Franconia State park in New Hampshire

This past 10 days we have stayed pretty busy. We traveled from Acadia National park to Waterbury, Vermont.

We drove south to Brunswick Naval air station and dropped off Bob’s prescriptions to be filled. We then drove to Freeport, Maine. We camped at a park right on the water, but it was so foggy we couldn’t even see the water until the last morning when we were leaving. We went shopping at the main LL Bean store one evening. The next day we drove south to Kennebunkport, Maine and to Perkins Cove. It was foggy, but after lunch the sun came out and we were able to take a nice walk at Perkins Cove. On Friday, Bob drove back to Brunswick to get his prescriptions while I got a perm and a haircut. We then drove to Conway, New Hampshire. Another nice fall day with temperatures near 80. We spent two nights near Conway. It rained Friday night, all day Saturday, and Saturday night.

Sunday morning we headed west again, but only driving about 30 miles. We put into a national park campground and then headed out for some exploration in Franconia Notch State Park. This is an amazing park. There is an area called ‘the Flume’. We went for a two mile walk here. The flume is a gorge that has been cut through the rock. Because of all the rain over the last two days all of the rivers and streams running through here were very full of water. The fall colors were beautiful. We were lucky in that it didn’t rain anymore – it was just overcast. We made several stops and walks. This is also where the ‘Old man in the mountain’ used to exist. This was a rock face that looked like an old man. However, during 2003 the rock crumbled and the old man disappeared forever.

Monday morning we drove west to Sugar Hill, New Hampshire – home of Polly’s Pancake Parlor. This restaurant has been in existence since 1938. It was jam-packed, but we only had to wait about 15 minutes. It’s family style so we were seated next to a family of 5 from Boston. We enjoyed visiting with them and the pancakes were delicious. (How does whole wheat walnut, oatmeal buttermilk chocolate chip, and buckwheat blueberry sound? This was the sampler I ordered. Two of each and they bring 3 first and then after you’ve finished the first 3 they bring the next three so that they are warm – and all served with real Vermont maple syrup!)

We then drove to Waterbury, Vermont. We put the fifth wheel into a state park and then drove to Ben and Jerry’s factory tour. We took their tour which included ice cream samples (cost for the tour $5 for both of us). Next we headed to the Cabot Vermont cheese store, and then to the Old Hollow Mill Cider store (think of warm cider donuts). It was our day for eating. We’re off to Burlington, Vermont and the Shelbourne Museum just south of there. More on this in our next blog.