Morning on Lake Thompson

Woodstock with Mac

Breakfast with Mac

White Mountain National Forest

White Mountains Forest: Lincoln to Conway on # 112

White Mountains

It’s about 8:30, we are here at Trouts, a nice morning though we have not been outside, as we have been sitting around, catching up on the gossip, drinking coffee, and playing with Ellery, petting the four dogs, who demand your attention by putting their head on your lap, staying there till you pet them. 

We arrived here at the lake about 4:30, having leaving West Lebanon, NH, where we hit Beans about 11:00.  We took back roads, the long way to Trouts, taking # 4 East out of Lebanon, to Canaan, where we picked up #118 to Lincoln, the start of the White Mountain Forest, then took #112 through the forest to Conway, NH, then on to Maine and back roads to Trouts.  The ride on #112 was up the west side of the mountains, with little traffic, mostly poor homes, as I mentioned, it was a bit like West Virginia.  Once we hit Woodstock/Lincoln, we were inundated with stores, antiques, places to eat, the entrance so to speak of the forest.  Then, for the 30 miles through the White Mountain Forest, our ride was filled with tourists, hikers, whatever, as there were lots of cars on the road, every parking lot seemed filled with people out enjoying the mountains, either taking pictures of hiking.  About every miles or two there seemed to be a trailhead, with lots of cars parked, where people must have been out hiking.  We followed a river mostly, with ravines on sides, some lookouts, and it would have been spectacularly if more sunny.  It was partly cloudy, so at times we got sun on the mountains.  It surprised us how busy it was, filled with leap peepers, as they are called but lots of locals hiking, enjoying the mountains.  How nice to have things so close.

We had a great spaghetti Bolognese dinner last night, with Ben and Christine.  Trout did not arrive until 9:30 because he had Parents Day at Hotchkiss and couldn’t leave till about 4:00.  We stayed up talking and laughing till about 11:00 then we all hit the beds.

I was up at 6:30, as the dogs went out for a brief walk, and I could hear them above our bedroom, which didn’t bother me as I was ready to get up. 

We off to Hobart Hardej house for brunch at 10:00, then back for the day and our special dinner begins around 5:00, prepared by Ben and Christine, over the past couple of days.