Twin Mountain, New Hampshire

Hallelujah! The weather is perfect...warm, sunny days and cool, brisk nights...and all free of precipitation! The Rig is right out in the sunshine. We're done with shade trees and pitch. There is that matter of all the water when we left Bennington. Al has a theory...time will tell.

Mountains surround the RV Park and we can see Mt. Washington and the smoke from the Cog Steam Engine as it chugs up the hill. We opted for the easy way up and rode the Cog to the top. The myth about being "mooned" by a hiker is NOT myth...very much the truth! It is pretty busy up there: Nat'l Weather Station, Museum, Cafe, Gift Shop, shuttle busses, cars, AT thru-hikers, day hikers. What a ride straight up the side of the mountain. The incline is such that the trees look like they are leaning. It was a beautiful, clear, warm day at the summit defying the norm of cold, gusty winds.

As the AT is steep, winding and arduous in The Whites, we encountered Adrienne a number of times as her long mileage per day became seriously decreased to allow safe navigation of the terrain and enjoy the awesome beauty along the way. Her hiking buddy has joined her to finish the trek, and it appears he has given her renewed enthusiasm. They are both incredible!

Franconia Notch is a hikers dream...and can be a dangerous nightmare. On a lovely, holiday weekend, we hiked the Falling Waters Trail intending to stop at the 3rd waterfall. Others, however, were continuing to climb even though "it wasn't recommended." The trail, now called "Agony Trail", would eventually join the AT on Franconia Ridge. So, after lingering over a late lunch, even though it was too late in the day, we continued to climb.
Understand that Al is "MODERATELY to extremely" hindered by my less than skilled climbing. We stopped short of the Ridge at Shining Rock, a huge sheer rock side of the mountain, to allow this not-to-surefooted climber (who didn't get up early enough so we could start earlier so we could make it to the top before darkness threatened) to descend before dark.

I redeemed myself on the bike trail from the Flume to Cannon Mtn. Thinking we could outdo our friends Bob and Susan Biker, we opted to ride both ways. It was a tough 10 miles up. Did I say tough? Last gear tough! There must have been a downhill somewhere because the return had some big uphills as well. :) Passing by The Basin was a photo op and a good excuse to rest. What a ride to the bottom!

We hiked some in Crawford Notch and Pinkham Notch. One week turned into two and could have been longer...but the season is marching on...and our chariot will turn into a frozen pumpkin if we overstay our welcome in New England!

We glimsed a couple of moose after many evenings of searching and saw many flocks of turkey.

Al continues to LOVE his truck and pressed me into service washing and waxing it...for the 2nd time! It's about a mile around the thing. :)

Whew! I've been rather long on words tonite. Kingfield, ME is circled on the map. We're so excited to see Josh... and our Maine buddies...and eat some lobster!