June 24, 2019 – White Mountains – New Hampshire

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. The White Mountains cover one quarter of the state of New Hampshire, and actually run into a small part of Maine. The mountains are popular for hiking, skiing, and Fall foliage seekers.

So I usually do not post about locations I have blogged about previously, however I could not resist sharing today’s Adventure in the White Mountains, one of my absolute FAVORITE spots to explore. Today our Adventure involved locations we have ventured to before, including: The Basin, The Basin-Cascades Trail, the Pemi Trail, and Echo Lake. Although we have been to these spots previously they NEVER disappoint. From the fresh-clean-clear water, to the waterfalls, to the rushing Brook, to lakes surrounded by spectacular mountain views, it is a genuinely natural experience.

We began today’s Adventure noticing that one of the trails was closed, quite disappointing. We took the time to explore different paths, leading us in and out the gorgeous River and cascades. We walked around for awhile before finding a sandy spot to sit in the sun and relax. From there I figured I would try one more direction to locate the Basin-Cascade Trail, and I was thrilled to find a pathway to this Trail, one of my favorites. The Basin Cascades Trail, slowly ascends with lots of roots and mud along the path. Throughout this trail there are many spots to walk over to the Cascade Brook, whether it be an official waterfall, or just gorgeous water flowing with spectacular views. Many of the time you could choose to climb up the rocks along the water before veering back to the trail. We found a cave like area after walking through the water and hung out for awhile, just perfect.

There were lots of water features to explore along the way and we did our best to visit every one. My favorite one was Kinsman Falls, a taller falls then many of the others along this trail. We made a steep hike down to get a bit closer for of course some selfies, pictures, and rock climbing. Shadow seemed a bit disappointed that he could not climb up-high, but enjoyed some sips while I got a little closer with Wilma. Just a spectacular site. We cautiously climbed back up to the Trail above the falls before continuing along the trail. Much of our time today was spent on the Basin-Cascade Trail. So beautiful and peaceful.

After spending almost four hours at this first location we drove to Echo Lake to make sure Shadow could get in an official mountain-lake swim before heading back home.

Some of my most memorable moments of the day included: watching Shadow enjoy constant fresh water swims, hearing the sounds of rushing water, finding a little cave area to relax, walking through the rushing water to get to desired locations, and the visual beauty of these special locations. I continually am impressed at eleven-year-old Shadow’s endurance, and appreciated seeing my recent training work with two-year-old Wilma in action today. I cannot put into words what these two amazing pups mean to me! The best company I could ask for!

If you would like to read more about our past visits to Echo Lake (Fraconia Notch State Park) and The Basin please search for them in the “search box” for more information on this Adventure. (On a mobile phone you can find this at the very bottom of the page, and on the computer you can find it to the right of the blog.)

A beautiful Adventure today in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, not a doubt we will be back (Rating: 5).

Throwback Adventure – Fraconia Falls – New Hampshire

I will have sections of my blog that I will title “Throwback Adventure”, and will plan on posting them every Thursday. These are journeys we have taken before I started the blog, but are well worth sharing. Many of these Throwback Adventures will include our Buster, who was known for his crazy tail, his happy howl, and his zest for life. We miss him dearly…he is forever in our hearts!

In October 2017 Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Fraconia Falls in the town of Lincoln, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The Falls is a series of cascades that is sourced from Fraconia Brook. Fraconia Falls is a popular area for swimming and sliding down the Falls.

We had a wonderful Adventure to Fraconia Falls on a gorgeous Fall day. The hike to Fraconia Falls begins at Lincoln Woods, one of my favorite hikes of the White Mountains. We were excited to journey on an extra long hike, all the way to the Falls. The trail turned left when we arrived at a scenic wooden bridge, right about where we noticed the sign leading us to Fraconia Falls. We decided to first traverse this bridge and view the Brook before turning around and heading on the trail to the Falls. We then began hiking along the trail which paralleled the Brook. We soon located a scenic area to stop, relax, and have a snack, such a peaceful oasis along the shore. After a restful break we continued on to the Falls. The Falls was simple, and unique in its own way. We posed for some photographs, standing on the rocky platform, and viewing the area off to the right. I actually wondered if it was the true Falls as I was expecting a much larger, and more elaborate natural creation. I still sometimes ponder this question but we did follow the sign and arrived at this Falls, so how could we be mistaken??

The Falls was our last stop before turning around to return to our car. We had spent the day wandering the trails of Lincoln Woods and exploring various spots along the way. Another perfect day in the White Mountains (Rating: Lincoln Woods: 5, Fraconia Falls: 3).

Below please enjoy some pictures from the Falls, the trail from the bridge, and one from right before the Falls trail. If you would like to read more and see photos about Lincoln Woods search for Lincoln Woods in the “search box” for more information. (On a mobile phone you can find this at the very bottom of the page, and on the computer you can find it to the right of the blog.)

June 2, 2019 – Garwin Falls – New Hampshire

**Update** – I reviewed the Wilton, New Hampshire Parks and Recreation website and Garwin Falls is currently closed to the public – glad we could visit before this the closure – please check with them before visiting to make sure you have current updates/information

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Garwin Falls in Wilton, New Hampshire. Garwin Falls is approximately forty feet tall and is part of the Wilton Reservoir. There is a short walk to get to the Falls that passes some smaller cascades and a dam. The parking lot for the Falls only has several spots, and there is no cost to park. Garwin Falls is located on private property, however remains open to the public.

We had a jaw-dropping Adventure to Garwin Falls. Amazingly this Falls is only about forty five minutes from my house yet I only recently discovered it online. I was thrilled to find a local waterfall and could not have been more impressed at the beautiful site. We began our walk parking at a very small parking lot, luckily, not arriving at a busy time. We traversed the simple and wide trail for a short time before arriving at several cascades. The cascades were small but lovely. We walked along the brook and found some sandy areas. Shadow and Wilma enjoyed some drinks of fresh water, and of course Shadow made sure to take a quick dip in the stream! We took our time exploring this simple spot, walking until we could see the dam up ahead. We then returned to the main trail to continue on our journey.

We walked for another short walk before arriving at the massive Garwin Falls. I could not believe the size of the Falls as I was not expecting to be impressed. The Falls was thunderously singing a sweet song as we wandered over to the edge of the Falls. We were able to walk right up to the edge, and of course I took numerous photographs. I was absolutely stunned at this magnificent creation, wide in size, tall in height, and perfect in melody. We stared for some time, before talking along the edge of the brook. Agile Wilma jumping along, while Shadow a bit unsteady on the uneven surface. I attempted to balance across on a log, but was not able to get Shadow to follow so Wilma and I crossed to take a couple photographs before balancing back across. We took are time at this breathtaking location, pleased to only see several visitors who were all leaving when we had arrived.

On the way back to the car we wandered off the trail several times to explore the brook and upper cascades. We viewed the dam from below and atop, quite grotesquely plastered with graphity. Not what you expect to find in such a serene and natural environment, however we did not let this deter us from a fantastic visit to the Falls.

Garwin Falls was definitely one of the most picturesque waterfalls I have ever seen. We will be back again to visit this spectacular site (Rating: Waterfall: 5).

Throwback Adventure – Rye Beach – New Hampshire

In April 2015 Shadow, Buster and I Adventured to Rye, New Hampshire to explore a dog friendly Beach. Although I am not sure specifically which beach this is I know it was in Rye, New Hampshire, somewhere along 1A. (I do not believe it was labeled when we visited). Rye New Hampshire is a coastal town in southern New Hampshire. It is home to the largest coastline in New Hampshire.

We had a sunny Adventure to the Beach in Rye, back on April 12, 2015. The beach was very rocky, with tidal areas to explore. We were able to find some sand areas to sun-bathe and enjoy the day. It was our last stop on a busy day and we were happy to relax and enjoy the breeze. It was fun looking at photographs from this outing reminiscing about yet another Adventure we had with Buster. So glad he was able to have lots of travels! We will definitely have to visit Rye again in the future.

Throwback Adventure – Chesterfield Gorge Nature Area- New Hampshire

Back in October of 2015 Shadow, Buster, and I Adventured to the Chesterfield Gorge Nature Area in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, also referred to as the Chesterfield Gorge State Wayside. This Area is a small state park at just 13 acres that features the Wilde Brook, a trail, and a rocky gorge with waterfalls. There are picnic tables and a visitor center that is open in season.

We had a fun Adventure to the Chesterfield Gorge. As you may have heard my Throwback memory is not as detailed as I would hope. However, I remember finding the location almost to ourselves. We began following a trail along the River, and ended up finding us to a scenic little bridge, where I was able to take one of my many, all-time favorite photos of Shadow and Buster. The Gorge was simple, but tall, fenced off in several areas, and although I guess this was for safety, it really interfered with the true nature experience. I believe the trail looped around in almost a “u” shape with some up and down climbing alone the way. It was a short walk but we certainly took our time enjoying the great outdoors. We found different spots to sit and relax, the boys enjoying many sips and dips in the River. Definitely a wonderful Fall day at the Chesterfield Gorge. I have include a quite amateur sideways video at the bottom, but it gives you a good visual of the main gorge-waterfall. I do hope to be back to visit the Chesterfield Gorge.

April 16, 2019 – The Meredith Sculpture Walk – New Hampshire

GToday Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to The Meredith Sculpture Walk in Meredith, New Hampshire. The sculpture walk is an exhibit of sculptures place throughout the town of Meredith. The sculptures are created from artists in the Northeast and are located in areas including: Main Street, The Mill Falls Marketplace, and along Lake Winnipesaukee in Hesky and Scenic Parks. There are 32 sculptures along the walk. The sculptures are changed over time.

We had an educational Adventure to The Meredith Sculpture Walk in Meredith, New Hampshire. I was feeling uncreative this morning pondering where to take an Adventure and was quite pleased when I located the Meredith Sculpture Walk in an online search. There was a map available online, so our journey was set! Upon arrival I was thrilled stumble on a brochure of the walk that included photos and information on the sculptures almost right where we parked. This was so helpful as trying to use a phone for a map, and photos would have been a cumbersome feat.

The sculpture walk started on Main Street, soon weaving through a cobblestone store area, and crossing over the main road before beginning a walk along Lake Winnipesaukee, scenic mountains framing the Lake. The structures were overall very clear to find, and the photos on the map really helped you to spot which one was next. I posed Shadow and Wilma by many of the statues. Wilma had entertaining moments with the sculptures, in some cases being nervous, while in one case even appearing to believe statue was a real person, so excited to greet “Archie”. Shadow, having seen it all before, appeared to enjoy the walk and smells along the way, even enjoying his happy rolls. I felt like a kid again, almost like a mystery to find each and every statue. There was only one that we had trouble, but in the end located all 32. And of course, as you may guess my favorite sculptures were the animals!

There were so many lovely parts to this walk besides the structures themselves. We wandered across an adorable blue bridge, and docks throughout. There were ducks along the way, benches, and some beautiful birth trees. There were beautiful flower buds about to burst, winding trails through the park, and lovely landscaping. We even found a man-made waterfall, and an over-sized patio chair, creating quite the photo opportunities.

This Adventure was just perfect, on a beautiful spring day. I could not have been happier to find this amazing walk, and have a special Adventure with my Shadow and Wilma. Not only did we love The Meredith Sculpture Park, but were so pleased to learn more about the waterfront town of Meredith. We highly recommend you visit The Meredith Sculpture Park (Rating: 5).

Throwback Adventure – Glen Ellis Falls – New Hampshire

In October 2016 Shadow, Buster, My Mom and I Adventured to Glen Ellis Falls in Jackson, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Glen Ellis Falls is approximately sixty feet in height and is located on the Ellis River. It is one of the more popular waterfalls of the White Mountains.

We had a magnificent Adventure to Glen Ellis Falls on a gorgeous Fall day. The beginning of the walk started under a tunnel and then followed the River before arriving at a lovely scenic spot with beautiful Fall foliage. We were quite pleased to have a visitor take a photo of the four of us at this formal lookout. From there we followed many stairs down to the base of the Glen Ellis Falls. The waterfall was tall and powerful, and just perfect! It was difficult to photograph the Falls as there were many visitors, however we waited our turn to get up close and personal. We sat for a bit near the falls, enjoying the mist on our skin, and handsome fur!

After spending some time under the falls we decided to explore the upper level. My Mom first hiked up to the top stairs to check out the views, while Buster and I then took a turn while Shadow hung out with Mom. It was fun to see the waterfall from a different angle, but nothing compared to the main view below. As you may know if you are a follower October 2016 was the last month we would have our dear Buster, creating extra special memories of each and every Adventure on this weekend.

Glen Ellis Falls is definitely a place we look forward to exploring again in the future. Really just perfect! I definitely recommend that you visit on your own to see this special Falls.

Throwback Adventure – Packard Hill Covered Bridge – New Hampshire

In October 2016 Buster, Shadow, and I Adventured to the Packard Hill Bridge in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The Packard Hill Covered Bridge was built in 1991 and spans the Mascoma River.

We had a lovely Fall Adventure to the Packard Hill Covered Bridge on a day full of Adventures. One of my many favorite photographs of Buster and Shadow came on this day, both regally posing while surrounded by gorgeous fall foliage, and a scenic New England Bridge. We wandered down to the water below to explore, and weee pleased to see leaves in the water, one of my favorite autumn scenes. So glad we could visit the Packard Hill Covered Bridge.

Lebanon Buster and Shadow

March 9, 2019 – Beaver Brook Association – New Hampshire

Yesterday Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to the Beaver Brook Association’s land in Hollis, New Hampshire. This is a spot we have ventured to numerous times. The Beaver Brook Association is a nature education center and conservation area made up of 2,187 acres of land. There are over 35 miles of trails, and conservation programs for all ages. They also have themed gardens, and a demonstration compost.

We had a peaceful Adventure to Beaver Brook, a conservation area we really do enjoy. It was nice to get an early start, the sun streaming through the snow-filled forest. We have been to this lovely area many times, and in every season. Although we have not had much snow this winter, I have found this area to be especially nice when the snow is high, as there are many groomed trails providing easy access.

One of my favorite trails to walk is the Beaver Brook Trail which highlights unique bridges and boardwalks, streams and the Spatterdock Pond. Tending to be a creature of habit I often find myself on the same trail, although sometimes exploring additional paths when planning a longer hike. Yesterday was no exception as we traversed our favorite hike. We did not see any visitors on this trail, except for one mountain biker along the way. On one occasion we decided to venture onto the pond, which seemed to add some bounce to Wilma and Shadow’s step. I guess they knew it was a venture from the norm.

The Beaver Brook land has really been fun to explore in all seasons. Highlights in other seasons have included swims for the pups, lots of relaxing, and great chewing sticks along the way. So glad to have special memories with all three of my pups. Today was another wonderful visit to the Beaver Brook Association. Below you see a collage from some of our many visits. So glad to enjoy another winter hike in the snow (Rating: 4)

Throwback Adventure – Boise Rock – New Hampshire

In October 2016 Buster, Shadow, My Mom, and I Adventured to Boise Rock in the Fraconia Notch State Park in the White Mountains. Boise Rock is a glacial erratic, which has lovely surrounding views of the Canon Cliff. It was named for Thomas Boise who took shelter under the rock after being caught up in a snow storm.

We had a memorable Adventure to Boise Rock on a lovely Fall Day. As you may know if you follow our blog that during this time we knew Buster would not be with us much longer, facing a terminal tumor. Therefore we took every moment on this special trip to create memories, photos, and fun times. So why not climb a large rock with an almost 95 pounds large dog?! That is exactly what we did, as Shadow and Mom watched from below. It was a fun and unique experience as unlike Wilma Shadow is not, and Buster was not rock boys. We somehow managed to get up on the rock and climbed higher and higher. It was an interesting photo shoot that I will remember forever. A beautiful Fall day in the Mountains with my boys, and My Mom.