White Mountains of New Hampshire

 Here's a little more on our trip to New Hampshire in September.

We stayed in Lincoln, NH and a local recommended the Wayside Diner for breakfast.  It was a little out of the way but well worth the drive.

I love this kind of place.  So much character and history.  The breakfast was fantastic.

Afterwards we headed out on the Kancamagus Highway to do a little hiking.  First stop was Sabbaday Falls in the White Mountain National Forest.

I wondered how it got the name Sabbaday Falls.  It was originally called Church's Falls after a landscape painter, Frederic Church.  Legend says that some workmen who were building a highway hid their tools near the falls as winter was approaching and named it after the Sabbath.  They didn't want to carry their tools all the way home only to return in the spring.  They never completed the road, but the name stuck.

It's also said that on the day of rest settlers would walk to the falls on the Sabbath.

A hotel owner cleared the trail to the falls for his guests in 1880.  He guided his guests to the falls and apparently President Grover Cleveland and his wife were visitors.  Wealthy Eastern visitors loved the area and eventually they saved it from logging and erosion.

It is a beautifully maintained gravel trail.  Boardwalks overlook the falls for an up close and personal view.

The Forest Service doesn't allow swimming, but I bet back in the day this was the spot to jump in and cool off on a hot summer day.

One thing I really noticed about New Hampshire was the giant boulders.  I especially loved this one covered in moss.

I loved the tranquility of the forest and sound of running water.  A visit to the forest is refreshing for the soul.

Our next stop was Rocky Gorge.

Another beautiful geologic site with many boulders, rapids and waterfalls.

The gorge was formed by glaciers.

Another beautiful, tranquil sight.  Very easy access from the parking lot and paved pathway.

Next we stopped at the historic Russell-Colbath House.

The house was built in 1832 and is the only remaining original house from the town of Passaconaway which was a logging and farming community.  Unfortunately the house wasn't open to visitors on the day we visited.  An interesting story about the house is how one of the family who inherited it, Ruth Russell.  She married Thomas Colbath.  In 1891 Thomas left the house to "run some errands" and said he'd be right back.  Forty-two years later Thomas returned, but Ruth had died three years earlier and the house had been sold. 

Irv and I found a path behind the house and went on a little nature hike enjoying the flowers.

And the Swift River which the path led us to.

Insect house.

Lots of interesting mushrooms and...

vegetation.

Lots of really big pine trees that we don't have in Colorado.  An interesting sign was posted near the big trees.  In 1708 the crown made it illegal for any tree with a diameter of 24" or more to be cut down.  Why, you ask.  Because King George needed them for the masts on his ships.  That's why these white pines are called Mast Trees.  They often grow to 250 feet.

The colors were definitely starting to change.  We were about a month too early to enjoy the full fall color.  

An amazing view of the White Mountains.