A few weeks back I had discovered the Sandwich Notch Rd in the southwest corner of the White Mountain National Forest. Built in 1801 and still in use it is a single lane dirt road that according to research even though it is steep at times it is traversable, one guy even said he took his mercedes across it. I'm pretty sure we were not talking about the same road.
I planned this whole trip around taking this road and seeing some covered bridges in the area as well. The night before we left, I was looking at the map and for only 40 miles longer we could still hit Sandwich Notch Rd, but go north after and hit other covered bridges, plus go to Chutters and take our favorite route back home through Gorham, New Hampshire. When given the option Kate went with the new route.
I got out of worked, grabbed Kate her coffee at Dunks, a bag of ice and after changing we were on the road before 8am. Wesley is such a good boy on these adventures, riding in his car seat doesn't seem to bother him and he loves to get out and explore the covered bridges. Of the four that we took in two were in busy areas, one not so much, and one closed to vehicles. The secluded and closed one we like a lot because he can just run around on them with out a care.
Our first stop of the day was at Durgin Bridge in Sandwich. Originally built in 1869 spanning 96 feet over the Cold River. Surprisingly we saw a lot of people at the covered bridges.
Next we drove over the road that was the inspiration for this trip. Ultimately I don't regret that we drove the road, but really there isn't much to see for us. After stopping at Beede falls 3/4 of a mile in it's just hiking trails, which we can't do with the boy, and a narrow road that we scrapped a half dozen times on. I sincerely doubt the guy drove his Mercedes with no issues.
Beede Falls was neat, but it's been so dry that there was no water flowing.
After completing the road with headed north taking rte 112 west towards Bath. This side of the Kancamagus Highway we had not taken before.
Along the way we stopped in Bath at the Swiftwater Bridge. Built in 1849 spanning 158 feet over two spans, 77.6 & 57.5 feet over the Wild Ammonoosuc River.
We had lunch in Bath right near the Vermont Border at Little Grille with has two year round locations and a season one. It's actually a Mexican restaurant that specializes in Burgers.
Kate had the burger of the day, it has caramelized onions and mushrooms and she really like it.
Wesley has a cheeseburger with ketchup, and I had The Sticky Vermonter, sticky glazed maple bacon, Vermont cheddar, maple aioli with tomato.
It was real good! They boast themselves as the best burger in New Hampshire and although it was good, they are not the best because I've had Black Mountain Burger Company.
Less then a mile away we stopped at the Bath-Haverill Bridge, this was the bridge that was closed to traffic and the one Wesley really got to have fun one. This was also the only bridge to have an attached walkway. This two span bridge was built in 1829 crossing 256 (104 and 120 feet) feet over the Ammonoosuc River.
The fourth and last bridge of the day also located in Bath is the Bath Bridge, a four span bridge also crossing the Ammonoosuc River was built in 1832 totaling 374.5 feet, 117.5, 66.5, 62.5, & 80 feet,
The final stop of the day was in charming town of Littleton. My main reason for wanting to go was to stop at Chutters, home to the world's largest candy counter.
It is here were I can buy ten different flavors of frooties for just 1 cent each. That's right actual penny candy. I few hundred for the kids and I.
On the street they had a few pianos sort of a community music appreciation. We set Wesley up and let him tickle the ivories for a spell.
Littleton is the birth place of Eleanor Porter who wrote the beloved children's novel Pollyanna in 1913. The Littleton library features a statue of Pollyanna on their front lawn.
I had been awake some 22 hours by the time we left Littleton so Kate wisely drove us home. I slept more than halfway, Wesley watched Winnie the Pooh and slept a spell himself.
Along the way we some wonderful fall foliage including snow on the mountain tops.
We've had a year or day trips exploring the White Mountains, what's great is there is so much more for us to still see!
Later Readers!
