April 28, 2019 – Thunder Hole – Maine

Yesterday we Adventured to Thunder Hole in Bar Harbor, part of the Acadia National Park in Maine. Thunder Hole is a popular location where the ocean waters crash into the rocky shore. The Hole is an inlet that occurred naturally, causing the water to sometimes shoot up to forty feet in the air. There is a small cavern under the water that intensifies the experience. A Thunder sound is often heard, leading to the name. A fenced viewing zone is in place, creating an up close experience.

Yesterday we had a thundering Adventure to Thunder Hole in Maine. This was our second visit to Thunder Hole as Shadow, Buster, My Mom, and I had visited previously. On our first visit it was warmer, greener, and foggy, while today bright, cool, and sunny. We were pleased to see less visitors to this spot today, although still an overly popular area. Upon arrival we noticed that the area directly next to the “Hole” was closed due to unsafe conditions. This was a little disappointing, although we were still able to get pretty close to listen to the loud thundering sound and watch the waves. On some days the water splashed high above and into the viewing area, however it appeared a bit calmer today. We found a spot a little above the “Hole” to watch, before walking along the rocks. Due to the recent torrents of rain some of the rocks appeared to be little brooks, flashing me back to our mountain Adventures. Shadow and Wilma sure did enjoy this added bonus with fresh water drinks. We wandered through these streams before finding a quiet area with a little cool cave and shade to sit and relax. Shadow enjoyed the comfort of the cave, and laying in the sun, while Wilma stood watching every movement of all things short and small. The shore view was gorgeous, the water perfectly blue, and the waves crashing in sound. The rocks in this area tend to be more square in shape then circular, and brown in color, creating unique tones to this spot. It was nice to feel the sun on this spring day, almost too sunny for great photographs. We relaxed for a some time before heading off to our next Adventure. I will include some photographs from both of our visits, and two videos from our visit yesterday. And although I do not prefer tourist types of natural attractions, Thunder Hole is definitely worth your visit (Rating: 3).

April 27, 2019 – Seawall – Maine

Yesterday Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to the Natural Seawall in the Southwest Harbor of Acadia National Park. The Natural Seawall is a natural piece of granite and loose boulder rock. There are views of Cranberry Island from this Seawall.

We had a gorgeous visit to the Natural Seawall on our last stop of the day. I was ecstatic to see the sky FINALLY turn blue near the end of our visit. We walked along this lovely rocky area until arriving at the large granite rock. We stumbled through the small rocks before landing on the Seawall. The waves were crashing against the rock creating a wonderful site, and a sound of peace. We stayed for awhile on the rock enjoying the song of the sea. It was such a pleasant surprise to see the sky turn blue, literally before our eyes, causing much anticipation for future Adventures. The only disappointment of this location was that the Seawall was located right along the main road. However we were so pleased to visit the Seawall today, a beautiful spot (Rating: 4).

April 27, 2019 – Echo Lake Beach – Maine

Yesterday Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Echo Lake Beach in Acadia National Park in Maine. Echo Lake Park is a fresh water swimming lake, with depths of up to 66 feet. It is framed by views of the Beech Cliffs.

We had a rainy Adventure to Echo Lake Beach on a dark Maine afternoon. We were thrilled to find the Beach all to ourselves. There was a boardwalk area that guided guests to the sand, some closed for the season buildings along the way. There were lovely mountains on either side of the lake, and some boulders in the shallow water. We walked around for a bit making sure not to miss anything about the Beach. There were some sticks for chewing, water for sips, and of course lots of sand for digging. There was also a picnic table in the sand ready for some guests. It was actually almost a little spooky being dark, empty, and not even a chance of any cell service. We did not stay long but were pleased to visit the Echo Lake Beach in Acadia National Park (Rating: 3).

April 27, 2019 – Paul Bunyan Statue – Maine

Yesterday Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to the Paul Bunyan Statue in Bangor, Maine, a little stop on the way to our final destination. Bangor, Maine claims to be the birthplace of this famous lumberman. The Statue is 31 feet tall, and is a fiberglass over metal frame. It has been located at this spot since 1959.

We had a humorous Adventure to this absolutely enormous statue on a rainy Saturday. I sometimes find odd, or simple spots to stop and stretch our legs when heading out on a farther Adventure. Yesterday this spot was the Paul Bunyan Statue! I had ready about the statue online, but obviously not too thoroughly as I could not believe how massive the sculpture was in size. We found parking nearby and strolled over to Paul Bunyan. As expected I posed by furry friends in front of the statue, and they smiled as requested. I do not even think they saw the statue as it was so tall it was probably like another building. The air was nice, and the breeze cooling, allowing the perfect spot to stretch our feet and view Paul Bunyan from all angles. Glad we could visit the Paul Bunyan statue today (Rating: 3).

April 27, 2019 – Viles Arboretum – Maine

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Viles Arboretum in Augusta, Maine. Viles Arboretum is made up of 224 acres of property including six miles of trails, gardens, an art/sculpture trail, and many special events and activities. There is a Visitor Center and a gift shop which are open during week days.

We had a drenching Adventure to the Viles Arboretum on yet another dreary New England day. I was excited to find the Arboretum, a location that many times is not open to my furry friends. Upon arrival we were disappointed to find the trail maps were gone, so decided to stroll around and see what we could find. There were numerous sculptures that captured our attention and guided us on our walk. We ambled along the paths, sinking into thick water and mud. However, we did not let this stop us and continued on checking out the art and landscape along the way. There were vibrant signs identifying what soon will be lots of green and flowering areas. There were gorgeous birch trees, tulips, forsythias, and a large white flowering tree. There were many labels for trails, yet without a map it was not clear as where they may lead. The Arboretum appeared to be endless with trails in many directions. We spent about an hour walking, and exploring. I am positive that the Viles Arboretum will be quite breathtaking as the buds bloom. It was definitely a unique spot which we hope to explore again in the future (Rating: 3).

Throwback Adventure – Chesterfield Gorge Nature Area- New Hampshire

I will have sections of my blog that I will title “Throwback Adventure”, and will plan on posting them every Thursday. These are journeys we have taken before I started the blog, but are well worth sharing. Many of these Throwback Adventures will include our Buster, who was known for his crazy tail, his happy howl, and his zest for life. We miss him dearly…he is forever in our hearts!

Back in October of 2015 Shadow, Buster, and I Adventured to the Chesterfield Gorge Nature Area in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, also referred to as the Chesterfield Gorge State Wayside. This Area is a small state park at just 13 acres that features the Wilde Brook, a trail, and a rocky gorge with waterfalls. There are picnic tables and a visitor center that is open in season.

We had a fun Adventure to the Chesterfield Gorge. As you may have heard my Throwback memory is not as detailed as I would hope. However, I remember finding the location almost to ourselves. We began following a trail along the River, and ended up finding us to a scenic little bridge, where I was able to take one of my many, all-time favorite photos of Shadow and Buster. The Gorge was simple, but tall, fenced off in several areas, and although I guess this was for safety, it really interfered with the true nature experience. I believe the trail looped around in almost a “u” shape with some up and down climbing alone the way. It was a short walk but we certainly took our time enjoying the great outdoors. We found different spots to sit and relax, the boys enjoying many sips and dips in the River. Definitely a wonderful Fall day at the Chesterfield Gorge. I have include a quite amateur sideways video at the bottom, but it gives you a good visual of the main gorge-waterfall. I do hope to be back to visit the Chesterfield Gorge.

Weekly Video/Photo

If you regularly follow my blog, and the weekly/video photo I would recommend skipping on to paragraph three, specific to this week’s video/photo. I have decided to add a weekly video/photo section to my blog. This blog will display a video or photo, usually highlighting an Adventure, while I might also sneak in some that are humorous, adorable, or just other fun dog moments.

So if you have followed my blog from the beginning you will know that I adopted Shadow as a puppy, and about a year later adopted Buster as a puppy. We had many wonderful years together before experiencing the devastating loss of Buster at just seven. It took a long time for our hearts to heal, but almost a year later we welcomed little Wilma into our world.

So today I will be featuring a photograph from West Rattlesnake Mountain, a mountain hike in Holderness, New Hampshire. This was an Adventure Shadow, Wilma, and I took back in May of 2018. It was a short, uphill hike to an absolutely stunning view of Squam Lake and the surrounding areas. I was awed at the scenic spot, and we spent quite a bit of time at the top of the Mountain relaxing and enjoying the view. Please search for West Rattlesnake Mountain in the “search box” for more information on this wonderful journey. (On a mobile phone you can find this at the very bottom of the page, and on the computer you can find it to the right of the blog.)

Enjoy the view!

Rattlesnake one

April 21, 2019 – Francis William Bird Park – Massachusetts

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to the Francis William Bird Park in Walpole, Massachusetts. The Francis William Bird Park is owned and maintained by the Trustees of Reservations. There are approximately 89 acres of landscaped property, open fields, recreation areas, and several ponds. The Park has approximately three miles of walking trails.

We had an overcast Adventure to the Francis William Bird Park on this Easter afternoon. I was thrilled to find this lovely little Park, unique in so many ways. We arrived at the main parking lot, crossed the street, and landed in an open field. We were greeted by The Trustees of Reservation kiosk which provided paper brochures with maps and information. The initial plan was to follow particular trails, but the paths were not labeled creating more work to view the map continually. Therefore we chose to wander aimlessly allowing our snouts and eyes to direct the route. Our first highlight was the “Music Court” probably my favorite non-nature aspect of the Park. It was a classic and distinctive architectural structure allowing oneself to imagine being at an outdoor event. There were even some sweet little ones appearing to perform a show of their own. A simple, yet scenic feature of the Park.

From there we strolled to various locations throughout the Park. I adored the flowering trees, distinct “footbridges”, Beech trees, gurgling brooks, and water features. Wilma loved watching the ducks, while both Shadow and Wilma relished the ponds, and attention from as many visitors as they could real in. The trails varied from cobblestone to rocks to dirt, adding variety. There were additional labels and information kiosks around the property which was very helpful, and also educational. Lastly, I was quite pleased to find a place where ALL of the dogs we encountered were under voice, or leash control of the owners. Sadly this is not always the case, and it is something I really do appreciate.

If you may be wondering, I located The Francis William Bird Park through the Trustees of Reservations which I have been learning about in the last several months. I would encourage you to check out the Trustees of Reservations, as you can search for properties in your area. Many of the land, trails, and properties are absolutely lovely, and the Trustees of Reservations does wonderful work to preserve the land and history throughout Massachusetts. I was quite fond of The Francis William Bird Park and expect to be back to visit (Rating: 3.5)

April 20, 2019 – Kimball Farm – Carlisle, Massachusetts

Yesterday Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Kimball Farm in Carlisle, Massachusetts. We have been to Kimball’s in Westford, but this was our first visit to the Carlisle location. Kimball’s Farm began as a dairy farm in 1908, with the Kimball family selling milk whole sale. In 1939 they opened an ice cream parlor, and began making handmade ice cream. Kimball Farm has grown over the years, and Carlisle is one of their expanded locations. The Kimball Farm continues to be family owned.

We had a delicious Adventure to Kimball Farm- Carlisle – on this humid and rainy day. I was excited to check out this location, a much quieter spot in the world of Kimball’s. I ordered our favorites – peppermint stick and dog ice cream. We enjoyed our tasty treats, and walked around the building checking out the location. There were benches, and some farm animals over to the side. Wilma was far from a fan of the goat so we did not spend time near the animals. It was nice to see the beautiful flower arrangements, singing spring. We definitely will be back to this tasty, quiet spot (Rating: 4).

April 20, 2019 – The Old Manse – Massachusetts

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts. The Old Manse is a historic manse famous for its history and literacy associations. Writers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne both lived in this property at one point in their lives. The Trustees of Reservations runs The Old Manse which is now a museum that offers Tours and houses a bookstore. The Old Manse neighbors the Minute Man National Historic Park, and is a National Historic Landmark.

We had a humid Adventure to The Old Manse after a rainy morning. We were inspired by The Trustees of Reservations, and decided to visit The Old Manse to take some photographs. We have been to this area before, but choose to concentrate on The Old Manse, its history, and the grounds. Parking was available right in front of the building, which was quite convenient. We headed directly to this scenic structure, soon being greeted by an information board about the property. From there we strolled past and around The Old Manse. It was exciting to see some spring blooms, a recent and jovial sight for us New Englanders! The Old Manse, and area surrounding is very picturesque. There are beautiful stone walls, gorgeous landscaping, and other landmarks in site. Wilma hopped on several rocks, Shadow enjoyed a dip in the River, and both pups enjoyed some cheerful rolls in the grass. Often we found ourselves wandered aimlessly in attempt to notice all the little details. We were pleased to visit The Old Manse today (Rating: 3).

If you are interested in reading more about our visit to the neighboring Minuteman National Historic Park you can type the name in the “Search Box” (you will see the “search box” at the bottom of the page on a mobile device, and to the right side if you are utilizing a computer).