April 17, 2016 – We’re Going!

highhopesgardens April 17, 2016

The search is over (well almost)! Linda has been called by the Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Plymouth, NH as their ministerial candidate. We will travel to Plymouth in about a month when Linda will get a chance to preach a couple of sermons, meet the congregation, and then a vote will be held whether to affirm her as the new minster.

The church building is about 30 years old and looks like a church you might expect in the White Mountain region of New Hampshire. The round turret with the high windows gives light in the center of the sanctuary.

Plymouth is about an hour and 45 minutes from Boston, about an hour and a half from coast of Maine, and a couple hours to the Adirondacks. The ski resorts in the White Mountains (and highest point in New England) start about 10 minutes away, as is the northern edge of the Lakes region of New Hampshire. Plymouth is also home to a state university.

Now all we have to do is sell a farm and find a place to live.

October 5, 2015 – Final Day NY->VT->NH

highhopesgardens October 5, 2015

It’s not hard to travel through a number of states in the NE.

On the ferry across Lake Champlain, as is the case most of the time, a Subaru is ahead of us.

Near Plymouth, NH is Squam Lake.

Looks a lot like Northern Minnesota, in fact, it is a similar rock formation as the North Shore of MN.

The view from our cabin window the morning before heading back to Boston to catch a flight back home.

October 4, 2015 – Whiteface Mountain/Lake Placid

highhopesgardens October 4, 2015

Can you say windy? It felt almost dangerously windy on top of Whiteface Mountain.

We cheated and took the leisurely drive up Whiteface Mountain instead of hiking 10 miles, but still had to climb up the last 300 feet.

Not that the last 300 feet was a superhighway, but there were rails.

It was a different season on top of the mountain than in the valley.

Fall becomes winter.

The view looking southeast.

Obligatory selfie on summit.

With Lake Placid behind her, Linda is stunned to find out Team USA defeats the Soviet Union 4-3!

Back down, the light from the heavens shines down on Linda.

Taking her pose in a BWCA-like campsite along a lake. Scroll down to see what Linda’s looking at.

Another lake, about a 480 rod portage from the nearest road.

October 3, 2015 – Adirondacks Day 2

highhopesgardens October 3, 2015

Another day devoted to hiking in the morning and driving in the afternoon.

Yet another “pond” along a trail.

Another view of the pond.

Another pond on a different trail.

A mountain stream showing its fall colors.

Some planty stuff for the flora lovers.

For Emma – a gazebo roof gone wild with lichens and moss.

Finally at our resting place for the night, an old fashioned 1 bedroom Adirondack cabin.

October 2, 2015 – Adirondacks Day 1

highhopesgardens October 2, 2015

After a couple of days in Boston and fortunately missing the hurricane that was a possibility for the coast, it was off to greater New England. First day was in the SE Adirondacks in a cabin on Brant Lake near Lake George.

Linda dutifully signing in the trail log book in case we don’t come out, they know the names of the bodies.

Someone ahead of us had a sense of humor – you’ll see a presidential candidate with the final destination cut off the picture – the White House.

The forest here is spacious and open for the most part.

This was the steepest hike of the trip – about 1400 feet elevation gain – pretty much always up without any switchbacks.

A wonderful mushroom that looked edible, but since we did not have a mycologist aboard, let it be.