The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

My "most wonderful time of the year" is Autumn,  mid-September through mid-October when the leaves are in various stages of color, the lakes have a lazy morning fog hanging about til the sun peaks through, revealing all manner of water fowl, fish, fishermen, and fearless, hungry ducks. The mountains are ablaze with color and one has only to walk outside to feel the snap of a crisp Fall day,  ripe apples falling from our four apple trees and my house fragrant with home made apple sauce and apple pie. Geese and loons are contemplating their winter journey south but still hanging about for a last fattening up from the bounties of Summer. My husband and I usually take day trips staying close to home for spectacular local color.  This year was different. Recovered from respective Spring surgeries, we were ready to hit the road.

First stop was Frenchman's Bay between two of the three Acadias. We spent a week hiking, biking and exploring the territory in what is regionally known as Down East.  Warm weather, mostly sunny days and spectacular natural surroundings made this trip memorable.

The 163rd Fryeburg Fair, "Maine's Blue Ribbon Classic", came to town late September.  This is the largest agricultural fair in New England home to blue ribboned farm animals, a large midway with fair food and endless rides, woodsmen's day, sled dragging, harness racing.  People watching is the best part.

 

Schoodic Point, Acadia National Park, Maine  September

 

Acadia National Park, Mt. Desert Island    September

 

 

 

 Morning fog on Back Lake, Pittsburg N.H. October

 

 

 Cole Scott Sunset shoot 

Schoodic Point  September

 

 

 

"A Fast Pace" by Cole Scott

Harness Racing at the 2013 Fryeburg Fair in Maine

October

 

Fryeburg Fair midway at dusk 2013
 by Dick Pollock

 

The Grand Theater in Ellsworth, Maine

September 2013

 



Next stop was Coos (pronounced coh-oz) County, New Hampshire, an unspoiled country of rolling hills, spectacular lakes, rivers, forest, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling in winter and now home to the brand new Ride the Wilds ATV park, over 1000 miles of trails in New Hampshire and Southern Quebec. We took an entire day to ATV a very small portion in a Polaris Razor known as a two-up.  What a rush that was!  It was like being on a very scary ride or rollercoaster for over 40 miles.  Not for the faint of heart.  We got stuck twice and they had to winch us out of mud and logging trail ruts in two different places.  It was a gorgeous warm sunny day so no problem.  I do not have photographs of this trip, having dropped and broken my new camera while in Acadia.

 

Here is a link to a newly produced TV feature on this not-to-be-missed part of my state.  

East Coast Travelin'

September has been a surprising month of travel for us. I say "surprising" because we didn't plan it this way...it just happened, making it all the more fun.

We visited The Balsams in Dixville Notch, N.H., famous as the "first in the nation" location for each presidential election.  We attended a wedding in the mountains nearby.  The resort, one of the oldest in the country, opened its doors in 1866 as a small roadside stop for travelers.

photograph from thebalsams.com

Five days later, we left for New York.  It was go, go, go the only thing you can do in the city.  I covered that trip in this post.

After New York, we were home four days then off to the Coast of Maine near Boothbay Harbor to an island called Southport.  We stayed in an old time resort, the Newagen Seaside Inn on the tip of the island.  

Their gardens, sweeping lawns and 240 degree views of the water were joyous.  Fall garden decor is big in New England.

No beach but a typical, rocky Maine shore.  The ocean is too darn cold for swimming. 

So we relaxed.

By the way, these are my photos with my new camera bought for me by my husband for my upcoming trip to New Orleans in October. (I think he's tired of my asking him to upload his photos to the web so I can use them  :o)