Taking a Break

 

We are camping at Higley Flow State Park in the foothills of the Adirondacks. This area is only 70 miles from the St Lawerence River and is officially part of the 1000 Islands area of NY. We had every intention of exploring one or two of the 1,800 islands that make up the area but so far we’ve found ourselves content to just camp for a while. 

When there is so much to see and do, in a place we haven’t visited before, we can wear ourselves out trying to see and do everything! We’ve traveled enough now to know when it’s time to take a break and relax taking note of small things like spiderwebs in the morning, floating on rafts in the afternoon, evening strolls by the river and a campfire at night. When you slow down there’s a chance you might even run into the governor, in the restroom, while dining at the local eatery.

Drive by Sightings

 

We left Vermont a few days ago and took a route over the impressive Champlain Bridge back into New York so we could go through the village of Port Henry, NY. We chose this route to try and spot Champ, the lake monster of Lake Champlain. There have been sightings of this “horned serpent” for as long as people have resided in the Adirondacks. People began recording sightings of the Loch Ness type creature, in 1819, in the bay at Port Henry. We didn’t see anything swimming in the bay but when we passed the local Tri State gas station, we sighted Champy drumming up interest  for “Champ Days” in August.

We pushed on to Lake Placid, where we had reservations for a couple nights, so we could see the area where the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics took place. I think most people my age remember what happened in this beautiful place when it became part of Olympic history. Of course I’m referring to the amateur American men’s hockey team beating the veteran Soviet men’s team for the gold medal in the “miracle on ice.” I loved driving to all the sights in this area. It was also pretty cool following the Olympic Scenic Byway to our next destination in a less visited part of the Adirondacks.

America’s Small Town Capital

 

The smallest capital city in the US is Montpelier, VT with a population of just under 8,000. It’s a welcoming town nestled where two rivers meet in the Green Mountains. Known for it’s historic state government buildings and independently owned shops, it also happens to be the only capital city in the whole country without a McDonalds restaurant. 

The private campground where we’ve been staying for the Fourth of July weekend, is only 33 miles from Montpelier. We decided to take a day and check out the gold domed State House and visit Bragg Farm where the Bragg family have been making maple syrup for 8 generations. Tasting 100% real maple syrup for the first time was one of those defining moments when I realized I would never be able to buy Log Cabin or Mrs Butterworth syrup ever again.

We also got to enjoy the weekend without rockets glaring or bombs bursting. Starbaby is terrified of fireworks so we were thankful our campgrounds celebration revolved around everyone “lighting up” their camper instead.

Elusive Moose

 

I have seen a lot of large land mammals while hiking and biking in the US. The list includes bison, bear, elk, deer, big horn sheep, wild horses and burros. But the only moose I’ve seen, in the wild, was from the window of a greyhound bus, traveling through Colorado. The largest concentration of moose, in America, is in Maine but the Great North Woods, in NH, have a lot too. The whole week here, I have kept my eyes peeled for this large elusive creature. We’ve intentionally chosen hikes in the early morning or late evening on trails where moose signs like tracks and droppings were evident. We have literally walked in the hoof steps of moose but haven’t seen one. We still have a chance for a sighting in Vermont or Michigan but for now I’ll have to content myself with LL Cote’s moose mannequin. 

Moose facts: Moose have 32 teeth, just like humans. The word moose comes from a Native American word that means “twig eater.” Moose are usually loners and don’t form herds. The plural for moose is moose, not meese.

Great North Woods

We are staying at a state park, in the north country of New Hampshire called Umbagog Lake State Park. The park is only 16 miles from Dixville Notch, NH. The village of Dixville is known for being the first in the nation to declare its results during presidential elections and the New Hampshire primaries. Dixville has been the first community in the state and country to cast its handful of votes, in national elections, since 1960. On election eve, 100 % of eligible voters (around 12) gather in the ballot room at the Balsams Resort. At midnight polls open and a few minutes later promptly close. The results are broadcast around the world and have been a historically accurate predictor of  the future president. 

Some might think there isn’t much else of interest in Dixville, but we discovered a beautiful hiking trail, to a granite overlook, called Tablerock, a wayside waterfall and a little further down the road, in Stewartstown, a sign for the 45th Parallel; the spot in America where you are halfway between the Equator and the North Pole!

 

Mount Desert Island

 

Mount Desert Island is the largest island off the coast of Maine and most of Acadia National Park is located there along with Bar Harbor and other charming seaside New England towns. Mountains rise up from a jagged coastline and wildlife abounds in this beautiful place. We have loved our week here and are thankful to have hiked and biked in places with names like Beehive Mountain, Thunder Hole and Rockefeller’s carriage roads. This is a place you don’t want to just visit once and check off a list. It’s a place to return to as often as you can!

Road Most Traveled

 

Over twenty years ago, my parents, along with nine of their closest friends, traveled to Maine to visit Bar Harbor and Acadia. I was busy with a family of my own then, and didn’t really pay much attention to my parents retirement vacations. Only recently, after Mark and I ended up in this area, my mom told me Maine  was the “main” place my Dad wanted to visit when he retired and that the area made such an impression on her, that if asked today, “where is one place you’d like to revisit from the past?” her answer would be Bar Harbor. 

Of the eleven people who made that trip, only five are still alive. I’m not sure how much the area has changed since then, but I’ve loved seeing and doing things I know my parents saw and did when they visited here. Up until now, I would have always said, the road less traveled is the superior one. But knowing, after twenty years, I’m on the same road my parents were on, when they were my age, gives me a sense of connection and continuity I wasn’t expecting.