We didn’t have to look any further than out our balcony to find a stunning vista of changing leaves. Every morning the color was slightly different.
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And you know I couldn’t resist that.
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On our way out that morning I noticed a sign I hadn’t spotted the night before… and I had a hard time believing it wasn’t put there just for me.
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No worries Pollard Brook Resort, I didn’t see any to feed… though I do take exception to the word varmint. In my experience, there are far more two legged ones of those.
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Ah… I do love the mountains.
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On the agenda that morning? Sabbaday Falls off the Kancamagus highway.
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It won’t surprise you to learn my husband’s first thought when he read this was, “I wonder if the tools are still there…” Good thing he didn’t have a shovel handy.
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It was just under half a mile hike to the falls.
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Past a babbling brook and on a wide, leaf lined path.
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As the elevation increased, fencing.
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It was so beautiful. So peaceful…
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A little farther on and the brook turned into a pool.
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Surrounded by glacial boulders. I was in rock heaven…
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And the husband was taking pictures, so you know it was good.
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We’ve driven by this area numerous times but never took the time to stop. Clearly that was a mistake.
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It took 10,000 years for water to wear down the rock and form the falls.
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With my bad knee, it took me nearly half that time to climb all the stairs.
Every time we stay in the White Mountains of New Hampshire we try to explore a new town. This trip it was Littleton….
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A charming place with a delightfully quirky downtown area.
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They’ve been voted Best American Main Street numerous times and once you stroll around… it’s easy to see why.
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Of course when you’re strolling with my husband that means ducking into every antique store you see.
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Clearly this fellow takes his wine selection seriously.
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But wait… what’s that on the floor in the back?
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Weeee! Another vintage alcohol related crate for my vinyl collection. I paid more for this one than any of the others, but we haggled 20% off and there’s no sales tax in New Hampshire so I’m calling it a win.
Husband doing the dishes in our resort condo as well? Score!!!
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Heading to the riverfront area we discovered a pedestrian covered bridge.
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Which afforded some great views..
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And that old red building with the waterwheel on the left?
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Turned out to be Schilling brewery which made yours truly very happy.
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They kept the feel of the old mill with a rustic interior…
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And served a fabulous wood fired artisan pizza with chicken, bacon, cheese, spinach, tart apples and maple syrup. Sound weird? Yes… but it was heavenly.
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As was their beer, which they take very seriously. The bartender was extremely knowledgeable and quizzed you before you chose. It wasn’t pass or fail, but it definitely resulted in him pouring you the perfect beer suited to your tastes.
My liquid ambrosia this visit? Schlaumeier – a Hefeweizen (wheat beer) with delicate notes of banana and clove. It sounds bizarre was positively grand.
This is the road you have to drive if you visit the White Mountains.
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The Notch was famous for The Old Man in the Mountain, a natural stone outcropping that resembled a face. Sadly, it crumbled years ago but there’s a museum devoted to it at the Canon Mountain gondola sight where you can grab a glimpse.
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Peak foliage was long past when we drove through and everything looked very grey.
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But it’s still an impressive sight.
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And a huge tourist destination.
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This was the road the day we drove it. Below was the road two weeks before…
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There’s something to be said for traveling off season. No traffic jams for us.
When you think of iconic theme songs, what pops into your mind? Since I’m not a huge tv watcher these days many of my picks come from my childhood.
1. Hawaii Five O
I know I’m dating myself here but it was epic for it’s day. So dramatic. Book ‘em Danno!
2. Cheers
A bar where everybody knows your name? You knew that had to be on my list.
3. Rawhide
I hate old westerns and this one was well before my time. But the husband lives on the Starz western channel and unfortunately the songs have become the soundtrack to my life. I chose this one because Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi immortalized it for me in The Blues Brothers.
3. Game of Thrones
No lyrics necessary. It rocks.
4. Green Acres
This is one of those annoying old ditties that will forever be stuck in my head.
5. M*A*S*H
If you think this song was instrumental you never saw the original movie with Donald Sutherland and Elliot Gould. They said Suicide Is Painless, but I have my doubts. Listen to the version with words, it’s rather haunting.
When you’re in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, you drive.
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Here, there and everywhere if you’re with us.
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And though peak foliage had passed, the faded colors still retained a certain beauty.
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Anonymous mountain road?
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Sure, we’ll take it. Up and over…
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Until it narrowed down to the dirt path to nowhere and we had to implement a nail biting 3 point turn. Hey NH… would it kill you to post a dead end sign now and then?
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The Bump Bridge.
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Yes, that’s really it’s name.
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Spanning a small stream it was less impressive than some…
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With a redone roof which killed the historical appeal for me. But we didn’t plan on finding it, so no time was wasted.
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Onward…
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Where there's only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.
River's world..... 