Saturday, October 23, 2010

A little break and a trip to the past!

We were on a short vacation last week. One that was needed but I did not realize it till we were actually flying to our destination. It was a vacation planned in a way where we would be out of the hustle bustle of cities and where we could go on small hikes and enjoy the countryside. We managed to do just that. Rental car at our service and stocking up on water and snacks, we would set out each morning, and enjoy the landscape of a new region, so different from what we got to see everyday. The mountains are so beautiful, and though I am a beach person, I do feel the second best thing are the mountains. On a two mile hike on the very first day, we saw this waterfall that had three different heights, they called it the little, the medium and the big falls. The quiet and serene atmosphere was just beautiful!



The fall season is here, and the whole region seemed to have these wonderful colors splashed all over the place. Little streams ran almost around every corner, and the place seems perfect for a movie setting. There are scenic spots all over and special parking areas are made so the roads do not get blocked. On one such stop, we parked our car, and the car beside us was the same color as ours. None of the cars were locked, because all of us were right there. Suddenly we heard laughter that did not seem to stop. An older lady was laughing  hard and she and her husband seemed really embarrassed. They had both gotten into our car to drive away until she noticed the jacket on the seat wasn't hers. The guy got out saying, "Soon I will be getting into other people's homes and pretending it was mine". They quickly got into their own car and drove away. It was hilarious!



This place is famous for bear sightings. Black bears call this area their home.Campsites everywhere had signs that said "Is your camp bear proof?" I wonder how one did that. We did not camp outdoors so I guess I will never find out!



The whole region had cabins that were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. People who lived there who had started a sugar mill, built a church, and this was the early start of civilization here.

This little place used to store corn. There were homes too, like in the next picture.

 It all looks so lovely and quaint now. I can only imagine how it must have been, in harsh winters, and hot summers, with bears and other wildlife around. They probably had their share of headaches back then.
We have come a long way in the past couple of hundred years!