.
Leaving the Kancamagus highway, we took an alternate route. Up and over the Bear Notch road.
.
.
In certain sections, the autumn color was stunning.
.
.
And from the scenic lookout where I screamed at my husband to stop the car….
.
.
Pure perfection.
.
.
Breathe deep of that fresh, crisp mountain air….
.
.
And you’ll know why I keep returning to visit these glorious unspoiled areas.
❤️
.
.
I hope my photos do justice to how lovely this part of the White Mountains is….
.
.
And though not as wild as the upper Sabbaday falls, the lower falls were equally lovely.
.
.
We clambered around at leisure, simply enjoying the day.
.
.
Rocks, ya gotta love them… and marvel at their weird stripes.
.
.
This is a very soothing place. Quiet, peaceful…
.
.
What is it about water? Spend enough time near it… and your breathing slows.
.
.
The rest of the world seems to slip away.
.
.
And while my husband was busy climbing and exploring?
.
.
I just… was.
.
.
I highly recommend it.
.
.
.
Driving farther down the Kancamagus highway we noticed a sign that said Lower Falls, and since we’d just explored the upper… we had to take a look.
.
.
The first thing we saw? A fenced in giant rock. There was no explanation given as to why this particular rock needed its own fence…
.
.
.
Maybe it just wanted to feel special.
Rocks, they’re so sedimental.
.
.
Poor rock. Did it deserve to be cleaved in half by that tree?
Of quartz not.
.
.
There were lots of rocks. And this made me smile. Rocks here, rocks there….
.
.
There were rocks everywhere.
.
.
Walking farther down we found pools.
.
.
And more rocks, which I never take for granite.
.
.
Even my husband was marveling at the rocky splendor. Though he’s a bit boulder and clambered about near the water’s edge.
.
.
Rock on!
.
.
Everywhere I looked there was a beautiful picture waiting to be taken.
.
.
Not to mention videos.
.
.
I love these kind of places. Easy hiking with railed bridges and paths that criss cross over the natural splendor.
.
.
And these were extremely well made, designed to withstand water and rough weather. I can only imagine the force of the falls in the spring, it must be epic.
.
.
For those who are interested:
.
.
And for those of us with bad knees?
.
.
Random benches to take a break.
.
.
While I agree with the ❤️ sentiment, I dislike the defacement.
.
.
The return path when you’ve had your fill.
.
.
Onward…
.
.
Mother Nature is amazing and we thoroughly enjoy visiting some of her special places.
.
.
Sabbaday Falls was one of them.
.
.
The walkways and paths are cut into the rock and follow the natural trail.
.
.
There’s the husband taking pictures beside a really big rock. That says it all.
.
.
Did I enjoy all the stair climbing? No.
.
.
But it was totally worth the discomfort and I smiled through the pain.
.
.
Rocks and trees. Trees and rocks. I was a seriously happy camper.
.
.
The falls spray water everywhere and some of the paths were slippery.
.
.
But damn, it sure was beautiful.
.
.
And the sturdy walkway was impressive in and of itself.
.
.
.
If you’re ever in the area? Go!
.
.
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.
.
.
And you know I couldn’t resist that.
.
.
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.
.
.
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.
.
.
Ah… I do love the mountains.
.
.
On the agenda that morning? Sabbaday Falls off the Kancamagus highway.
.
.
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.
.
.
It was just under half a mile hike to the falls.
.
.
Past a babbling brook and on a wide, leaf lined path.
.
.
As the elevation increased, fencing.
.
.
It was so beautiful. So peaceful…
.
.
A little farther on and the brook turned into a pool.
.
.
Surrounded by glacial boulders. I was in rock heaven…
.
.
And the husband was taking pictures, so you know it was good.
.
.
We’ve driven by this area numerous times but never took the time to stop. Clearly that was a mistake.
.
.
It took 10,000 years for water to wear down the rock and form the falls.
.
.
With my bad knee, it took me nearly half that time to climb all the stairs.
To be continued….
.
.
Cats.
.
.
They’re so judgmental.
.
.
I’ve heard of drunks wearing lampshades, but Ibis?
.
.
I do not recommend this. Bears with the munchies can wreak havoc in your yard.
.
.
And you thought the movie was pure nonsense.
.
.
I don’t even want to know what’s going on here. Nope.
And finally, Thanksgiving preparations are underway at Mark’s house….
.
.
.
This is the road you have to drive if you visit the White Mountains.
.
.
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.
.
.
Peak foliage was long past when we drove through and everything looked very grey.
.
.
But it’s still an impressive sight.
.
.
And a huge tourist destination.
.
.
This was the road the day we drove it. Below was the road two weeks before…
.
.
There’s something to be said for traveling off season. No traffic jams for us.
.
.
Not as colorful, but definitely smoother sailing.
.
.
Never a dull moment…
.
.
When you’re in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, you drive.
.
.
Here, there and everywhere if you’re with us.
.
.
And though peak foliage had passed, the faded colors still retained a certain beauty.
.
.
Anonymous mountain road?
.
.
Sure, we’ll take it. Up and over…
.
.
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?
.
.
The Bump Bridge.
.
.
Yes, that’s really it’s name.
.
.
Spanning a small stream it was less impressive than some…
.
.
With a redone roof which killed the historical appeal for me. But we didn’t plan on finding it, so no time was wasted.
.
.
Onward…
.
.
One of the nicest things about our resort in the mountains? Beautiful fall foliage right outside our door.
.
.
We were a little past peak for this trip but it was still a lovely palette of color to wake up to.
.
.
This quirky coffee house right down the road only opened the day we left which was disappointing. I haven’t been half baked in decades.
.
.
First day of our trip? We drove…
.
.
Here.
There.
Wherever the leaves took us.
.
.
And if you’re driving with my husband that means traveling on some pretty obscure back roads. Often ones that turn to dirt.
Miles and miles, up and over mountains where there’s nothing but glorious foliage, nature….
.
.
Bear warnings….
.
.
And a randomly placed portapotty.
( Spellcheck kept changing this to portal Otto. I may have missed a prime Tardis opportunity there.)
Here’s a short clip of the splendor. Yours truly is announcing the sighting of turkeys on the left, repeatedly and quite loudly. I do this when I spot cows as well, though in the deeper audible resonance they deserve.
.
.
Ah….
.
.
I love fall!
.
River's world..... 