dual personalities

This week the DH and I managed to get away for a day-trip to the Adirondacks. Did you know that the Adirondack Park is the biggest preserve in the lower 48 states? Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier, and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks could all fit inside it. Of course, those parks do not have (as far as I know) towns within their borders, so the statement isn’t really fair. Anyway, we went to visit the Wild Center, a facility devoted to educating people about the flora and fauna of the Adirondacks. It has a big exhibition center (the building by the pond in the photo below) and loads of great hiking trails including a walkway above the trees (bottom right).

Tupper Lake, where the Wild Center is located, is an easy hour’s drive from our house. We timed the trip perfectly; the weather was a balmy 78 and sunny, there were no bugs to speak of, and since it was the middle of the week, it wasn’t very crowded.  The wild flowers were blooming like crazy and very tall. This isn’t the greatest photo, but you get the idea.

The nonchalant deer did not even pause their munching as we wandered by. Can you spot the second deer in this photo?

We climbed up to the treetops and navigated the funky rope bridges and walkways, some of which swayed alarmingly.

From the upper portions of the sky trail, we enjoyed beautiful, tree-filled views.

After thorough exploration, we stopped at the café for a cup of coffee and a packet of Lorna Doons, and then we came home and collapsed, tired but happy. I can’t tell you how nice it was to get out and get some fresh air! Really, we need to make more day-trips!

To start your weekend off with a cute baby, let me introduce our new great-nephew Charlie. The little guy is already six weeks old! Here is our brother proudly holding his first grandchild:

And the happy parents with their bundle of joy.

Welcome to the world, little Charlie!