Appalachian Trail from Vermont to Virginia

 As Autumn  approaches, we are migrating south with the birds.  This has been a "warbler year" as we started in Texas following the Mississippi flyway north to the nesting grounds of over 30 species of warblers from Wisconsin to Northern Newfoundland.  We are following the Atlantic flyway south along the Appalachian Trail.

 Across the Green Mountains of Vermont we spent 3 days at a nice RV park along the West River.  Next into New York where we crossed the Hudson River north of Albany into the Adirondack Park staying at the forest campgrounds.

We stayed on the east end of Lake Ontario where we photographed this unusual sunset.  Then south through the Amish farmlands of mid-Pennslyvania and camping in the Tioga State Forest.

 Following the Appalachian Mountains south through the narrowest areas of Maryland and W. Virginia we headed into Virginia.  We spent three days in the Shenandoah National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway enjoying the views from the high ridge over the Shenandoah Valley and the "Blue" mountains.

 Always alert for all of God's creatures, great and small, we found this Millipede, one of many large ones crossing the trails and roadways.  We had to train this one to pose (all 4" of him) on our camping permit so you could see him.

We followed all the scenic byways and avoided the traffic of all the large cities along the northeast coast.  This is not an easy task.  Sometimes we would see the traffic reports with crashes and back-ups on TV and were very happy not to be a part of it.

We headed southeast along the Virginia/N Carolina border back to the Atlantic Ocean.  We are now taking a break from our long trek and planted ourselves for a week at Cape Hatteras on the Outer Banks.  Back to the ocean waves and seabirds with Willets, Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones keeping us company on the beach.  Terns, gulls and Brown Pelicans sailing by through the thunderous waves.

Our prayers are with you all as you read this.
Ty & Ida Baumann

Autumn Signs in New Hampshire

Autumn is in the air and all around us.  Leaves are beginning to change color, others are drifting down in the wind.




 A large variety of fungi are also decorating the forest floor like this Crowned Clavaria on the left.

Covered bridges are a constant reminder of the rich rural history of the New England countryside.  Many tourists come just to see them just as they do the lighthouses on the coast and the many waterfalls in the mountains.

 This waterfall is the Glen Ellis Falls that plunges nearly 50 feet off the moss covered cliffs in the White Mountains National Forest.

We spent a couple days at Lake Winnipesaukee - the first day greeted us with beautiful sunshine, hundreds of boats on the water and people everywhere.  The next day was gray and rainy, all the people left for work and school - "What a difference a day makes".

 We spent a week in the White Mountains, the home of numerous wildlife including this Mama Moose and her hidden half grown calf outside the Dolly Copp campground where we spent 3 nights.

Here's Ida between a "rock and a hard place" resting from a three mile hike up the Boulder Trail to the Ledges with panoramic views of the White Mountains.

We are now in the Green Mountains of Vermont enjoying the last of summer in New England.

Blessing to all,
Ida & Ty