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.

Today’s feature is a photograph of Shadow at one of the smaller waterfalls on the hike that leads to Arethusa Falls. We were thrilled to find several smaller falls along our trek to the the main feature. Shadow was able to dip in the water, drinking from the cold, fresh Beavis Brook. This was definitely one of the most amazing Adventure I have gone on, and it is a day I will always cherish. You can read more about our hike by typing in “Arethusa Falls” in the “search box”. Enjoy this photo from one of the smaller highlights of the day.

Arethusa falls Shadow

Throwback Adventure – Jamaica State Park – Vermont

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!

In September of 2015 Shadow, Buster, My Aunt, My Uncle, and I Adventured to Jamaica State Park in Jamaica, Vermont. Jamaica State Park is an almost 800 acre state park, that encompasses the West River. Jamaica State Park is popular for fishing, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, and winter sports. It also includes Hamilton Falls which is approximately 125 feet tall and sourced from the Cobb River.

We had a wonderful Adventure to Jamaica State Park. We were so excited to meet my Aunt and Uncle for this day of hiking, and exploring. Upon arrival we found the Park to be packed full of visitors, soon to realize that there was an official white water event. Apparently several times a year the dam is opened for this popular event. This added some excitement to our day with this bonus attraction.

We began our hike on the trail looking down on the West River. We were able to see the kayakers from high above, on quite the rapid filled river. It was really a fun scene we were able to take-in while catching up and enjoying this mid-September day. Every so often we had to move off the trail to allow for the eager truck full of boaters heading out to the beginning of the dam. Quite a special environment of which we thoroughly enjoyed.

We were on the trail along the River for a bit before veering off on a slope to our right. This was a tiring trail, mostly uphill so we took or time traversing this mountain-like path. I am trying to pull-out my long term memory and believe I knew there was a waterfall and was hopeful, and driven by the desire to locate this natural feature. I was quite pleased to finally spot the Hamilton Falls and we traversed down another trail to get to the Falls edge. I found the Hamilton Falls somewhat humorous as there was little water-flow, although I guess September is really not the ideal time for waterfalls. However the Falls was quite unique, gorge-like with two separate spouts. We took some photographs before continuing up the trail. We arrived at the top of the Falls, finding a large pool. We actually spotted a latter entering the pool, apparently needed for those who might fall in to this pothole feature. Nearby we found a perfect area for a picnic, relaxing from a strenuous hike. Jamaica State Park is definitely a unique location. We were so glad to enjoy his special Adventure with wonderful company (Throwback Adventures will not always be rated).

August 19, 2019 – Crystal Cascades – New Hampshire

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to the Crystal Cascade in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This was our second Adventure to the Crystal Cascades as Shadow, Buster, My Mom, and I had visited back in October 2016. Crystal Cascade is a gorgeous waterfall that has a 100 foot drop into the Ellis River. There is just a short walk to the Falls that begins at the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. The Cascade is along one of the popular routes to Mount Washington.

We had a musical Adventure to the Crystal Cascades. I decided to blog about the Crystal Cascades again as it really is a beautiful cascade with gorgeous mountain views. We began our walk to the Cascades after enjoying our feature Adventure at a nearby trail. The path was short, and had several spots along the way to walk over for a dip, and/or a river view. Almost immediately we could hear the water’s sound, increasing my anticipation of the Cascades. The Cascade was lovely, and from afar I could see a remodeled, rustic bridge over the falls. When we arrived at the Cascades I noticed the path to the bottom of the Falls was no longer available. This made me ponder if some flooding had occurred, leading to renovations. We actually had tried to visit last summer, and the trail was closed due to flooding. It was disappointing to not get too close, however precious memories of our visit with Buster, Shadow, and My Mom will always be dear to my heart.

I attempted to get several views of the Cascades between the trees and then we walked up over and above on the beautiful new bridge. We sauntered across several times and took in the sounds, and scene. There were cascades from either sounds adding quite the therapeutic sounds. I decided to add in a couple photographs from our first visit and mix them with our photographs from today. However if you want to read more about our first visit, and see all of the photograph summary you can search for “Crystal Cascades” in the search box. Wonderful memories at a special place (Rating: 4).

June 18, 2019 – Bear’s Den – Massachusetts

Yesterday Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Bear’s Den in New Salem, Massachusetts. Bear’s Den includes a short trail to a scenic waterfall, a stream, a secluded gorge, and contains ruins of an old mill. The waterfall is a cascade falls, approximately twelve feet in height, and is sourced from the Swift River. The Reservation was given its’ name due to a black bear being shot on the property. Bear’s Den is owned and managed by the Trustees of Reservations.

We had a rainy Adventure to the Bear’s Den Reservation. We were quite thrilled to have a weekday Adventure as our three days off in the summer has begun! I expected the weather to become rainy, but we were determined to visit Bear’s Den, so we carried on! I was pleased to arrive at a small and empty parking lot. I had read there was hunting at this location so decided to adorn the pups in their bright orange armor! We headed down a green surrounded trail into the great outdoors. There was an informational kiosk a bit down the path with a map. Soon we heard the singing of the stream, and headed straight to the water. Shadow of course attempted a dip in the shallow water while Wilma found a fallen tree to climb, and a stick to chew. We took our time in this area walking around the shore, jumping on the rocks, and wandering around the mill remains.

The trails were not clear, however we followed the sounds and quickly located the waterfall from high above the gorge. We were pleased to find a path down to bottom of the gorge, and directly in front of the waterfall. The gorge area was spectacular, with caves in the rocks, lovely green, and the tall boulders surrounding us as we peered at the waterfall. The Falls had two main sections, separated by rocks in the middle. It was small, but yet just right. We relaxed for awhile taking in the scene. Both Shadow and Wilma spent some time sitting, while Wilma also enjoyed some rock jumps, and Shadow often could be found searching for the quickest path to the water. Wilma seemed a bit uneasy at times looking around cautiously, my mind repeatedly expecting a bear sighting Thankfully we did not see a bear!

Bear’s Den was a peaceful and special location. It was hard to capture the Falls in photographs, so I would encourage you to view the videos below. So glad we could Adventure to this location (Rating: 4).

June 15, 2019 – Yantic Falls – Connecticut

Today Shadow, Wilma, My Mom, and I Adventured to Yantic Falls in Norwich, Connecticut. Yantic Falls is approximately forty feet in height, and is sourced from the Yantic River. It falls from below a dam, and plunges into a gorge before entering the pool below. There is a walking bridge above the Falls. The Falls is famous for its’ history as a battleground of the Mohegan Indians back in the 1600s.

We had a spectacular Adventure to the Yantic Falls, our second stop on an afternoon of Adventures. I found myself quite frustrated as the Falls was very challenging to locate. However we persevered and eventually made it to this stunning Falls. Our journey began with a walk across the bridge above the Falls, viewing a train bridge to the right, and views of the dam and gorge to the left. We sauntered across the bridge, and down a small trail before climbing up to a small bridge above the railroad tracks. Finding ourselves on what appeared to be a private yard, we headed back across the walking bridge, taking in the sites and sounds of this spot.

After this little walk we headed over to the Falls, snapping many photos along the way. We soon found a trail that went down to the rocks, and into the gorge. Shadow continually hoped to dive into the water, but unfortunately there were no clear paths available for a swim. However, we enjoyed the view, and attempted many selfies before heading back up for yet another angle of the scenic falls. We relaxed a bit in the grass, while Shadow and Wilma ended our visit officially with some enthusiastic rolls. So glad we did not give up on finding this Yantic Falls, a beautiful waterfall (Rating: 4).

Throwback Adventure – Fraconia Falls – New Hampshire

In October 2017 Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Fraconia Falls in the town of Lincoln, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The Falls is a series of cascades that is sourced from Fraconia Brook. Fraconia Falls is a popular area for swimming and sliding down the Falls.

We had a wonderful Adventure to Fraconia Falls on a gorgeous Fall day. The hike to Fraconia Falls begins at Lincoln Woods, one of my favorite hikes of the White Mountains. We were excited to journey on an extra long hike, all the way to the Falls. The trail turned left when we arrived at a scenic wooden bridge, right about where we noticed the sign leading us to Fraconia Falls. We decided to first traverse this bridge and view the Brook before turning around and heading on the trail to the Falls. We then began hiking along the trail which paralleled the Brook. We soon located a scenic area to stop, relax, and have a snack, such a peaceful oasis along the shore. After a restful break we continued on to the Falls. The Falls was simple, and unique in its own way. We posed for some photographs, standing on the rocky platform, and viewing the area off to the right. I actually wondered if it was the true Falls as I was expecting a much larger, and more elaborate natural creation. I still sometimes ponder this question but we did follow the sign and arrived at this Falls, so how could we be mistaken??

The Falls was our last stop before turning around to return to our car. We had spent the day wandering the trails of Lincoln Woods and exploring various spots along the way. Another perfect day in the White Mountains (Rating: Lincoln Woods: 5, Fraconia Falls: 3).

Below please enjoy some pictures from the Falls, the trail from the bridge, and one from right before the Falls trail. If you would like to read more and see photos about Lincoln Woods search for Lincoln Woods in the “search box” for more information. (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.)

June 2, 2019 – Garwin Falls – New Hampshire

**Update** – I reviewed the Wilton, New Hampshire Parks and Recreation website and Garwin Falls is currently closed to the public – glad we could visit before this the closure – please check with them before visiting to make sure you have current updates/information

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Garwin Falls in Wilton, New Hampshire. Garwin Falls is approximately forty feet tall and is part of the Wilton Reservoir. There is a short walk to get to the Falls that passes some smaller cascades and a dam. The parking lot for the Falls only has several spots, and there is no cost to park. Garwin Falls is located on private property, however remains open to the public.

We had a jaw-dropping Adventure to Garwin Falls. Amazingly this Falls is only about forty five minutes from my house yet I only recently discovered it online. I was thrilled to find a local waterfall and could not have been more impressed at the beautiful site. We began our walk parking at a very small parking lot, luckily, not arriving at a busy time. We traversed the simple and wide trail for a short time before arriving at several cascades. The cascades were small but lovely. We walked along the brook and found some sandy areas. Shadow and Wilma enjoyed some drinks of fresh water, and of course Shadow made sure to take a quick dip in the stream! We took our time exploring this simple spot, walking until we could see the dam up ahead. We then returned to the main trail to continue on our journey.

We walked for another short walk before arriving at the massive Garwin Falls. I could not believe the size of the Falls as I was not expecting to be impressed. The Falls was thunderously singing a sweet song as we wandered over to the edge of the Falls. We were able to walk right up to the edge, and of course I took numerous photographs. I was absolutely stunned at this magnificent creation, wide in size, tall in height, and perfect in melody. We stared for some time, before talking along the edge of the brook. Agile Wilma jumping along, while Shadow a bit unsteady on the uneven surface. I attempted to balance across on a log, but was not able to get Shadow to follow so Wilma and I crossed to take a couple photographs before balancing back across. We took are time at this breathtaking location, pleased to only see several visitors who were all leaving when we had arrived.

On the way back to the car we wandered off the trail several times to explore the brook and upper cascades. We viewed the dam from below and atop, quite grotesquely plastered with graphity. Not what you expect to find in such a serene and natural environment, however we did not let this deter us from a fantastic visit to the Falls.

Garwin Falls was definitely one of the most picturesque waterfalls I have ever seen. We will be back again to visit this spectacular site (Rating: Waterfall: 5).

March 26, 2019 – Oxbow Falls Park – New York

I am a bit behind on my blog from the weekend as we had a busy weekend of Adventures. Therefore I will be sharing these Adventures throughout the week.

On Sunday, Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Oxbow Falls Park in Canastota, New York. Oxbow Falls Park is a county park made up of 125 acres of wooded areas, streams, and rough terrain. It contains several waterfalls, baseball fields, picnic benches, and a disc golf course.

We had an aerobic Adventure to Oxbow Falls Park on a sticky spring morning. It took me a little bit of time to find the trail parking lot for this hike as the main park address was not the location for the trails. Once we finally arrived at the parking lot we walked around briefly before finding the orange trail. I was relieved that I had read about this park online so I knew that the orange trail was a reasonable length hike that would loop around. We began on this trail and soon heard rushing water. We arrived to a cliff edge and were able to see a tall waterfall from afar, as well as a lovely view. Our walk continued along the steep edge and past it into the woods. The trail continued through the woods, and at times was steep and strenuous. There were several bridges along the path, as well as waterfalls. The waterfalls were simple but yet pleasing to the senses. The park was very tranquil, birds chirping, and water streaming. We did not see any other guests on the trail and enjoyed the remote feeling of this location. We delighted in experiencing a new Adventure at the Oxbow Falls Park (Rating: 3).

Throwback Adventure – Chesterfield Gorge Nature Area- New Hampshire

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.

Throwback Adventure – Glen Ellis Falls – New Hampshire

In October 2016 Shadow, Buster, My Mom and I Adventured to Glen Ellis Falls in Jackson, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Glen Ellis Falls is approximately sixty feet in height and is located on the Ellis River. It is one of the more popular waterfalls of the White Mountains.

We had a magnificent Adventure to Glen Ellis Falls on a gorgeous Fall day. The beginning of the walk started under a tunnel and then followed the River before arriving at a lovely scenic spot with beautiful Fall foliage. We were quite pleased to have a visitor take a photo of the four of us at this formal lookout. From there we followed many stairs down to the base of the Glen Ellis Falls. The waterfall was tall and powerful, and just perfect! It was difficult to photograph the Falls as there were many visitors, however we waited our turn to get up close and personal. We sat for a bit near the falls, enjoying the mist on our skin, and handsome fur!

After spending some time under the falls we decided to explore the upper level. My Mom first hiked up to the top stairs to check out the views, while Buster and I then took a turn while Shadow hung out with Mom. It was fun to see the waterfall from a different angle, but nothing compared to the main view below. As you may know if you are a follower October 2016 was the last month we would have our dear Buster, creating extra special memories of each and every Adventure on this weekend.

Glen Ellis Falls is definitely a place we look forward to exploring again in the future. Really just perfect! I definitely recommend that you visit on your own to see this special Falls.