Country Roads

Miller Time New Hampshire

14 October from North Conway New Hampshire:

We've been on main roads back roads, but mostly country roads. Some good and some in horrible shape and not many interstates. Yes, its been a while but we were four nights in a couple of Vermont State Parks without internet access. It was a real unplugged experience as cell phone reception was patchy too. No need to break out the smelling salts though, as this evening we are  blissfully set-up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire next to the Saco River at Beach Camping Area which has Wifi, yay! There is alot of catch-up to do. Last week back in Massachusetts we were...

Up early and with only one bit of sight seeing on the agenda, laundry seemed like a good idea. Our pleasant campsite at Travelers Woods of New England had a couple of machines but alas both were occupied with two loads waiting. Laundry would need to wait. We were off to historic Deerfield, MA. Deerfield, MA was settled in the 1660's. In the early years it was raided by both the French and local native tribes.  Not to bore you with the details but the village survived and is now an historic site. We spent about 5 hours learning the history of the area and touring the homes circa 1730.  Once done we were ready to head to our next destination, Jamaica State Park in Jamaica VT  --except for the dead battery. The Big Fella forgot to turn off the parking lights. Yes, the lights fade to black if you use the "car" door to exit. He used the RV door, which meant that lights did not turn off and after five hours  -well it was a lost cause.  Can you say AAA? Yours truly made the call and the local AAA guy was there within 15-20 mins.  A jump was all it took and we were back in business. Vermont Route 100 here we come! Since we wanted to set up camp in the daylight, we whizzed through many quaint villages. Boy, I would've loved a stop or two but it was not to be.  The winding road requires the driver's full attention and sometime during all the zipping the Big Fella says, " You know this would've been more fun in your car."  Just a darn minute here! The leaf peeping trip in an RV was not my idea-ahem-it was the Fella's. Gack! Muttering to myself....

So we arrived at the park just a whisker before dark but not too late for a Miller Time, a quick dinner and bed. It was cold...real cold...so the long johns were deployed along with a second quilt for the bed. Boy was I was thankful for the long johns. Jamaica State Park was a very quiet campground and sleep came easy and tomorrow would bring...

Laundry. It was time and the Dam Laundromat was just the ticket. It was next to the Dam Diner. Moose and Mosquito Tours needs to maintain a modicum of good hygiene. Well, for some unknown reason, I was bumped off line and my last two to three paragraphs are kaput so a quick summary. While waiting for the laundry the Big Fella scoped out some of the local doings and decided the Newfane Arts Festival was the post laundry activity. The basement of the local (protestant) Church transformed into a "Deli." The proceeds from food sales allow the Church to support the community by paying for groceries, heating bills, hospital bills,etc. of town members in need. We happily purchased lunch from the "Deli."

Newfane VT

After the festival we enjoyed another Miller Time and noticed a hive of activity at the campsite next to ours. Turns out it was a birthday party for a 12 year old girl. There were about eight girls and two adults some of the girls had never be out camping. As the mother of the birthday girl was lighting luminaria around their campsite, I walked over to let her know how brave I thought she and her husband were. Never would I have attempted a camping trip as a birthday party especially in October!

A hike in Jamaica State Park Vermont

While this is a leaf peeping trip, museums are always part of any Moose and Mosquito program. Since the Big Fella was having gadgety what-not museum withdrawals, the Woodstock, VT Old Mill Museum helped eased the pain. By the way, there may be a Woodstock in every state in New England.  In addition to THE Woodstock in New York, there is a Woodstock VT, a Woodstock New Hampshire, Woodstock MA, and Woodstock CT. What's with all the Woodstocks for cryin' out loud! And another thing...The Big Fella is a computer hog. He asks -very sweetly- to use MY laptop for couple of things. I am such a sucker. Apparently, he needs internet time to catch up on work emails -yeah he is supposedly retired- and Camp Parsons dining hall stuff. Hmm.This takes him a long time. So long in fact that 50% to 60% of the battery drains while he is out in cyberspace. Consequently, I am up late at night doing my Moose and Mosquito posts while a snore fest is happening behind me.  No more. I laid down the law. How long the law lasts is up for grabs. Digression and Rant over. This is a leaf tour...

Near Woodstock is Plymouth Notch, the birthplace of Calvin Coolidge. It is rural Vermont at its best. The Coolidge family home and other buildings are open to the public as historic places but life in the little town continues today.  Coolidge is one of those Presidents that is easy to forget but the exhibit helps to understand him a bit and how his life was shaped by Plymouth Notch. Another worthwhile stop was the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park located in Woodstock, VT. Too many words are required to explain the significance of this National treasure and the Rockefeller family ties to it but a ranger lead walk on old carriage roads helped us understand and was a treat. Did you know that by the 1860's, Vermont was 80% deforested and that Billings Montana is named for Frederick Billings of Woodstock, VT?  After the ranger lead walk, we continued our hike around the park and decided to take the Precipice Trail to the visitor center.  Precipice is a narrow ledge on a rock face with cable strung as a hand hold.  I employed four wheel drive more than once. Our baby boomer legs -and my nerves-were quite stressed by the end. Don't ask why I took my purse...no idea.

Holding on for dear life

Truckin'

So where are we now and why are we here?  We are in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The original plan was to stay in Vermont go north to Lake Champlain and wander around a bit before starting the trek back to New York. There is a maritime museum at the Lake but it closed for the season on Columbus Day -October 13. Ah nuts! What to do? A couple from Connecticut urged us to drive to New Hampshire and experience the Kancamagus Scenic Hwy. Our newest campsite at Quechee Gorge State Park was about 30 minutes from the VT--NH border. So what the heck, we drove the "Kanc" today and it did not disappoint -some of the best fall color, a covered bridge, and no museums.The Mt. Washington Cog Railway and the Franconia Notch are on tomorrow's docket.

The Sandman is beating me up so its off to dream land for me.

Albany Covered Bridge

Maples

Fall