Escape

We planned an escape from this abyss, I mean city, to the mountains the first weekend of November. We rented a cabin for three nights on a property that boasts 5 cabins with a loft, fireplace, kitchenette each. This property is about a three-hour drive from the city. More about the property in a minute.

We traveled on a scenic route along the sea which is enclosed by mountains (I guess it's an inlet) so the hazy mountains across the water looked ethereal in the morning sun. It was a gorgeous drive through that area (if you ignore the freight ships on the water), but on the way back after our mini-vacation, it was a dismal, gray day and the water was a dull slate color yet, it was still pretty to see all the little villages perched on the side of the mountains above the water. Wow, was that a run-on sentence?

Hard to see the outline of the mountain peaks

Pictures don't do this scenery justice

When we left the sea behind, we drove through mountains and some long tunnels before we arrived. The mountains are mainly covered with evergreens (lots of fir trees!) but there were a lot of bright yellow aspens that were still green at the tiptops. I wasn't sure if there would be any fall foliage and whether it'd already peaked and begun to wane. I was pleased to see a great deal of fall leaves but it didn't seem as bright and varied as I've seen it in NC and VA.

The property is run by an American couple who were kind and hospitable to us. Except for two men who were their personal guests, we were the only guests so we really enjoyed the solitude after the bustling crowds of the city. I was so glad that the other cabins were not being rented. My introverted self was appeased. There was a wide expanse of green lawn for A to run around in and a playground set with swings. I tell you, it was nice to let A run and play without having to chase her, keep her in sight, keep out of trouble, etc. the way we have to in the city parks.

Our cabin. That's me in pink PJ pants.

Front of an empty cabin

The owners have ten German Shepherds. Really, they have two dogs who are mates, an adult-sized puppy from their first litter, and a second litter only a week old. The father, Montana, is an intuitive, protective dog. He slept outside our front door all night the first night. He was especially protective of A and kept driving the puppy away from Ava. He seemed to sense Ava's fear of the careless, brainless, half-grown puppy who was as tall as she was.

Montana

We pretty much didn't do much while on vacation. We were just happy to breathe fresh air and see trees. Grass. Mountains. G said it was amazing to fall asleep to dead silence, instead of traffic noise. We lit a fire every night and roasted because it was very efficient in warming up the cabin. We did some walking and ran into a shepherd and his flock. He gave us fresh goat milk which G, A, and I tasted for the first time. We drove further into the mountains, taking an hour to drive 30 km of bumpy, gravel road over several mountain peaks to a national park nestled in a sweet valley with seven lakes, where we ate a small picnic that we cobbled together at the last minute.

Morning view from behind our cabin

View from the property

Tiny village in the valley below the property

We drove deeper into the mountains and saw lots of fall foliage on the way
to the national park. The evergreens were mainly lovely fir trees, not
much pine in this area. Peaks became sharper and higher as we drove.

At the national park: too cute not to post this

A flower, blooming in the fall

Picnic in the park, under the deciduous trees

A parting view on the way back to the cabin

A modern day shepherd who gave us fresh goat milk

All in all, it was a wonderful mini-vacation. We will definitely repeat this. Here's a parting shot:

Pretend she's waving goodbye :-)