Day 10 - New Conway, New Hampshire
Last night the temperature here dropped to nearly freezing under clear skies - that will help the foliage colour change more rapidly - and today we have a glorious crystal clear blue sky for our anti-clockwise drive around the scenic route known as the White Mountains Trail that is bordered by Highway 302 to the north and east, Interstate 93 to the west and the Kancamagus Highway to the south. It is no exaggeration to say that around every curve and along every straight the views are simply spectacular and we are so lucky to have a perfect day in which to enjoy them.
Our first stopping point was at the Mount Washington Cog Railway base station. As was the case yesterday, the top of Mount Washington is completely clear and visible and a ride up to the top would have been most worthwhile, if rather wallet sapping ($72 each for a return ticket!). Regrettably, time pressures did not allow so we had to make do with watching the little trains wheeze up the lower slopes towards the summit:
Next stop was The Flume Gorge with a two mile walking, or hiking as the American's have it, loop through the flume itself. A welcome relief in many ways to stretch the legs, enjoy a strenuous walk, and spot some little chipmunks enjoying the fall sunshine (rather too fast moving to catch on camera).
After lunch we picked up the Kancamagus Highway stopping at many of the vantage points along the 35 mile stretch and ever so slightly enviously watching many bikers - almost exclusively riding Harley Davidsons, of course - making the most of the smooth road surface in the afternoon sunshine. We also ran alongside and crossed and re-crossed the Conway Scenic Railroad that will definitely be on the "to do" list if there is a "next time".
Just one of the wonderful views witnessed today:
Tomorrow we bid farewell to New Hampshire and head pretty much due south over the border in to Maine to the coastal town of Ogunquit, 30 miles south of Portland, for our last full day of the New England trip.
And finally, notice in our hotel:
Our first stopping point was at the Mount Washington Cog Railway base station. As was the case yesterday, the top of Mount Washington is completely clear and visible and a ride up to the top would have been most worthwhile, if rather wallet sapping ($72 each for a return ticket!). Regrettably, time pressures did not allow so we had to make do with watching the little trains wheeze up the lower slopes towards the summit:
Next stop was The Flume Gorge with a two mile walking, or hiking as the American's have it, loop through the flume itself. A welcome relief in many ways to stretch the legs, enjoy a strenuous walk, and spot some little chipmunks enjoying the fall sunshine (rather too fast moving to catch on camera).
After lunch we picked up the Kancamagus Highway stopping at many of the vantage points along the 35 mile stretch and ever so slightly enviously watching many bikers - almost exclusively riding Harley Davidsons, of course - making the most of the smooth road surface in the afternoon sunshine. We also ran alongside and crossed and re-crossed the Conway Scenic Railroad that will definitely be on the "to do" list if there is a "next time".
Just one of the wonderful views witnessed today:
Tomorrow we bid farewell to New Hampshire and head pretty much due south over the border in to Maine to the coastal town of Ogunquit, 30 miles south of Portland, for our last full day of the New England trip.
And finally, notice in our hotel:
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