Johnson Pond Road is only about a half a mile from our campground, but the trail guide reported that the first .6 mile of Johnson Pond Road is a very steep uphill. So, we took it easy on ourselves and drove the bikes up the hill and found a pull-out to leave the truck. Here we are at the start of our adventure.
The first few miles were paved. The road rolled up and down on its way to Johnson Pond. Here is just a sample of some of the color we were able to see.
Much of the pond is privately owned, but there is a small access area that is owned by the State of New York. Here is the view across Johnson Pond. The color is just beginning to travel up the steeper hills.
The paved road soon turned to gravel. We passed the last of the original homesteads as we entered into the Wild Forest area.
While there are a few farms in the valleys, the folks who live full-time up in the hills support themselves by logging, mining and maple syrup collecting. Here is a relic from a bygone area, attached to a pretty large sugar maple. Not sure the bucket would hold much of anything these days.
The beavers have been busy in this part of the area. Would have liked to get a photo of the dam and lodge, but they were on the other side of the wetlands and we weren't prepared to bushwhack across wetlands today.
However, this tree was just asking to be photographed, so we obliged.
You can begin to see more and more signs of fall. Even the lilly pads are turning color.

We reached the end of Johnson Pond Road and turned right onto Letsonville Road. We were now out of the state forest land and back into civilization. This was once a sheep farm and is now home to a local surveyor. Can you imagine having this view out your kitchen window?
We stopped further down the road on a one-lane bridge to take a photo of some brightly colored trees. We heard what sounded like rushing water. As we looked through the trees, we could see this amazing waterfall.
After we admired the falls, we walked back to our bicycles and, on the way, noticed that more water was falling further along the road. The falls were split into two parts. We went down to take a closer look.and were amazed to find a small grotto with an even more impressive cascade - again, buried in the trees just off the road. Here, Kathy is admiring this gem of a falls:
There was no mention of the falls in the trail guide. Go figure.
Our original plan was to have lunch at Paradox Lake. However, we stopped so often to take pictures it was almost 3:00 p.m. by the time we reached Route 74, and we really had no appetite for pedaling along a very busy highway heavily populated with big rigs. We decided to leave Paradox Lake for another adventure, and turned around to head back. We discovered a number of small roads which did not turn up on the map. Folks have to make their own road signs so friends and family can find them. Here was the most interesting sign, with a beautiful, bright yellow cabin in the background:
In another half mile, we reached our lunch spot. The special for today: turkey and cheese.
We didn't stop to take too many photos on the way back, but this will give you an idea of how the changing light can change the colors.
It wasn't all uphill on the way back, but it certainly felt that way. Nevertheless, while our trip out took almost two hours, our return only took one hour. It might have had something to do with the fact that we stopped to take so many photos as we began the bike ride.
Happy Hour never tasted so good. Tomorrow, we'll probably take it easy and go over and see Fort Ticonderoga.
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