Day 11
Yesterday was our last night in Manhattan, we were happy there but we were excited about our new adventures in CT and NH. Got up early and ate breakfast in the Hotel then got back our car from the garage in one piece, no scratches… good start for the day. Loaded our camera backpacks and all of the other stuff, then before 8 AM, we left Manhattan. Drove on FDR Drive, then on 278 then 95 to Newhaven direction, but the traffic was very heavy there and accident blocked lanes. We were able to escape from the trouble and managed to get to Hutchinson River Parkway and on Merritt Parkway (US-15). We enjoyed the nice drive on it to Middletown. The trees started to pick their fall colors. Visited Curtis Studio and met with Marie and Glenn, chat a lot and our friendship deepened. Visited nearby privately-owned Golf Curse Kitchen and ate great homemade lunch there we drove to our Motel in Rocky Hill. After check-in, we visited NELFPC president Steve Sherman’s house where we received a very warm welcome. Master photographers from NELFPC also arrived to greet us and after a great home-cooked dinner we had a print share, talked about the images in a friendly atmosphere. We were really happy there. Many thanks for the great hospitality. Late evening drove back to our hotel, we were tired and slept well. Another great day passed.
Day 12
Got up early as usually every day, packed the car and ate breakfast at the Motel, then left Rocky Hill, drove on I-91 to Hartford, Springfield, and on the border of Vermont and New Hampshire to Newbury were on 302, 117 and on the scenic Streeter Pond Road to Franconia, then on 18 to our Hill wind Lodge on the bank of Gale River. We picked up useful information about the changing colors and locations at the Visitor Center. The fall coloration started very intensely last Saturday and because some areas got heavy rain, the temperature is around 50 oF, and today all day rained, we have a hope for more intense coloration of the leaves. We are very happy with this fantastic palette of colored leaves. We ate a late lunch in a local home-style restaurant then drove around on Farm Road 18 to Franconia Notch State Park area. Around 5 PM we were at Echo Lake and the coloration was breathtakingly beautiful. The rain stopped for a short time, the wind picked up a bit and the fog just moved intensely from the other end of the Lakefront of the mountain showing lot of mystery. There was a closed general store and boat rental with a covered porch and I set up my 8×10 camera there and I made my first b&w 8×10 photograph in the foggy Echo Lake area. At 6 PM the light started to lose its power and the land started to prepare for tomorrow. Drove back to Franconia and ate good Chicken minestrone soup and a good pizza. Organize our gear and make plans for tomorrow. Rainy day, but the colors were intense, and we liked it.
Day 13
Got up early, hoping the rain stopped… well, the rain was in and out early morning, foggy and the fog caused some rainy feelings. The breakfast started at 8 AM in the lodge, so we ate breakfast from our cooler and started to photographs before 8, using covered spots or our umbrellas. I took few nice landscapes nearby at Gale River, then on 18 at Echo Lake. The rain stopped and the fog made magic and we photographed that area for about an hour then continued on 93 to Old Man of the Mountain Historic site then the Sun started to come out hiding behind the clouds and each leaves started to glow. We were very excited and continued to hike and photograph The Basin area and made fine images from the running, gurgling, rock falls passing the Pemigewasset River. The time was flying but we were happy. No rain and the Sun was in and out creating nice shadows and glowing hollows around the edges. We drove to Woodstock, where ate good late lunch and drank locally brewed draft beer in the Woodstock Station Brewery. Continued our exploration on the Kancamagus Hwy (a beautiful National Scenic Byway, Rd 112, running through the White Mountain National Forest) and stopped many lookouts and campgrounds for photographing the glowing colorful landscape. One of our favorites was Lily Pond, where we enjoyed photographing the colorful tree line reflecting in the pond, surrounded by sticks and nice rocks. I saw my image and after a short tactical decision, I had to go through the muddy swampy area to get my view, then after set up, I photographed it on large format film. I did not mind the dirt on me, and my wife just peacefully smiled, because she knew that image talked to me. We photographed more than an hour at Lily Pond, then drove to Conway then on 302 in dark, through the mountain road to Franconia. Stopped at the local Dutch Treat Restaurant, got good food and local beer then went back to our lodge. We were tired, but happy. We saw a small part of this beautiful Land, and we believe that we were able to communicate with it. This was a fantastic Day!
Day 14
Got up early again, ate a quick breakfast from our cooler then left to explore Franconia Notch State Park’s fascinating Flume Gorge. Drove in fog on 18, 93, and Park Road 3, arrived earlier than the gate opened. No rain. Looked around and photographed that area, then walked on the steep, up and down the trail, climbed on wooden stairs. We spent about half a day in that area, hiked the scenic large loop with heavy camera backpacks. We were tired after that, but we liked it. Enjoyed the tree leaves glowing in the morning light, the different smelly ferns, the running, gurgling, roaring water, the awesome gorge, and the covered bridges. Around 1 PM we drove to Woodstock, ate dinner, walked around then continued on Kancamagus Hwy. The visibility was low there, the fog moved in and out, but we felt the coloration of the leaves intensified. Checked the Lily Pond, but the view there was less attractive. Looked for moose at several good spots, but these huge mammals were hiding somewhere. Drove the White Mountain National Forest large loop and when we were on 302 at Crawford Notch State Park area, we photographed Silver Cascade next to the road. Drove back to Franconia, the Baron Pub was closed but we got good food at Dutch Treat Restaurant and talked about the highlights of the day.
Day 15
This was our last day in Franconia NH, slept a little bit longer, then packed our duffles, loaded into our car, and after a good breakfast in the Hillwinds Lodge Cafe drove on Park Road 3 and 302 to Crawford Notch area. Stopped at Willey’s house and the Lake then continued to Silver Cascade. We enjoyed the view and the colored tree leaves were sparkling in the morning sun, but the light was too contrasty for photographing. Continued to Ripley falls trailhead, packed our large format camera gear, and hiked on a medium-difficulty trail to the falls. After relaxing and photographing the 2nd tallest falls in the White Mountains, hiked back to the car, and looking for photography spots we drove along the river, stopped all of the pull-outs, camp, and picnic areas. Around 2 PM we arrived at Cabin Fever Restaurant in Bartlett, ate a good late lunch, then slowly came back on Crawford Notch Road. Around 4 PM we drove to Kimball Inn at Whitefield and met with almost all NELFPC members. We were so happy to see and feel the heartwarming welcome and chat with all of them. Ate a good pizza dinner, showed my Inner Peace and Happiness presentation and celebrated NELFPC’s 15th Anniversary.
Day 16
Got up at 5 AM, quick setup and 6 AM our Large format photography group left photographing at Franconia Notch State Park’s Profile Lake. We were there before sunrise, but the weather was windy and no reflections were on the ripples that covered Profile lake. We took few images at the side of the Lake, but the wind caused some difficulties. Drove back to Whitefield, ate good, Marie made casserole then left to photograph again. The wind stopped the weather was great. Dan suggested a nice location, and we drove on 3 and 302 then Lower Falls Road to Ammonoosuc River’s Lower Falls. We photographed the small and larger rockfalls and the rainforest-like, thick moss-covered rocks and pine trees mixed with glowing maple trees. Around 4 PM we returned to Whitefield and we had a nice print share presentation from NELFPC Members and invited quest photographic artists. We ate a fantastic home-cooked Italian dinner together, celebrated NELFPC 15th Anniversary and many other members’ Anniversaries. The group greeted us open-hearted and we felt our friendship deepened. After dinner, we gathered in the lounge and I presented and discussed 15 of my monochrome images. We were tired a bit after the long day, but we were happy and a few of us continued the discussions in the bar, till late night.
Day 17
Got up at 6:30, started to organize and pack our stuff, loaded the car then ate a heartful, delicious homemade, freshly pan-fried sausage, keesh, and English muffin, which was closer to a branch than to breakfast. Glenn made a group photograph of members and members with spouses in front of Kimball Inn. Said sensitive goodbye to our NELFPC friends and at 10:30 we started the engine and drove on Park Road 3, 93, and other back roads to Dover visited the Camera Commons exhibition gallery and enjoyed Steve Sherman, Peter Bosco, and John Layton group exhibition. We were happy with Steve’s “Manhattan Skyline” image, which is my long-time favorite. Around 2 PM we left Dover and drove on 95, 90, then from Sturbridge through Hartford on 84 to Newburgh. The traffic was very heavy, a lot of speedy, aggressive driving. Finally, we made it safely to Newburgh, checked in to our Motel then ate a good Japanese dinner at the nearby “Yobo” fine Asian Cuisine Restaurant. Writing Journal, preparing for tomorrow’s long drive to Christiansburg.
Day 18
Got up at 5:30 AM, as usual, quick shower, packing, and breakfast then at 7:30 we were on the road, driving from Newburgh NY on 287, 78, to Harrisburg then on 81 through Hagerstown, Waynesboro, Roanoke to Christiansburg, We stopped at the rest areas about 20 minutes, stretched and exercised then continue our long drive in very heavy traffic, fighting with aggressive eighteen-wheelers and other trucks or cars. We drive defensively, we were not in trouble, luckily we did not get a speeding ticket. About 150 miles from Christiansburg, we ate lunch – dinner combo at Cracker Barrell then drove straight to our destination, stopped only for gas. About 8 PM we were in our Motel, relax, drink couple of beers and review tomorrow’s long drive. We saw a deer coming out from the woods around our Motel. We are closely monitoring Hurricane Michael and definitely we will change our next route from the coastal area to the mainland.
Day 19
Got up at 5:15 AM, cleaning, packing, and after a good breakfast, we left our Motel at 7:15 AM. Drove on 81, 40, and 88 to Sevierville, to the Smoky Mountains Knife Works. I spent about 45 minutes there, enjoyed the huge selection of high-quality knives around the World. I bought few things because I am really obsessed with fine knives. Drove back to 40 then 78 to Chattanooga, where we were stuck in a serious highway traffic jam for about 1.5 hrs. All lanes were closed by an accident and a huge oil spill, which took a lot of time to partially remove from the road. We called our motel for late arrival and drove on 59 to Birmingham and on 20 to Tuscaloosa where we ate dinner in a friendly Logan Road House then drove to Bonita Lakes, Meridian. Finally, we made it at 10:30 PM and after a couple of beers, I slept very well. Enjoy a few of my roadside photos taken at rest areas. We are monitoring the weather. and road conditions.
Day 20
Got up early again and after the usual packing, organizing routines, ate a good breakfast then around 7:30, chat several Florida and Alabama coastal area anxious evacuees who escaped from the impact of Hurricane Michael’s 155 mph wind and 15-20 feet storm surge flooding. We left the motel, but carefully monitored the weather, we were online with NOAA and recorded their radar, checked the road conditions and traffic. Because the strong cold front from North-West causing heavy rain on the areas where I-20 goes to Shreveport, finally we decided to drive on I-59 south to Slidell then on 12 to Hammond and Baton Rouge then on I-10 to Lafayette. We stopped there and ate a delicious late lunch early dinner at the famous Don’s gourmet cajon Restaurant. After that, we continued in very heavy traffic to Lake Charles then to Beaumont and to Houston. Luckily we did not experienced any effect of catastrophic Category 4 Hurricane Michael, we had blue sky and sunny warm weather with a little side wind on the road. However, we felt sorry about the FL coastal area residents who lost everything. We arrived home at 8:30 PM. We were tired. Everything was OK around the house, plants survived. Unpacked the car and after couple of beers, made a quick road trip mileage calculation: 4,932 miles. Wow, what a long distance. We visited great natural and man-made locations, filled our hearts with nice memories! I took few snapshots on the road nearby Lafayette Visitor Center.
