Well it is that time of year again, The colors of fall have decided to appear and remind us that summer has officially gone and to be sure to gather stores for the winter - remember the grasshopper and the ant story!
The first hints of this occurrence manifested itself in our neighborhood last week when this tree almost overnight turned from green to magnificent red/orange. I missed the best shot of this tree as the sun was behind it and rain the next day knocked of most the leaves - but even this shot demonstrates why this time of year is such a wonderful annual occurrence.
The other interesting thing is that the foliage in the White Mountains generally is best around the middle of October. But a check online says that it is near or, in some places, at peak up there. So we decide that our fall drive will be earlier this year. Glad we did.
We really enjoyed the walk through the Flume Gorge last year and decided to do it again this year. Friends Bob and Paula from Maine drove over and we met and walked the Flume together. They had never seen the Flume so I was fun to share it with them. The sights begin with Table Rock.
Faye and Paula - we do have our masks but removed for the photo.
The beginning of the Flume Gorge
And there are some nice overlooks along the winding trail that you follow to get back to the visitor center.
We started our trip around the Flume at about 10:30. When done it was a perfect time for a picnic. Note that we are all in shirt sleeves - a sign of a truly wonderfully mild day for October 1.
Some readers may remember seeing Bob and Paula from boating posts as they have the boat Honey Dew. Then you also may remember seeing their dog Scupper. Today he is home and thus it is time for them to head back to Maine to check on the boy. We drove north through Franconia Notch and around to Crawford Notch and then at Bartlett we picked up the Bear Notch Road to connect to the Kancamagus Highway. There are a number of wonderful turn outs along the way as you can see from the pictures below.
Mount Washington in the distance
Coming down the Kancamagus Highway we begin to follow the Pemigewasset River. Here I am standing on the entrance bridge to Loon Mountain that is a short ways upstream from the Town of Lincoln and our connection to I93.
It was a fine day in the White Mountains once again. The time for our leisurely drive home consumed most of the remainder of the sun's time in the sky for the day, so it is time to say ........
Good Night and May God Bless
