Smoky Mountain National Park

After spending a couple days in Virginia with my friends, I drove 700 + miles to Smoky Mountain National Park. I found a few patches of color remaining within the park. Passing through a forest of color like this is quite an experience, the entire cab of the truck glowed from within from the rich warm color. The color reminds me of the rich blankets of spring time California Poppies back home.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Smoky Mountain National Park

Water Mill, Great Smoky Mountain NP

Water Mill, Great Smoky Mountain NP

Water Mill, Great Smoky Mountain NP

Smoky Mountain NP

Smoky Mountain NP

Water in Smoky Mountain NP

Trees of Smoky Mountain

Small Falls in Smoky Mountain NP

Trees

Pennsylvania

My trip continued into Pennsylvania where I was privileged to visiting friends and family. The fall color had pretty much faded through most of the area, but visiting people I knew and some I barely knew, made for a very memorable visit.

I first spent a couple days with my friend Judy whom I met in Kodiak, Alaska back in 2003. I always get such great energy from her, and it is always such a pleasure hearing her stories of Alaska as my memories come alive once again. Together with Judy’s friend, we traveled to some Amish Farms near Lancaster. My visit seemed far too short, but every moment was treasured.

Next I traveled up near Indiana, Pennsylvania to visit family. I stayed with my Uncle and his Mom. I really enjoyed staying here, staying in the country is an amazing experience. I stayed in the basement, a cozy little space. I laughed a lot, had great home cooked meals, and my Uncle and I visited around town to meet people he knew there. My Uncle also arranged for me to visit some of my relatives from my Grandmother’s side. I thought it was so special how so much of the family was right there… I would love to revisit, would be really neat to participate with some of the farming activities. With all these new contacts, I have no excuse to feel lonely, though I am missing my sweetheart back home and my family there…

Amish Farms near Lancaster, PA

Farm Road near Lancaster, PA

Corn Fields

Connecticut

I made my way pretty quickly through Rhode Island and Connecticut. I considered skipping Connecticut in favor of taking the ferry to Long Island, but I just haven’t worked up the courage to drive my truck through New York. In actuality. I was even tempted to stop at B&H Photo, except parking rates there were more than the items I planned to purchase there.

Connecticut turned out to be one of the most lovely drives of the trip. I stopped at the visitor center and they recommended that I drive the old “Merritt Parkway” (highway 15). I wanted to stop almost every mile as the color was spectacular. I kept thinking it looked like an artist splattered the paint from their pallet onto the trees… bright greens, yellows, oranges, reds. I kept wanting to get a picture of the fall color near a lake, but the lakes I passed were closed to the public as water resources, they were picture perfect…

I stayed one night at Hammonasset State Park. I included a few sunset photos from the shoreline there.

Connecticut - Fall Color

Hammonasset Shoreline

Hammonasset - Waves on Shore (30 second exposure)

Shoreline

Acadia (Maine) to Cape Cod (Massachusetts)

I had a bit of an adventure making it to Cape Cod. I heard a horrendous sound come from my truck one morning starting it up. It sounded like something was caught in the fan blades, I feared finding an animal in there. Upon inspection, fears were subsided on that front. I looked around and couldn’t find anything amiss. Starting up again, the truck ran perfectly. Humm… I later discovered the problem, a bolt holding the fan blade housing had worked it’s way loose and was gone. I made a temporary fix with the ring of my keychain and stopped at a shop in Cape Cod area. A mechanic kindly put in a bolt and wouldn’t accept payment. Thank you! So relieved.

Cape Cod was a sleepy little place. Most of the restaurants, hotels, and campgrounds had packed up and left for the season. The location would almost rival Morro Bay back home, surprised it wasn’t packed. I couldn’t believe how calm the waters were, the waves barely lapped on shore, would have been perfect for kayaking. I was really tempted to stay another night so I could do just that…

On the way I stopped at Portland Light House in Maine. I believe I had a textbook (MacMillan Math Book?) in elementary school with this light house on the cover, so incredibly beautiful in person.

Speaking of names… Do all the names repeat themselves from the east coast to the west coast? I saw Portland, Salem, even Oakland. There must be a check off list for new states, you must have a “Horse Tail Falls”, “Bridal Vail Falls”, and then a list of city names.

One of the highlights in my drive was through Belfast, Maine. I happened to talk to a fisherman there working at the public launch/pier. I was taking pictures of the port and he was stacking Lobster traps. The man shared a wealth of information concerning the business of catching lobster. He obviously loved his job, a love of being on the water and taking in his environment. I am amazed at the number of people who come up and talk to me in these adventures, it just seems a bit sad that after the fact I may never see these same people again…

Portland Head Lighthouse - Maine

Self Portrait at Portland Head Lighthouse in Maine

Camden, Maine

Reflections in Belfast Maine

Cape Cod - Highland Light House (The large rock is where the light house stood prior to 1996)

Cape Cod

Acadia National Park (continued)

After a night of rain and snow, my second night of camping was clear, very clear. I did some experimentation to try capturing the milkyway. I keep wishing for Northern Lights.

My second full day in Acadia was pretty busy. The weather was beautiful and the daylight was long. I even made it to Bar Harbor and had a dinner of Lobster, my very first. I got the “Lazy Lobster” dinner, no “Lobster eating for dummies” necessary. LOL

Milkyway from Acadia National Park

Sunrise in Acadia National Park

Acadia

Early light

Road to Winter Harbor - Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park (Maine)

It’s been awhile since having an internet connection, but the memory of Acadia National Park lives with me. My first stop in Maine was to purchase a warmer sweatshirt, and that I found, oh so snugly and warm (half as good as those hugs from my sweetheart, miss you so much!). In the first couple hours while driving the interstate I got chills, (not the cold feeling), but of amazement. Old structures, extreme low tides, and plant life found (like Lichen) reminded me of my Alaska travels. I don’t think these two states bother with demolition, they just let weather take it’s course. I find the process where nature takes back, absolutely beautiful.

It is an interesting thing traveling, campgrounds close up to new visitors around 6 p.m., so going the extra few hours of driving in hopes to make it to the next town isn’t always in your favor. As a photographer I often arrive to camp late and leave well before sunrise in the morning. The east coast needs to catch on to the “Iron Ranger”, the iron post where you deposit your payment envelope.

I experienced most everything available weatherwise during my visit, just not warm weather for kayaking. My first real storm this trip involved rain and what I would call “chunky rain” (snow mixed in the rain). I loved the cool weather, especially listening to the rain sleeping in the truck.

Acadia - Fall Color

Acadia - Fall Reflections

Acadia Coastline

Lighthouse in Acadia

Acadia Lakes

Floating Leaf

Fall at night

Doesn’t it feel like time goes too fast, sure felt that way to me.

Vermont

Lots of eye candy in Vermont and sweet juicy fruits and maple syrup for the tummy. The fall color was past prime, though still an incredible treat. I had the juiciest apple from a roadside market, it nearly left me drenched! I stopped at a working Maple/Cheese farm where I tasted numerous cheeses and maple syrups. I even drove across a couple covered bridges that had clearance and weight capacities for my truck. I’ve been feeling taken back to another era through the experiences of the bridges and after passing presumably, Amish Horse Drawn Carriages, on the roads in upstate New York.

Temperatures have been cool, I started my day camping in the low 20s. Warmth was extinguished with a hot shower in the morning, almost thought icicles would be forming in my hair heading back to camp. I sure do enjoy that cold bite of the air, well temporarily anyway.

Gifford State Park in Killingston, Vermont

Gifford State Park, Kent Pond

Self Portrait of myself at Gifford State Park