New England Exploration 2013

New England Exploration 2013

 Figured I had better burn some more vacation and comp time hours to avoid lose or use status at the end of the year.  Never know where our adventures will take us.  Enjoy the images form the various locations we found as we explored New England.  Of course the week ended up as Furlough Status due to the government shutdown.

 Maine Office of Tourism

http://www.visitmaine.com

“The Maine Thing is… Where original people perfectly complement the beauty of this place. Explore and discover what the Maine Thing is all about. So be inspired. Be adventurous. Be yourself. Discover your Maine Thing.”

Portsmouth Naval Prison

http://www.portsmouthnh.com/thingstodo

Cool building! 

 U.S.S. Albacore AGSS-569 Submarine Museum

http://www.ussalbacore.org

We had a great time exploring this vessel and learning more about the history.

 New England Lighthouses

http://www.discovernewengland.org/new-england-activities/new-englands-iconic-lighthouses/

“For centuries, lighthouse warnings have saved ships and lives along New England’s 6,000 miles of coastline. Tall and white, squat and striped, remote and accessible: each New England lighthouse is different. Together, they are symbols of the region and its maritime heritage.

All the six New England states have lighthouses. Some you can admire from afar; others are open for visits; you can even stay overnight in a few. Perfect for photographers and fun for families, each lighthouse has a story to tell. Why not ‘collect’ lights? With well over 150, New England has plenty to keep you busy!” 

We certainly kept busy exploring many of the lights in the area.

 Acadia National Park

http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

“People have been drawn to the rugged coast of Maine throughout history. Awed by its beauty and diversity, early 20th-century visionaries donated the land that became Acadia National Park. The park is home to many plants and animals, and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast. Today visitors come to Acadia to hike granite peaks, bike historic carriage roads, or relax and enjoy the scenery.”

The park was closed during our visit thanks to the folks in D.C.  I won’t hold that against the Park Service though. 

Wikipedia page for Acadia National Park

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadia_National_Park

 New England Covered Bridges

http://www.discovernewengland.org/new-england-activities/covered-bridges/

“What could be more romantic than a covered bridge? New England (especially Vermont) has them by the score. Some are just for walking across a river; others are also for cycling. A surprising number are on roads, providing motorists with a brief “back in time” experience. As to why covered bridges were built, some reckon that the roofs protected the beams from rotting, or from freezing in bad weather. Others say that, since these bridges look like barns, animals would cross without fear. Whatever the reason, these distinctive crossings are a much-loved part of the New England landscape.”  We stopped at as many as we could find and had a great time!

 New England Fall Foliage

http://www.yankeefoliage.com

Wow is all I can say about the foliage we saw.  I only hope the images capture some of the color.  The weather was great for much of the trip.

 To see more images of our New England adventures please feel free to visit my Shutterfly album:

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AcN2rNm5ZNWT-o

Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves

http://www.findlostriver.com

“...created by the powerful forces of water, wind, weather and time

... a place where granite walls seem to erupt from the earth

...and a river plays hide and seek..”

“Long before recorded history, massive glaciers slowly ground their way across North America, shaping the land.

Here in Kinsman Notch, the powerful forces of water, wind, weather and time worked their magic, creating Lost River... a place where granite walls seem to erupt from the earth and a river plays hide and seek.

Today you can follow Lost River as it appears and disappears through the narrow steep-walled gorge, the tumbled granite crevasses, caverns and falls.

Along the boardwalks and in the boulder caves you'll travel through history, journeying back 25,000 years to the time of glaciers and pagan gods.”

We had a great time exploring this area even if we did not fit into all the openings. 

Maine Moose Watching

http://www.mainemoosewatching.com

“We offer daily moose watching tours and wildlife safaris and customize the time of the tours based upon moose habitat. Moose venture from the woods to the ponds for feeding, in the early hours of the morning and in the evening, prior to sun down. Our Maine Guide’s transport you to scenic moose ponds. The drive offers a great opportunity to gain local knowledge from your guide about the area, about wildlife, and the infamous Maine Moose. If you enjoy photography, nature, and tranquility our Maine moose watching tours and wildlife safaris are the best way to create lasting memories with friends and families.”

There is never a guarantee to see moose or any other wildlife on a trip.  We were not so lucky on this portion but our guide, Ethan, sure tried finding a moose.  That and I got a great workout paddling the canoe across Lucky Pond in the wind.  They have a different idea about the size of ponds and lakes in New England.

 Add a trip to New England if it is not on your bucket list.  We had a great time exploring parts of the region!  Feel free to take a look at the links for more information.  Comments are always welcome and appreciated.  Hope you enjoy.

 Breakfast prep.  Yum!

 Just for fun...