October
7 Pawtuckaway State Park
What an amazing day it has been. I got an early start this morning shooting
the mist on the water then headed out on the Kangamangus. It is New Hampshire’s version of our Icefield Parkway only with high hills
covered in color rather than snow. On a
map it is only a 2 hour drive but after that time I hadn’t made it a quarter of
the way. There are pull outs everywhere
and each of them worth a stop. It was a
beautiful warm day and the colours were at their peak, in fact the trees on the
top of the highest ridges had already lost most of their leaves. The traffic was ok but this weekend it will
be bumper to bumper. I am grateful I
could do it now. After reaching the
summit it is a long coast down for what feels like forever. The trees on either side hug the road and
created a warm filter. My trusty
sunglasses just made the natural colours look garish.
I met up with Chris and Quin at her dentist’s
near lake Winnipesaukee. So happy to see them.
After her check up he guided me to his favourite campground and it is so
beautiful it is going to be my favourite as well. We checked in, set up Strider then went to
dinner in town. Afterwards Chris drove
me back to the park. I think he wanted
to make sure I was set up ‘proper’. He
prepared hot chocolate and the three of us sat on the edge of the lake watched
the stars come out and made wishes. A
perfect end to a wonderful day.
Day
2
Was just as good. I continue my winning problem solving
streak. In the big storm the bicycle
chain got wet and rusty. I have been
worried about whether I could ride with it like that. I remembered my high tech lithium spray and
tried it on the chain. It worked
perfectly. I went for a long bike ride
through the park. It was great biking
weather sunny, perfect temperature, lots of ups and downs. I stopped in at the office to pay for another
night and they told me about a place that rents kayaks and will deliver and
pick up to my site. I called and sure
enough they would do it for $50. While I
waited I thought I would try the Lithium spray on the duct tape residue and it
worked tickety boo. I finished just as
the kayak
arrived.
arrived.
The guy delivering it has a son in Alberta
and a sad story to go with it. He was
very sweet and helpful. I thought I
would just go around the islands in my bay but it felt so easy I went under the
bridge and paddled around the islands in the next two coves. It was so smooth and effortless I almost forgot
how to find my way back home. I stopped
for half an hour for tea then went out again until til dusk. I saw Cormorants,
an Osprey and two loons who weren’t at all afraid and came quite close to my
kayak. There were several other kayakers
and all of us happy to be out on the water.
After I got back I went for a walk to find sunset shots and stay warm.
When the sun goes down it cools off quickly.
Not wanting to miss a moment of my last night on this part of my trip in
the van I wrapped myself up in my down quilt, sat beside the lake and watched
the stars come out.
October
9 Chelmsford
I can hardly believe it has been six weeks
since Strider and I set out together. He
has done well by me. We have put on
almost 9,000 km, definitely not as the crow flies. He needs a good cleaning, check up and oil
change. We will winterize him before
being put to rest in a safe place until the spring.
I won’t be posting while I am with the family.
I am going to Cape Cod for a couple of
days and will post images then and again when I’m in Washington DC learning
how government works (or doesn’t). I think it will be a really interesting time to be there.
Chris, Amy and Quin
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