-minute flight costs....

Across the street is the Adirondack Hotel, typical of many around the park with rooms and a restaurant.

Quite a day, but not finished. We drove further west on 28 until we came to Raquette Lake and Golden Beach State Park, where we were able to get a campsite about 50 yards from the beach! Here we met an extended family (brothers, cousins, their children, etc) who come here every year with their boats and camping equipment for a "family reunion". One told us he had been coming for over 20 years. And we can't stay in one place for one day!

Thursday, July 27

From Raquette lake , we took a 9-mile dirt road to Eagle Bay, and along the way we stopped at parking area which led us, after a short walk then along a boardwalk, to Ferd's Bog. Those flowers are of pitcher plants (eat insects), but because we couldn't get off the boardwalk for a closer look, we couldn't get a picture of the cups below the plants that do the actual eating.

We found a red dragonfly along the way, as well as a batch of wild blueberries! We took a picture of the dragonfly, but ate the blueberries!

Ed is excited about being able to take a picture of a dragonfly. Do you know how hard it is to do with most digital cameras?

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