The Route Home

Tuesday's Route

Except the last leg, where we couldn't go up to the mountain summit.

Our Route to Lake Placid

Walt's Diner

Soon we were on our way again.  we stopped at Walt's Diner for lunch.  It was a good choice, so we had dessert too.  Before long we were home, safe and sound, already making plans to go back again next year--before Columbus Day!

The Adirondack Museum

Surprise! Surprise!  When we stopped at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, we found that it was closed--as of Columbus Day.  But they allowed us to look at the exhibits at the visitors' center and gift shop.

Or Pine Neeldes?

Tuesday night we had dinner at Lake Placid Pub and Brewery--with better results, even though the wait for our food was still rather long.  Dan and I took a dip in the pool afterwards and then I settled in to watch the Democratic Presidential Debates--at least until 10:30.  Then after breakfast, again at the hotel, we started out for home, taking a route through the park.

Birch Trees

What would a blog about touring the Adirondacks be without a picture of a birch tree?

More Leaves, Would You Believe

The Gondola

Next we decided to try the gondola that goes up the mountainside from the ski resort.  Unfortunately, it was only operating on weekends as of Columbus Day.  I took these pictures from the bridge over the Ausable River at the entrance to the ski resort.

Whiteface Access Road Closed

When we arrived at the gate of the access road to the summit of Whiteface Mountain, we discovered it was closed for the day, possibly because of poor visibility.  The sky had cleared where we were but the mountain was still obscured by clouds.  Consequently, we did some more exploring.  The mountain goat looks a little bit like Dan.

Waterfalls

At one stop we found this beautiful waterfalls.

Heading for Whiteface Mountain

Though it had rained a bit earlier, the skies soon cleared enough to catch some wonderful shots as we made our way to Whiteface Mountain.

Lake Placid Olympic Museum

After a little shopping downtown and lunch at Jimmy's 21, we took in the Olympic Museum.  Here's the U.S. Senior Bob Sled Team in action.

Lake Placid from Across Mirror Lake

More Beautiful Leaves

Walk around Mirror Lake

After breakfast at the hotel, we walked down the hill and proceeded to walk through the village and around Mirror Lake.

Views from the Hotel

From the front of the hotel we could see Mirror Lake, and from the back we could see the Olympic ski jumps.  After a bit of a rest, we went downtown for dinner at Generations Restaurant.  Unfortunately the service was poor, leaving us to wait forever for our meals, with Nancy's meal being cold.

Our Hotel

We stayed at the Crowne Plaza on the hill above Lake Placid.  I've been here before, on three occasions, with the Yorkers.

Beautiful Leaves

I wish I knew what these leaves are.

Like I Said, Rock Climbing

This is just a sample of the rocks we used as "stepping stones" up the side of the mountain.

Our Rock Climbing Team

Before long we found a hiking trail we thought we could manage.  As it turned out Cascade Mountain Trail was a bit longer than we had time for before sunset, but we did climb up as far as we thought wise given the time.

Color Our World

It was a perfect fall day and we were surrounded by vibrant colors.

Rock Climbers

At one stop I took this panoramic shot.  On the mountain to the right were people rock climbing.

Off to Lake Placid

On Monday morning, October 12, 2015, Columbus Day, Donna and Dan picked us up to head to Lake Placid for a couple of days.  On our way up we stopped for lunch in Lake George.  Soon after that we were turning off the Interstate.  Within no time we were witnessing stunning scenery at every turn. 

The Maps

Here are the routes we took to and from Rhode Island.

Family Parlor

Stowe actually wrote Uncle Tom;s Cabin while living and raising six children in Maine with her very supportive husband.  She was already world famous by the time she moved into this house.  This is the family's private parlor.

Harriot Beacher Stowe Portrait

There are two of these portraits by Alanson Fisher, this one in her home in Hartford and one in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington.

Harriot Beacher Stow's Place

The story of Stowe's life and family was quite interesting.  Our young guide, Ryan, was very informative.  I bought a biography of Harriot's brother, Henry Ward Beacher, who was a famous minister in his day.

Mark Twain's Connecticul Home

On our way home we stopped in Hartford, Connecticut.  This is Mark Twain's home there, where he wrote Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.  We didn't tour the house, but we did do the tour next door of Harriot Beacher Stowe's Connecticut home, where she lived from 1874 until her death in 1896. 

One Last Shot of the Sea

Can you have enough picture of the ocean coastline?

Point Judith Lighthouse

Before we left Rhode Island, we stopped to see Point Judith Lighthouse.

Narrangansett

Saturday evening we returned to Doherty's Ale House, the place where we ate the evening before.  We had the same server, who actually remembered us.  He was very attentive.  After breakfast and packing up Sunday morning, we headed south to Narragansett, which is along the southernmost shore of Rhode Island.  This was taken at a state park along the coast.

The Recue

While walking along the Cliff Walk, we witnessed the rescue of a woman who had fallen out of her kayak.  In this picture they are securing the wayward kayak.

Goldenrod

This particular species of goldenrod is particularly beautiful and was found all along the coastal areas we visited.