Father's Day in the White Mountains

Unlike Mother's Day for Father's Day 2016 the weather was gorgeous and were able to go to Glen Ellis Falls and a whole lot more driving about 330 miles from home, through the White Mountains, and back home again.

Our trip started with one of our favorite drive which is from home, through Winthrop to Bethel and into Gorham, New Hampshire.  There is just something about that drive that we truly love.  Once in Gorham we hit Route 16 south towards Jackson stopping at Glen Ellis Falls.

There is a well marked parking area and you have to take a tunnel under the road on the third mile hike towards the 64 foot waterfall.  The trail is well maintained and features of stair the descend to the base of the falls that is well worth the walk for the spectacular view.  Granted I did not have a 30 pound Wesley boy strapped to me, but I think Kate felt it was well worth it as well.

Leaving the falls we continued south on 16 turning onto route 302 towards Bartlett.  Route 302 cuts right through the heart of the White Mountain National forest and Crawford Notch State Park.  This is one of, if not the most, scenic and beautiful road I have ever driven on.

We had destinations in mind and even though I made a couple impromptu stops to snag a couple pictures we passed some places that we are definitely going back to in the future.  Which is exciting knowing we have a reason to return and explore more.

From 302 we turned onto Route 3 south which turns into I-93 south through Franconia Notch State Park into Lincoln.  We stopped in Lincoln to check out Fadden's General Store.  It's hyped as having the best Maple Syrup in New Hampshire.  It was a bit of a let down, but we did buy some of their syrup and Kate got a maple cream soda. It was terrible, but very creamy.

Next we stopped at Chutter's second location which features a 60 foot candy counter.  I have wanted Frooties so bad but have not been able to find them anywhere in Maine and I don't want to buy them off the internet.  The Chutter's Littleton, NH store featured a 100 plus foot candy counter, the World's Largest, and they have Frooties.  Well Lincoln does not.  The store is nice, but it was a massive disappointment.

Staying in Lincoln we stopped for lunch at Black Mtn. Burger CO., a placed voted as New Hampshire's best burger.  The inside is really nice with a great set up, you can eat outside if you choose. The table we have was very high, which I was okay with because when you're eating a messy burger you want to be close to the table top keep the mess off your clothes.

Kate got the Swiss Mushroom Burger, I got the basic Cheddar Cheeseburger adding Bacon to it, we both got fries.  The burgers were fantastic!  Really one of the best I've ever had.  I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to go back there again.

Continuing our journey on the Kancamagus highway we exited the White Mountain National Forest in Conway New Hampshire and headed south to the Madison Boulder.

The Madison Boulder is the largest known erratic in North America at 83 feet long and 23 feet high and 37 feet wide.  Take a look at the photo with Wesley in front of it.  It's very impressive!

Continuing south east we cut back into Maine on route 25 into Porter stopping at the Porter-Parsonsfield Covered Bridge which spans the Ossipee River.  Originally built in 1876 it was rebuilt in 1999 and is closed to traffic.  Wesley loves him some closed covered bridges, walking across them, yelling, and apparently dropping rocks through the gaps floorboards.  He found a rock and picked it up and dropped it through, when he heard the plop of it hitting the water he let out a pleasantly surprised noise.  So we gathered up a lot more rocks and he went to town.

Driving home we passed a place that had multiple signs advertising penny candy. Even though I would most likely be disappointed I turned back to Sunrise Corner and ventured in, I was not to be denied on this day for they had frooties!!  Sadly they were 5 cents each but I didn't care and bought giant bag that had a handful of each flavor.  I spoke to the owner Jason who stated that they just added the candy 4 years ago and it was a success, it certainly was today.

We got home just about 7pm when Paul was getting there with the Pizza so we could watch the Money in the Bank PPV on WWE Network.  It was a great ending to a truly wonderful day!

Thanks for reading!

Later Readers!

Map of our Adventure

Grandad

I first met John Neighoff at Tuesday Night dinner back when Kate and I were dating.  I had been told all about him how even though he was in his late 80's he was still full of life, riding his motorcycle, golfing, flirting with the ladies at the bank and other things one wouldn't expect someone of his age to still be doing.  He sounded a lot like my grandfather Bump and I told Linda that he even in his late 80's he was still working at the golf course, playing a round every day, cutting his own firewood and other things one wouldn't expect someone of his age to still be doing.

Turns out they golfed at the same golf course and Grandad knew my Gram-Gram and Bump and spoke highly of both of them.  Once Grandad arrived Kate introduced us and he gave me an unexpectedly firm handshake and said something along the lines "So you're dating my Katie?" like I was doing something wrong.  I later learned that Grandad is very fond of his girls, not that he doesn't care for his boys, but the girls edge them out just a bit.

At dinner Linda told Grandad that I was Raymond's grandson.  I the mention of Bump's name his face light up, he got bright eyed and I was good as gold in his eyes from them on.  He then proceeded to tell me a story, one that he has since told me many times and I'm going to share it here.

"You know how I met your Grandfather?  I was heading into the clubhouse at the golf course and he was heading out, I saw he was wearing a Navy ship hat so I asked him, did you buy that or did you earn that?  He said "I earned this son of a bitch!"  We've been friends ever since, I really like your Grandfather."

They truly were friends, they didn't know each other in the war but they were in a lot of the same places, probably at the same time.  At our reception I looked over at one point and they were sitting together talking to each other, I don't know what it was about but they were laughing and having a good time.  I snapped a couple photos capturing the moment.

When Bump got sick Grandad asked me about him all the time.  When Bump died, after I left Gram's I wasn't sure what to do with myself but I knew that I had to go and tell Grandad in person because I just did.

When I arrived at his trailer my stomach jumped into my throat.  His car door and trunk were open, the lawnmower was sitting out in the middle of a half mowed lawn and the front door to his home was wide open.  I thought to myself "If I find Grandad laying on the ground or on the floor in his home I'm not going to be able to handle this."

I parked very cautiously looked around and called his name a couple times with no response.  I slowly walked up the stairs because I was dreading the worst and just didn't want that to be true.  I finally made it to his door and peered in and what I saw left me relieved and confused, he was sitting in his chair reading a book.

He was very happy to see me.  I asked him about his car and he said it started to rain so that's why he hadn't finished mowing the lawn.  I asked him about his car again and he said that's why he left his mower out.  So I just went outside and shut the trunk and door making sure the keys weren't left in it.

I told him about Bump, I started to cry, he started to cry, we talked a long time.  He thanked me for coming and telling him and said it was okay that we cried because Grandfathers are very special people and that Bump was very special man.  He gave me a big hug and told me that I should call him Grandad from now on, which I have.

My last visit with him we talked a lot about what he did in the war, the places he'd been and the things that he'd seen.  He told me about climbing to the peak of Mount Vesuvius and almost falling into the volcano.  A couple days later he was at a hospital visiting a friend, walking down a long hallway with a window at the end he was looking at Vesuvius when it suddenly erupted, March 18, 1944.

We had a really great conversation that day talking about coming home from the war, meeting his wife, moving to Maine, the gas stations he owned and more.

I only had the pleasure of knowing Grandad for a little over 3 years, but he, as well as the rest of Kate's family welcomed me and Canaan & Addison into their family like we had always been there.

Thanks Grandad

Mother's Day Rainout

This year for Mother's Day Kate wanted to go to La Festa Pizza in Dover, NH.  To justify driving all the way for Pizza I plotted a day trip out of it that would see use travel through Western Maine into New Hampshire checking out covered bridges, water falls, and more.

The forecast was predicting rain but the amount and when varied so we took a chance and just went anyway.  It didn't work out that well.

Our first stop after was the Hemlock Covered Bridge in Fryeburg, Maine.  Of all the covered bridges in Maine this is the only one that is way out in the willy-wags.  In-fact the road that it is on is gated and closed from November 1st - May 1st.

Wesley was very excited to get out of the Vanna and stretch his legs.  He walked back and forth over the bridge several times and we got some really great photos.

We continued one with out next stop being Glen Ellis Falls in Jackson, NH however the rain started coming down and prevented that from happening.  However we were able to check out the Honeymoon Bridge in Jackson.

Because of the rain we decided just to take the drive to Dover and forgo other planned stops for another day.

The drive along route 16 was quite nice, and at one point when the rain let up we did stop in the village of Chocorua at a dam on the Chocorua River.  It was so gorgeous how the homes along the shore were reflecting off the calm water.

The little dam was cool as well and it did something to the water falling over the edge causing a rippling effect to it.  It was neat!

We arrived in Dover for a late lunch at La Festa Brick & Brew Pizzeria.  The place is pretty awesome and I wish we had one like it around here.  They have a huge selection of buying by the slice or you can get a whole pie.  Kate got a few various slices and I got a large New York style pepperoni, because pepperoni is my favorite.

If we ever go again I'll be more apt to get some various slices rather than pepperoni.

We stopped at a Duston's Market & Bakery after, Kate got a few baked goods including a rather delicious chocolate eclair.  I got myself over 1000 day aged Canadian Cheddar cheese that was phenomenal! Also I found some new kettle chips that i had never had before, Good's out of Adamstown, PA.

The drive home was fine until we hit some downpours in the Richmond area.

Incidentally we crossed the Saco River 8 different times.

Later Readers!

Southern Maine Exploration

Greetings!

On Monday April 25th Kate and I had a rare weekday off together and with the weather holding nice that day, why not take the time and explore a new part of the State.

Portsmouth Harbor Light, in the background Whaleback Light

Our journey actually began with a 100 plus mile to New Hampshire starting us off at Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse.  Originally built in 1771 the current tower was built in 1878.  Located at Fort Constitution the whole area is on the grounds of the US Coast Guard.  During certain hours you can follow a blue painted line from the parking area to the Fort.

We got lost on the way and had to double back through Portsmouth.  We were both taken back by the narrow streets and old colonial homes.  It was beautiful and a sight to be seen.  Many of the houses were marked with the year they were built and we've never seen so many 200 year old homes in the same area.

Heading back into Maine we stopped in Kittery at Fort McClary.  Kate was fascinated by the 1864 Granite Wall, she couldn't stop raving about it.  Our next stop was down the road at Fort Foster which was an active military fort during World War I & II.

From Fort Constitution, Fort McClary, & Fort Foster you could see Whaleback Light, located in waters belonging to Kittery, Maine it was first built in 1831.  The best photos and the closet view from land is at Fort Foster.

We continued down the road to York checking out the Old Burying ground and the grave of Mary Nasson the alleged Witch of York.  When she died in 1774 her husband put a stone slab down on her grave, some believe it was to keep animals from digging up her grave, others to prevent her from raising from the dead.  We found lots of change on the grave that other visitors had left.

Also located in York is the famed Cape Neddick Lighthouse.  Built in 1879 on Nubble Island about 100 yards of shore it is one of the most picturesque lighthouses in Maine.

For lunch we stopped at a place that I have wanted to go to for years but it just never worked out, Flo's Steamed Hot Dogs. Located on Route 1 in York Flo's has been serving up steamed hot dogs since 1959 and they are showing no signs of stopping.

Kate and I each had a dog dressed up "The House Special" with Flo's Relish, mayonnaise, and celery salt.  Sounds gross but it is so delicious!  I'm going to write more about out stop at Flo's on my hot dog blog.

With full bellies we headed up to the top of Mount Agamenticus and took in some pretty nice views.  They have a Learning Lodge and several trails around the summit.  On clears days you can see Mt Washington, we could not on this day.

Next stop was in Kennebunk and Kennebunkport for the blowing cave and the Wedding Cake House.  Sadly we missed the tide on Blowing Cave, similar to Thunder Hole you need to gt there as the high tide is coming in.  The Wedding Cake House in rough rough shape.

We finished the day in Cape Elizabeth at Two Lights and Portland Headlight.  The Cape Elizabeth Two Lights were built in 1874 and both remained in service until 1924 when the West Tower was deactivated while the East Tower is still in service.

Cape Elizabeth West Tower

Cape Elizabeth East Tower

Portland Headlight was built in 1791 on the behest of George Washington and is on the grounds of what is now Fort Williams Park.  From this light I was also able to grab some great photos of Ram Island Ledge Light.

It was cool but we had bright sunny weather all day.  I'd say it was quite a productive day as we were able to take in seven lighthouses, three forts, a witches grave, steamed hot dogs and more.

It was great to explore a part of the State that we hadn't hit yet, however we both agree that the driving was out least favorite part.  Lots of interstate and the majority of Route 1 that we traveled was high traffic and congested areas.  Last year on our trips in the mountains and highlands was all back roads and low traffic.

I have a few more ideas for day trips that will take us into western Maine and some New Hampshire as well.  I think I can speak for Kate when I say we look forward to more day trips this Summer.

Later Readers!