Adirondack Park, Northern New York State, 14 October 2010

Instead of crossing into Canada at Buffalo we had time to travel through the Adirondack Mountains and cross the St Lawrence at Cornwall.  A start was made fom Utica travelling north on route 8 then onto 30 for the most part with a deviation to Lake Placid then back to 30 via the "North Pole" and Santa's Workshop.

A general view of the countryside from Utica towards the park.  Patches of farmland and considerable areas of hardwood forest.

Were we back in Europe?  This place, like several, went by two names.  Other signs said "Town of Russia".

There were mansions...

...and cottages probably habitated...

...as well as substantial modern residences...

...with others well past their best.  Perhaps a bit of Poland and Russia before we entered the designated park area.

Road signs indicate a winter mode of travel in the area.

The park land was once a timber extraction area where logs were assembled in ponding areas on relatively small waterways.

This is the ponding area of the water way now.

A closer view of the rapids above showing the logs across the river to create the ponding area. 

Autumn colours around one of the many lakes.

Someones idea for a lodge in the woods now for sale.

A tidy little village centre piece at Higgins Bay, the sign reads "Hamilton County Offices" seen below.

 This stone building seemd to be part of the centre of local government together with the equally impressive brick building below.

All seemd more in keeping with a byegone era however they were well maintained.

Typical of the few buildings in the various villages.

Typical road view between villages and settlements.

This business dominated the centre of Long Lake  village with its different exterior apperance.

The Long Lake.

Coffee was needed on our arrival at Lake Placid a tourist town near the middle of the park known for its skiing and reminded us of Queentown but did not have the high mountians nor such a big lake.  However it was the location of the 1938 and 1982 (hope these are the righ years) winter Olympics.
Catherine and Andrew will know it for show jumping events.

Mirror Lake beside the village.  Downtown along Main Street to the right.  Several large hotel and apartment buildings were located across the street from the lake.

Smart modern shops.

General street scene in Lake Placid.

As could be expected golf courses close by showing grass can be grown.

Not only were European towns doted about but this one as well to improve the efficiency of the business below.

However he was closed for the day.

 Trees generally appeared bigger in the northern part of the park, maybe it had not been logged or was better soils.

And what appeared to have once been a prosperous area had been abandoned.

Even a church neglected.

Not far away was modest farmland on a plateau before raching Paul Smith's below.

The settlement of Paul Smith's  had this college of the same name.  It was also the location of the park visitor and interpretive centre.

Mason Lake was a stopping place for a late lunch, no picnic tables but a flat rock was a good substitute.