Heavy Frost!

It is getting colder and colder for my morning walk.  One morning, the frost around the elementary school was quite heavy--looking almost like snow.

Renaissance Music

Colby had a concert of Renaissance music.  The music was impressive, but I was particularly struck by the large lute that had 14 strings.

Paul Bunyan in Bangor

There is a large statue of Paul Bunyan in downtown Bangor.  The area is under construction for a new arena.

Colby Hockey

Hockey is a big deal in Maine--at at Colby.  I attended my first Colby hockey game against Middlebury.

First Snow!!! November 8

I saw my first snow in Maine on November 8.  It was a modest 1-2 inches that melted off by mid-day.  Still . . . it was snow!!!

Another Walk in the Perkins Arboretum

I took another walk in a different section of the Perkins Arboretum on the Colby campus--wrapping up with the sun going down.

Quarry Run Recreational Area

Near the Colby campus is an area called the Quarry Run Recreational Area.  It has a number of trails, suitable for hiking, biking, cross country skiing, showshoeing, and even sledding.

Colby Bicentennial Ball

Colby is celebrating its Bicentennial this year.  The festivities kicked off with a Bicentennial dinner and ball.  Doris Kearns Goodwin (a Colby alumna) gave a tour-de-force of presidential history.  Following the dinner, there was a ball in which the gym was transformed.  The whole event was pretty magical.

Fall Color at Colby

The leaves on Colby's campus were pretty spectacular this fall.  Here are a few examples.

Skies over Rangeley

As I departed Rangeley, I pulled off at a scenic overlook as the sun was starting to go down.  You can subtle differences in color and focus over time.

Shops in Rangeley

Rangeley, Maine is a small town (pop. 1168) with several shops along Main Street.  The shops included Books, Lines, and Thinkers.  I went into one of the restaurants for a cup of Salmon Chowder.  It was quite tasty.  (There is a pizza shop that looked good as well.)

A Path through the Woods

The path through the woods was quite striking.

Fall Color: A Study in Leaves

Though it was past peak for my trip to Rangeley, there were still some striking leaves--many on the ground.  Here is a sample:

Sea otter?? See otter????

While I was down by the water, a sudden movement caught my eyes.  A small, brown mammal ran in front of my boots.  It did not appear to be either a squirrel or chipmunk.  I thought it might be a beaver, but the tail was round and not flat.  I wonder if it was an otter.  I took the following picture.  The small patch of brown in the middle (between the green leaves and the gray rock) is the creature.  See if you can find it . . . .  See if you can identify it . . . .

Rangeley Lake State Park

I drove out to Rangeley Lake State Park (in the western mountains of Maine) in search of mountains, lake, and leaves.  I saw them all--though in a different way than I had expected.  The state park was closed, so my view of the lake and mountain was gained only after a long (2 mile) walk along the park road.  The wind was whipping across the lake, creating some nice ripples but making it quite chilly by the water.

Skies over Portland

I stopped by Whole Foods on my way back to Winslow.  The clouds over Portland caught my attention.

Lighthouse: Portland Head Light

While Sam was in town, we went out to see the Portland Head Light.  It is one of two lighthouses in Portland and one of 63 on the coast of Maine.