Waterfalls, rapids, lakes, rivers, and other flooded areas after Hurricane Irene

My videos made it into very respectable waterfall blog! http://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/blog/2011/08/29/hurricane-irene-makes-for-spectacular-waterfalls/

Our family Sunday drive took us on a scouting adventure in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut from Farmington to Winsted through Goshen, Kent and Brookfield. What a great way to spend with two young boys! They learned a lot too. Especially my 3 and a half year old, Hunter. We started our travels with the Naugatuck River in Torrington which was pretty impressive class 5 or more rapids. The water levels were up about 8 feet and after 2 hours recessed about 3 feet. Luckily, for safety’s sake Hurricane Irene was downgraded to a Tropical Storm for us and not much damage done in our area. Locally there was some power outages and lots of flooding. The worst I heard that happened locally was some crazies decided to go kayaking and tubing and went missing. This comes as no surprise as the water was flowing more than 20mph and you will see by my photos and video trying to maneuver the water was suicide.

Next destination was the Farmington River which was definitely swollen. This river has a nice walkway so we took a little cruise to a mini damn which normally has a 20 foot waterfall but with the water levels it was only about 4 feet. Taking this walk was like a journey into Thoreau’s Waldon Pond. I even stopped Hunter to teach him a lesson in observing the beauty of what’s around you. Storms like this don’t come around very often and the slight damage that was done made you feel like you were in a Dahli painting. The forest looked like it grew up in the roaring waters and the path was like walking on the tree top canopies in Costa Rica. The ground was a lush intricately woven green carpet of different sized and shaped leaves. Some shagged and bushy little branches and other just random two dimensional leaves. The trees here are exceptionally skinny, skyscraper tall, dark and perfectly straight with no branches until the tops creating a tunnel effect. After our stroll and driving to our next random destination we came to the Collinsville Bridge which had major overflow and flooding and many many people stopping to take pictures. It seemed that as we drove on our Sunday drive that at each stop the area of water got more and more ridiculous.

We drove from here through New Hartford and Satan’s Kingdom to Winsted before heading West through Goshen where the winds started picking up on our way to Kent falls which was magnificent! Hunter said it was like Paradise Falls from the movie Up especially with all the barking dogs. He wanted to look for Bigfoot so we hiked to the top getting soaked by the spray like being on the Maiden of the Mist at Niagara Falls, Canada. The river rose high enough to wash out the covered bridge which was evident by debris some of which stuck on picnic tables and a second walk bridge being destroyed.

Driving down Route 7 to Brookfield we had to take several detours which landed us at Bulls Bridge and although not as tall as Kent Falls equally if not more impressive with the volumes of water and the roaring sounds echoing through the area. I will say seeing all of these powerful bodies of water created by mother nature and natural occurrences does provide a thrill and adrenaline rush. There was so much power and a slight level of danger and risk being so close to it. Our family definitely was having an exciting day. Leaving we were again detoured due to flooding on Route 7 in New Milford.

Federal Road in Brookfield/Danbury also had some closures and surprisingly we were able to get to Route 25 via Grey’s Bridge Rd where we saw major flooding especially at the mulch, gravel, and sand company. Nearby is a cemetery and that was also very flooded lucky not near the burial plots!

This was no flood of 1955 thank god for our modern technology and architectural advances but we still have some repairs to make. I am so glad I got to see the roaring waters of CT in a rare sighting and capture it for all to see and my kids to remember!

Photos and video on facebook, flickr, Foursquare, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. Search for envykarma or Michelle Tolmoff

Thanks for reading!

The best of Rome in 8 hours

Ok there isn’t much crime in Rome and is relativity safe but there are pickpockets and purse snatchers EVERYWHERE so beware! they will grab purses while on Scooters too.

My list of to do if I had 8 hours in Rome starting from Termini (the train station):

Take bus or cab to Piazza Venezia (Spend 2 hours):

1.) Victor Emanuel Monument (Il Vittoriano) Get first cafe near here (espresso) you’ll need it!

2.) Roman Forum (Foro Romano)

3.) Collosium (Colloseo)

4.) Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo)

Or optional go shopping on Via Veneto (Note most shops close for afternoon lunch think siesta)

Next Take tram to Trestevere ( spend 1 hour)

This is old historic Rome and the area you picture when you think of colorful buildings and clothes lines. Don’t be alarmed by all the rainbow flags that say Pace (pronounced pa chey) on them it is their symbol for peace. There are universities in this area too. Pizza in Rome in my opinion stinks. Naples has great pizza similar to our NY Style but Rome’s pizza is like on a cracker. However, while strolling this beautiful Neighborhood pick up a snack at:

La Boccaccia (Pizza e Foccacia)- 2 Via di Santa Dorotea http://cibando.posterous.com/when-dining-in-roma-la-boccaccia you can pick from several different pizza and tell them how big of slices you want of them. Make sure to order Suppli while you’re there.

Alternate option for healthy eaters go to L’Insalata Ricca- 8 Via Garibaldi http://www.insalataricca.it/menu.asp

Now, take a cab up to Gianicolo spend 15mins (PHOTO OP!!)

Using same cab have them drop you off at the Vatican Museum on your way though stop for Gelato and Banana with Nutella Crepes (Spend 1 hour and 15 min)

1.) Gelateria I think it is called Old Bridge

The gelateria part of Piazza Risorgimento but on the outside of the square across the wall for the Vatican I think Via Leone IV, it’s next to an Irish pub, so look for Guiness signs.

The Vatican Museum exit is in Saint Peter’s square but the entrance is not. Note buy your tickets in advance to avoid long lines and make sure shoulders and knees covered if you plan on going into S. Pietro’s Basilica! http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?action=booking&codiceTipoVisita=26&step=2

Time for another cab or bus ride back to Trestevere but this time to go over the Tiber River via the Ponte Sisto (A pedestrian only bridge) (Spend 1 1/2 hours on walking tour)

1.) Campo di Fiore

2.) Piazza Novona

3.) Piazza della Rotonda

Almost done with the day 😦 last cab before the end of your 8 hour Roma trip take a cab to the Spanish Steps (Spend 2 hours on this walking tour)

1.) Spanish Steps

2.) Piazza Del Popolo

3.) Pincho Villa Borgehese (Great Sunset photo op!)

4.) Trevi Fountain

There is sooo much more to do and see but this hits all the majors for a short visit.