Day 92- 13 Weeks On the Road

We caught the ferry in Port Kent, NY to cross Lake Champlain. It was a short trip, 9.6 miles taking a little longer than an hour but it saved us about 6 hours of travel to the top of the lake and around Rouse’s Point. It was a different sort of ferry experience than the Inside Passage. There the vehicles were in the belly and the passengers on top. Here, the vehicles were on top while us passengers rode at about water level. It was mildly disconcerting to look out the porthole and see the water just below the rim. The photo of the day is of one of the deck hands. Check out his stylish footwear. You can do anything with duct tape! Burlington was only slightly congested so we were able to get out of town in pretty good time. Then, it was “second star to the left and straight on ’til morning” or to be a little less dramatic, home over very familiar roads. We did stop in Barre for gas and lunch. I’m not sure if it was relief I was feeling when we arrived home or something a little different, maybe dread at all the stuff I have to catch up on, mail, shows to register for, several phone calls to return and of course there is the unpacking. Somehow, it’s always easier to pack than to unpack. Well, the trip of a lifetime is finally over. The partial tally stands at 92 days, 16,458 miles, 4 Provinces and 21 states visited, 77 postcards sent and 18 new refrigerator magnets to dust. People have asked what part of the trip I liked best and I have to say, I loved it all. Carl wants to go back to Arches at another time of the year and I’d have to agree. I loved Yellowstone for it’s hundreds of miles of roads which allowed much more access to the park than any other. And our 3 ½ weeks in Alaska wasn’t nearly enough. We didn’t even scratch the surface of what she has to offer. I discovered bears are more prevalent than I had previously thought but moose are more scarce in the areas we visited. I’m sure there is somewhere up there where you can’t turn a corner but you’re bumping into them. All that remains now is to unload the camper, total up the expenses for the accountant and get the rest of my images burned to DVD so I can free up some hard drive space on the laptop. Shortly, I’ll be posting a list of “Things We Learned” on our trip. I got the idea from my step mom, Adena. She and my dad traveled to Minnesota to pick up their new camper at the Scamp factory and she posted her list for friends and family to chuckle over shortly after their return. I thought it was a great idea. Now, I have to throw myself back into the business of being a photographer and a participating member of the co-op in Plymouth. I need to feel as if I’m pulling my own weight. In fact, I have a show scheduled for September 24th in Littleton I need to get my head on straight for. The following weekend will be in Sugar Hill and then it’s time for the Sandwich Fair. I hope to see you all at a venue near you!

Waiting On Summer

Graduation has come and gone, the lupines are going to seed and my calendar says it's the middle of June. SO, why doesn't the weather act like it? Today, we were set up at the Sugar Hill Lupine Festival Open Air Market and I had a sweatshirt on. People who know me are probably picking their collective jaws off the floor after reading this but it was downright cool. The sun made only fleeting appearances most of the day and there was a constant breeze. On the plus side, it didn't rain and any day we can get the tent down and back into the truck dry is a good one. I had a couple of after thoughts about our vacation. First and foremost, it wasn't long enough. They never are. Secondly, I forgot to mention how we were privileged to experience a "pack howl" while at the Shy Wolf Sanctuary in Naples, FL. It started with a tentative attempt from Mark, our guide but was soon picked up by a couple of nearby wolves and before we knew it, most of the animals had their noses pointed skyward. It was electrifying and the hairs literally stood up on my arms and the back of my neck. And, like so many other wonderful experiences, it was over much too quickly. Now, back in New Hampshire, it's been tough to find inspiration for my camera although this little fox was sort of intriguing. For the most part,I approve of people feeding wild animals during the lean winter months but this guy has a regular route he travels, along the road, mind you, from the Appalachian Mountain Club ( who should know better ) at the top of Crawford Notch to Fabyan's Station with a stop at the Zealand campground in there as well. We were told this by a guy, in a vehicle, on the side of the road who was tossing bits of food to him as we spoke. Sadly, this kind of reinforcing behavior can only lead to the beautiful red fox ending up as road kill. We'll be in Sugar Hill on Saturday and Sunday, the 19th and 20th. Come visit and we can talk "pictures".

Lupines And Other Beauty

In spite of the unseasonable, cold, gray, rainy and just plain miserable weather we've been having, mother nature has put herself back on schedule. By that, I mean the flowers that should be blooming at this time of the year, lupines and lady slippers, are in fact blooming as we speak. This is good news because, first and foremost, this is my favorite time of year to get out and shoot. The weather is warm and the grass smells ever so sweet when I decide that kneeling or even sitting doesn't give me just that perfect approach to my subject. Secondly, and far less noble, it's time for the Lupine Festival in Sugar Hill, NH which begins on June 8th and runs through the 24th. For all three weekends of the Festival, I will be set up in a "Crafter's Village" at Harman's Cheese. It's a well known country store in the area famous for it's incredible assortment of cheeses and other delights. By village, I mean there will be more than 20 artisans set up representing a wide variety of work. Just down the road on the first weekend, at the Meeting House, will be the 6th Annual Fields Of Lupines Art Show with an additional 20 artisans exhibiting their skills. The lupines bloom for an extended period of time but past experience has taught me that they never last the entire three weeks so if you're going out for that perfect shot, go early. Mother Nature can take her bounty away as quickly as she brings it.