Dry camping at Moose Brook State Park

We're dry camping for first time this trip so Will is setting up the portable solar panels. Our last rig had solar panels installed on the roof but this one didn't come with that option. In many ways this is better as it is a bigger solar unit. 

Lovely quiet spot. Unfortunately heat wave won't diminish until tomorrow so we aren't too active here.

I did go for a morning walk to find this Moose Brook while Will went on a bike ride on a bike trail that runs by the park.

And bless his heart. . .he stopped for some Dunkin Donuts on his way back!

Hot day was good day to do the drive up Mt Washington. At 6000 ft is the tallest in New England. Is quite a climb as it is a big elevation gain but certainly grand views. There is quite a hefty fee for the privilege to use the private road--not uncommon in the East.

Packed a lunch and enjoyed it with a view of the world

Got to Alpine conditions above timber line and weather changed dramatically. From 90+ at the base to blustery, cold and foggy at the top!!

Our view at the summit.

White Mountain region

View from Kancamagus Pass in White Mountain National Forest

We visited a Loon Center, dedicated to study, conservation and preservation of the Loon population in NH. Nice teaching displays and then outdoor trails down to a lake to catch a glimpse of nesting Common Loons. Unfortunately, the resident pair did not nest this year and no one knows why.

We hiked the Lincoln Woods Trail to Franconia Falls. The trail is a rails-to-trails route (old railroad ties still there) so easy hiking although 6.5 miles was a stretch for me. I finished but was kinda crabby by the time we got back to the car.

That icy water was mighty refreshing!

All over NH we see this type of house--where all the parts of the house are connected. And they are big structures. Most of what we see are not active barns as part of structure but am sure at one time they were!

An early 1800's Iron Furnace in the picturesque village of Franconia.

We found icecream in Franconia also

Monadnock

The region we are in in southwest New Hampshire at the moment is called the Monadnock. I find the word unpronounceable, whenever I go to say it, I can't remember. Anyway it is named for this mountain of same name. At 3165' it is highest in the region. Very popular hiking mountain, no roads on it, only hiking trails. There is a slightly shorter mountain near by that we could drive to the summit for excellent 360 degree views. 

It was pretty clear day as we could actually see Boston which as crow flies is about 50 miles away.

Am so struck by architecture in the northeast. Especially the huge and very dramatic churches. They treasure the history that is so abundant here and and seem to prefer the Victorian and Federalist styles. We have seen so many large houses that have (what use to be) barns or carriage houses attached to the house.

Cemeteries have such stories to tell. One family lost 3 children in the same year and then 2 more. Makes one wonder. Life wasn't so easy.

We visited a neighboring town of Walpole. Pretty and seemed upscale to me. Ken Burns of Documentary fame lives here and actually owns this restaurant. Reservations required--only looked in the window. Also visited Peterborough, which supposedly was inspiration for Thornton Wilder's, "Our Town."

Biking, and hiking and birding aplenty. I am not biking the miles still but my knee is getting stronger all the time.

I read where NH is 96% forested. I believe it.

Out and About

It rained overnight and remained cloudy this morning. It was destined to be a wet day. But it held off long enough for us to get a nice morning hike in at Chesterfield Gorge. And it was definitely cooler today. Maybe our heat wave has diminished, at least for now.

We visited Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site near Cornish in New Hampshire. August St. Gaudens was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1848, and immigrated with his family to New York as a young boy and eventually became a sculpture of the American Renaissance. His home, studio, estate became a memorial to his legacy after he died in 1907. The Park Service took it over in 1965.

This is a later and altered recast of a Civil War memorial that is in Boston.

The house--named Aspet--was not open to view but the formal gardens were in full color.

Everywhere you look there is sculpture tucked into the landscape which adds to the design element of the the grounds and the piece. Must admit I didn't know anything about this guy--I'm learning.

Down the road to Enfield to visit the museum at Lower Shaker Village.

We had the best tour guide. He was so knowledgeable about the Shaker community that lived here and explained so well how they are restoring the buildings so they once again reflect how the faithful lived. He is showing us how to make a shaker broom--they have volunte

Keene, New Hampshire

We crossed three states in short order today. Left New York state, crossed the Hudson River and east into Massachusetts then north into southwest New Hampshire and landed at a campground with an idyllic setting on a quiet river. The traffic did improve the farther we got north. And non too soon to suit us.

There are something like 6 covered bridges within about a 15 mile radius so we immediately had to find them. Most historic covered bridges are kept up for show, but here they are used everyday by the community going about their busy days. They all date back to 1800's, all narrow one laned but fully functioning bridges.

Each has a story

This one has a walkway on outside of roadway for foot traffic.

Today everybody went to the Boardwalk at Point Pleasant. The Arcade was a big hit

Aeri with Mom's help was a mad driver.

You buy your "play card" and then you play for tickets which you turn in for prizes--which are not worth much. But Lia did well, it's just more fun to hoard the tickets than to spend them.

And on to the rides at the amusement park.

There is a beach there but much too crowded. We liked the one we went to much better. PLUS you have to pay for a beach pass to use these beaches. So you have to pay for parking (unless you are lucky enough to find a free spot on the street like we did), then up to $12 a person beach pass (we skipped the beach here) the expensive rides and arcade--and lunch and ice cream AND cotton candy AND ice coffee. . .well you get my point.  Pockets empty when we came home but good time by all. Except it was very hot, but the people watching was the best!

Time to pack up, move back into RV and separate. But one last stop. We all met up with the Park's at a Korean bbq restaurant in Paramus. Lovely to see Tammy's parents and then time to hit the road!