Fall 2018

After a delightful paddle on Canadian Thanksgiving, the weather turned cold and we put the kayaks away for the winter.

Fog lifting. Squam Lake, NH 10/7/2018

For the most part the fall colors in the Upper Valley were muted.

Connecticut River 11/5/2018

We had a white Thanksgiving,

Wind across the valley. Hartford, VT 11/21/2018
Turkeys crossing the street. Hartford, VT 12/12/2018

and the Connecticut was ice covered by mid December.

Ice’s edge. Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 12/12/2018
Sophia checking out the tree at Kilowatt. Wilder, VT 11/30/2018

Wright Reservoir

One of our favorite places to walk is Hurricane Hill in Hartford. This fall, we were notified that the dam on Wright Reservoir was unsafe and that they would have to drain it.

Sign at entrance to the park.
Sign at entrance to the park.

When we walked there yesterday, the water was already down about 3 feet and you could see where they had repaired the spillway.

Pump house
Pump house

Repaired spillway
Repaired spillway

It was a cold, foggy day. foggy shore-0284

The weather prediction was for sunny in the 50’s, but the fog did not lift until 2:30 and the temperature didn’t hit 40. It was cold enough that ice stuck on branches didn’t melt.

Ice butterfly
Ice butterfly

Frosty pine
Frosty pine

But the mallards didn’t appear to mind.

Mallards in front of the muddy shore
Mallards in front of the muddy shore

Mallards blowing bubbles(?)
Mallards blowing bubbles(?)