Misses and Hits

So, Sunday morning we went to give another try at the Ball Mountain Dam. yet, once again we were face with the fact that some state park are closed in Sundays and some are not. From the closed gate we decided that this 3.2 mile hike to the dam is worth it, geared up and on the way. Dam(m), is was cold and windy, that type of cold when your lips feel funny. After all that the light wasn't that good. At least we had a good walk.

Our next station was the famous Jenne Farm, supposed to be one of the most photographed farms in the world. After wandering in the beautiful back roads, and passing by this scene...

... we reached the farm where a the owner, who referred to himself as a "good old red-neck", told us it's not a problem to photograph his land if we grab a quart or two of the best maple syrup in Vermont. We took the 8$ bait (anyone wants maple syrup??) and puled out the cameras.

Jenne Farm Land. A bit mote than 180 degrees of view. 7 vertical frames stitched together.

From there we drove up the the city of Woodstock (not the hippie one, that's NY) and headed to the Vermont nature center in Quechee.

Red-Tailed-Hawk (injured) at the raptor refuge center.

Our night camping out we did at Lake Dunmore.

In a chilly Monday morning, it was the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area that was mostly a miss after all the snow geese decided it's not a good day to get close to those with their big black round objects (lenses).

Moss Glen Falls #1 (apparently Vermont ran out of names to their waterfalls so there are two of these) was our next stop.

Lunch stop at Vergennes with a great lake\falls running in the middle of the city. Checked out Burlington (largest city in Vermont, they have Starbucks and taxis) at night and to our motel.

Two views of Vergennes for those who don't like the long exposure effect.

Tuesday morning was straight to the Old Red Mill in Jericho.

Now comes the the reason we started all this in the first place. Probably the most monumental, essential and even educational experience we had so far (in our lives).
The Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour. If only every company would have the sense of humor they do.

One of the nice things there was the Flavor Graveyard, with all the flavors that were once on the shelf and now aren't. Some justified (Peanut Butter and Jelly, or Potato Pie) and some not (Caramel and Almonds).

The Narrow Smugglers Notch was our last stop of the day (not before running in to another closed for season toll road we wanted). A one lane road between two steep rock mountains, and wonderful streams along side the road. And motel again.

The Notch.

Tomorrow, more waterfalls, and across to New Hampshire.

So long...

Itai

Closed for the season

Hi,

Another early morning in Friday, just to find out that lake park is closed for the season. Apparently a small piece of land with no facilities on it is closed off season. So we changed direction and drove to Jamaica state park only to find out exactly the same closed gate, this time we (and another few families) just walked inside and found a nice spot to photograph some reflections.

And it turned out to be another clear blue sky kind of day.

After a "in-the-car" breakfast, we headed to the recommended quiet village of Newfane, which was true to the recommendations. Walking around the classic Vermont village landscape. This village is populated with an exaggerated amount of "antique" stores that all have very old Chinese dinner ware.

Shabbat was a few ours away, and on our way back to Manchester we had time to stop at the Ball Mountain Lake Dam state park, build be the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and that's open the same time as their work day (9-5).

For Shabbat we stayed at the Casablanca Motel in Manchester, where we stayed at the Battenkill river themed room, which had a wall tappet full of dead fish and many pictures of jolly fisherman.

Coincidentally, two streets next to our motel I found the "Israel Congregation of Manchester". Turns out it's there from the 80', with more than 200 members (in season). They were nice and hospitable.

After Shabbat we toured around Manchester Hall for some night shots (Churches are still the most photogenic) and tomorrow we are on our way to Woodstock.

Have a good week everyone.

Itai

The Stamford Motel road at dawn.

Water flow at Salmon River at the (closed) Jamaica State Park.

Falling leaves at Newfane courtyard.

Ball Mountain Lake State Park, view from the dam.

Our room clock...

Manchester church with a full moon.

Around Manchester

Hi all,

We woke up before dawn (4:45 to be exact) and we’re heeded to Gout Pond on Kelly road. The sunrise wasn’t too rewarding but we managed to get some play with the reflections. Also passing by Branch Pond. Apparently, in this area the foliage has peeked already.
Surprisingly, we got a perfect Vermont blue sky day, so shooting streams and waterfalls were out of the question. Instead we try to get some grand view shots, and drove to Arlington and their famous covered bridge. This area which is a bit more elevated had much better fall color.
Towards the end of the day we climbed up (in the car) mount Equinox for the three state lookout in the sunset light.

And back again to “Stamford Motel”.

Jamaica… maybe tomorrow..

Cheers..







Gout Pond sunrise. Takenn with a Gold&Blue Polarizer, on the gold side.

Branch Pond, taken with Polarizer and a 10 (ten) stop ND filter.

Around Arlington. With CPL.

West Arlington.

Same.

Up mount Equinox.

The Three state lookout.

Hi from Vermont

Hi,

We have just arrived at the “Stamford Motel” at Manchester, Vermont. We drove by five states today (NJ, NY, CT, MA, VT), even though we drove something like 250 miles, it really didn’t feel like driving from Metula to Eilat, or close to that.

The photo is from the road above West-
Point in NY. Still mostly green, but the foliage is getting there.

Tomorrow we're is Jamaica...

Opening Post

Hi there, if you're reading this, then I guess you've gotten my e-mail and was curious enough to see what this is all about.

So yes, I've surrendered to the pressure and opened a blog. Not proud of it, but it's way more efficient and presentable then the e-mail alternative.

Anyway, I'll try to post as the opportunity arise, and I guess that in the up and coming (starting wednesday) three weeks trip in New England, I'll have more chances than in the wet coast trip.

To start things off, below are some images from my recent four day trip with my father to the Catskill in Northern NY and to the Delaware Water Gap in the border of NJ and PA (all this was in a week in late August).

And please do leave comment(s) below, on anything, that's part of the point.

Hope you enjoy,

Itai




Upper Awosting Falls ,Minnewaska State Park Preserve, NY.


Another one from Awosting Falls ,Minnewaska State Park Preserve, NY.

Minnewaska Lake, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, NY.

Another one from Minnewaska Lake, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, NY.

This image and the next three are from an unmapped creek and falls next to a small town in the center of the Catskills area.








Zoom pulled during exposure.


Don't remember where it was, but it caught our eyes.

A preserved village in the area. What's better, this:



Or this..

From the same village.

Raymondskill Falls, Delaware Water Gap, PA side.

Upper Canyon at Bushkill Falls, PA.

And another (and last) from Bushkill Falls.
Not sure why the water is brown, but that was the color.





This blog is sponsored by b&h photo.


I wish...