Nice. It's drizzly here in NH and I just had a nice weekend at the Cape/MV. Looks like more color developed over the weekend. What is the fungus in the first photo and what kind of tree is it growing on?

Thanks for sharing.

Love the colors and the golden butterfly!

Lovely photos, hope to see some red leaves. We're not getting to VT until Oct. 12. Will everything be getting pretty brown by then? Hope not - or I'll have to steal your photos and say they're mine.

dfrostnh - I'm sorry - I don't know what the fungus is, or the tree it was on. I even went back to my other shots to see if I could get anything more from them. The tree had fallen, and that fungus was practically glowing when I saw it on the trail - it was all I paid attention to. Very unique!

Dayenu - thanks for looking!

polly229 - you should be ok if you're in the South - the North may be a little beyond. We're really just starting to show color in the south; although sometimes it does come and go rather quickly. Where will you be going?

Cyn

Oh, we'll be all over the place - but backwards since I believed the first book I read and made arrangements in early June. Before I knew you'd be having a dry summer and early color. (The only good thing is that some of the hotel rates have gone up appreciably since I reserved, so we're saving a couple or so hundred dollars on rooms.) I'm afraid I was planning a trip to Glacier earlier this month and spent more time on that at the expense of the New England trip, so I guess I deserve just what I get.

Leave Thurs. for a few days in Boston, and then here's where the mistake comes in. Instead of doing it the other way around, we're going to first Newport and the coast (Mystic, etc.) for a few days, then to Hartford for a day, and on Mon. 10/11 we're driving in a loop around the Litchfield area and winding up on Rt. 7 for a bit, then to Gt. Barrington. Next day on Rt. 7 through the Berkshires and to Brattleboro, the 13th we'll take Rt. 9 back to 7, through Bennington and to Rutland. The 14th we meander our way to Burlington, the 15th probably spend most of the day at the Shelburn museum, and Sat. we head for the White Mountains. Sun. is our day for driving in the Wh. Mts., which I understand is good to avoid on weekends but no help for it. (Used to love a weekend on either end ofa trip to extend the time before my husband retired and now I wish I could dispense with weekends altogether. And Mondays in cities where I want to do museums.) Last full day we drive around the NH lakes, Central Sandwich, etc., before heading back to MA an hr. from Logan for our flight the next AM.

I suspect we'll probably hit "our" peak in northern CT and MA, maybe a bit of color left around Brattleboro. With a little bad luck the trees will be half bare before we get to Burlington. With even worse luck, there will be a lot of rain and the leaves will be wrecked (as happened last year when we were in KY & TN during leaf season). But I keep telling myself that no matter what, it's going to be more like the fall I used to know than anything I've experienced in the last 32 yrs. in FL. And I'll be out of there before the snow flies and can leave you guys up there to it for the winter.

Sounds like a great trip! Will you be in boston on Oct 9? Are you aware of the Fodors gtg that is going on that weekend?
In case you're interested, here's a thread about it: http://www.fodors.com/community/asia/boston-gtg-2010.cfm
I can't make it this year, but the one I went to a few years ago was a lot of fun!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you for the foliage!

Nice chicken of the woods,

Wow!

What beautiful pictures!

I always try to take long distance shots of the fall colors, but will now follow your example and take some closeups.

Last year, around the middle of October, there was still plenty of color in the north (I went as far north as Burlington), so hope it'll be the same for you this year, polly.

Saw the Fodors GTG thread - a couple or three of them, in fact - but we're picking up the rental car the morning of the 5th, will be driving along the coast of CT to New Haven, then to Hartford for the night on the 9th. (Too bad. Did I see something about chowdah on Sat.? Can't wait for some chowdah! Lunch and dinner.)

Better go look through my husband's closet since it appears he's not going to. Hoping to find a few cool weather shirts that aren't threadbare, pilled or faded, and I'm not sure the plaid lumberjack look that worked in Montana a couple of weeks ago is the ideal fashion statement for Boston. Only tonight and tomorrow to get a lot of stuff done.

Have fun at the Fodor's get-together.

thanks xxx30, I didn't think they were that color. Makes me want to go wandering in the woods to see what's growing. I don't think it's been a good mushroom year because of the drought. Rainy this week. Earthquake last Sat night but not like a California one (I was away, DH thought the boiler exploded). Color is happening. Week in the mountains might be a lot of bare trees but you're still going to see some great scenery. If you think it's too blah ... Portland ME is only about an hour from Conway NH. Go get a lobster roll and see a bit of the coast. There are always options.

Actually, we drove down the coast of ME 3 yrs ago, with a stop in Bar Harbor, on the tail end of a mainly NB/NS trip. And really want to go back to ME but for longer than a few hours. We picked this route because 100 yrs. ago when we were in grad school we spent 2 days in Chester, near Mystic, on business and always wanted to go back; we saw the Ken Burns Twain program, so we're going to Hartford; and we've never set foot in VT, RI and barely in NH. Would like to make a return trip to NE in summer in the next couple of years and spend more time in ME, especially along the coast. Even if no leaves in the White Mts., I'm sure it will be worth a 36 hr. visit.

Now back to laundry since a cat threw up on our bed and it soaked through to the heavy mattress pad. Husband out trying to find parts for the garage door opener that crapped out yesterday and which the cat sitter likes to use. One of these days we're just going to pack up, take our luggage, and walk out the door with no last minute catastrophes. I think. So far it hasn't happened, though.

Oh, no Polly - it wouldn't be a trip if there weren't the last minute "things to deal with". Good luck and have a great time!

xxx30 - thanks for id'ing th mushroom (and dfrostnh - thanks for clarifying that for me - when I first read "chicken in the woods", I went and looked at my pictures because I didn't remember posting any bird photos... Duh!!)

my wife and i are in rutland, Vermont today,9/30. it is raining and will rain tomorrow. we did the country store in Weston today. what would you suggest for two seniors for tomorrow? we leave for nh and maine on saturday.

cynstalker, dfrostnh, hik and any other Fodorites in the VT/NH area - how's the color today? I've been reading that the leaves are changing color faster than normal. We're leaving Saturday and now I'm anxious that it's near or at peak already.

Oh, gosh hik - it's going to be a terrible day tomorrow - they're saying lots of rain. If you have some good books, I would just tuck in for the day and snuggle! I'm about an hour south of Rutland, so I'm not much help about what's in that area. I think you hsould start a new thread and title it "suggestions needed for rainly Oct 1 in Rutland VT" or something like that so people will see it and be able to offer ideas. You should get more response that way. I'll keep thinking about it, and if I come up with anything resonable, I'll post again.

Good luck!

Oh, bummer! The fall colors in New England are just gorgeous!

Ummm, have breakfast at Clems on Center Street. Cross the street and see if anything's happening at The Paramount theater in the evening. Do a bit of shopping at the art stores. Take in a relaxing hour in the salt cave at the Pyramid Wellness Center across from Walmart, maybe a massage.

If it's cleared up by then, take a drive little ways up the mountain on route 4 to Kent Pond.

Gorgeous, cyn! You have a good eye for composition. I was in NYC last week (from California) and nothing was turning.

Visitors - sorry we're having such awful weather - it's really very freaky! I believe it will start to improve by tomorrow afternoon, and the weekend looks great. Yes the foliage is a little early this year, and I suspect the wind and rain we are having will knock some leaves down, but I think all in all it will be fine. The colors look very good this year once the sun comes out! We have been having a drought this summer, so this rain is actually a godsend to us locals!
A few rainy day ideas -
Walk around Brattleboro Vt. This is a nice little city, with some funky interesting shops. Fabulous Thai restaurant.
Walk around Hanover NH - Very pretty college town on the VT/NH border. Nice art museum, some very good restaurants.
Visit Billings Farm Museum in Woodstock Vt. - Lots to see both indoors and out.
Visit Calvin Coolidge birthplace in Plymouth Vt. - Small historic village with a cheese making shop.

It's weirdly warm, with all the humidity it feels a bit tropical here in NH just north of Concord. Zootsi's ideas are good. You could have lunch (pricey) at Simon Pierce in Quechee or just explore the building. They generate their own hydro-electric power. Potters and glass blowers might be demonstrating. King Arthur Flour in Norwich is an interesting shop for bakers.

When I look at distant views, it looks like color is just starting. But along the road there are plenty of trees in full color. Maples right now. The swamp maple and a very old sugar maple in our yard are losing leaves rapidly. The younger maples are almost in full color. Oaks, birches and beeches turn later although the birch next to the driveway is starting to turn yellow. I'd say it's peaking here. Some reports that reds are washed out looking this year because of drought. The red swamp maples in marshy areas don't seem as bright as usual. The sugar maples however look as colorful as ever.

I would still take advantage of driving around unless it's really pouring. The sky was an unusual yellowy pink this morning. Watch for animals. Wild turkeys are abundant in our area. Geese in v formations are flying over. Visit a good orchard. The honey crisps are fabulous right now. Check the local papers to see what's going on. Rainy days give you a new perspective on things. You might see something you wouldn't have otherwise. In NH there are some places you can watch for hawk migrations. The Deerfield Fair in NH is this weekend and fairs can be fun rain or shine. There must be one going on in VT.

All great suggestions - but with the torrential rains we're getting, it's just not a day for driving or being outside. i had thought about the Shelburne Museum, but too much outside walking. I even thought about suggesting Yankee Candle down in Deerfield, MA, but it's a very long drive from Rutland in nasty weather. Tomorrow & Sunday are supposed to be good days, but that doesn't help hik with today. Wish I could come up with a great suggestion! Some factory tour near Rutland? Indoor shopping?

What a change in the weather since I posted. We have a deluge. I've forgotten during this drought how heavy it can rain. Cynstalker, you are right. Not a good day for driving around unless one has a warm, dry destination. I would even consider spending an hour at the local library reading the newspapers or finding a good used bookstore. The Toadstool in Peterborough NH is nice because it is attached to a new bookstore and has a little cafe. Something like that would be nice.
And you have to be a dedicated fair goer to put up with rain but it falls into the category of it won't be too hot, too dusty or too crowded.

thanks, we headed to the Coolidge place but it was too foggy. we came back here to the norman rockwell musuem. it was very interesting for us seniors. we then ate at Friendlies which we do not have in arkansas, took a nap and then went bowling for the 1st time in many years. all in all, not a bad day.

tomorrow we head east on hwy 4 and then up to the Ranc hwy in nh. what should we do on the way and on the Ranc. we have reserv sat night in portland, me. thanks for all the help.

If you are taking Rte 4 from Rutland to NH, you will pass thru Woodstock, which is perhaps the most 'cutesy, touristy' town in Vermont. It would make a good lunch stop (it will be very crowded with tourists). Check out Gillingham's store, an old timey place with everything from kitchen gadgets to exotic beers. You can also stop at Simon Pierce's glass store and restaurant in Quechee a very nice place to eat by the waterfall or just watch the glass blowers.
I assume you mean the 'Kanc' (Kancamagus) highway in New Hampshire? This is a very scenic wilderness drive where you may well see some moose. However since it's foliage weekend, I suspect there'll be lots of cars! Many nice places to pull over for a short hike, picnic, or just take some pictures.

Zootsi's description of the Kanc is accurate - wilderness hwy. You'll have some turnouts for some terrific mountain vistas but there's not much else besides scenery until you get to Conway. North Conway was packed on Labor Day weekend. It's going to be even more so this weekend.
If you wanted a route thru small towns, I would head to Meredith NH (it will be very busy) and head around Lake Winnipesaukee and then the Squam Lakes area and Center Sandwich thru Tamworth and then over to Rt 16. We have not been to the Remick Museum in Tamworth but that's a place you could stop. The Center Sandwich area is IMHO the prettiest part of NH. This really depends on the type of drive you want to take. Both are nice but they are different from each other.
You could take a scenic cruise of Lake Winnipesaukee or the train ride in North Conway or from the Weirs on Lake Winnipesaukee. Visit Castle in the Clouds. We walked the Flume gorge ($) Labor Day weekend. It was fun but a lot of exercise (near the beginning on the Kanc). This might be a good day for the tram ride up Cannon Mountain. But expect lots and lots of traffic.

The daily 'color' updates are much appreciated! I'm heading to BOS (GTG) on Friday, and hope to see color in NH and ME after leaving BOS on Sunday morning. Also love the shopping in N Conway and Tilton NH!

Hey Carol! Have fun at the GTG! Wish I could be there this year, but I guess i'm happier "having" to go to Florence & Montauroux!

Today should be pretty spectacular for anyone out and about. They say Northern New England is peak, and southern VT is near. I would say we're closer to peak. The rain knocked some leaves down, but it's still really beautiful.

Hik - sounds like you made the best of a rotten day yesterday. Glad to hear it; and enjoy the rest of your trip.

Leely - thanks for the kind comment about my pics! Next time you're in this area, we should try to gtg!

cyn...we'll miss you. I know you will enjoy your trip to Europe though. Again, thanks for the color updates! The weather outlook looks good... lots of sun in the forecast.

Cyn, beautiful images and excellent composition.
I'm looking at a Panasonic Lumix for travelling, one of the smaller ones, like the DMC ZS5. Those Leica lenses are sharp!
Thanks for posting.

Thanks hikerboy - I appreciate your comments. I'm getting the new FZ100 - should be here Monday. Can't wait!

For anyone in southern Vermont tomorrow (Oct 10) it should be a sparklingly beautiful day - have fun! If you're near Newfane, VT, check out the Heritage Festival - lots of nice crafts!
http://newfaneheritagefestival.blogspot.com/

I just added 2 photos to the link - the last 2 are a bobcat that was just in my backyard!!!! They are taken through a window, so they're not very good quality - but there was a bobcat in my yard!!! I'm a little excited, in case you can't tell

It's still a pretty good picture. I may have seen one once as it was running away from the road. A friend in Wolfeboro NH got a photo of a lynx with the neighbor's duck in its mouth. She says lynx are very rare around there.
It's a very beautiful day. Happy leaf peeping.

Thanks dfrostnh. I was pretty thrilled I got anything. It was a glorious day here too.