Wild World of NH

June 21st, 2004 · No Comments

Dad and I spent a great weekend in New Hampshire, at the Swensons’ place in North Conway on Friday, up on Mt. Washington for the race on Saturday, and at their cottage in Maine Saturday night. Sunday found us driving blind through the small towns of Maine towards Portland, along the coast for antiques and used books, and out to Hampton Beach for photo booths and a look at the other way to spend summer in New Hampshire, with “FryDoe,” slushees, and sand sculptures.

The drive up on Friday night was a little better than last year, though it was still stop and go most of the way to the border. After Dad registered for the race, we dined at The Red Fox restaurant, home of great pizza and 20 oz. Tuckerman Beer. The next morning, the weather wasn’t too promising, but looked passable at the base of the mountain as I dropped Dad off, picked up “Auto” tickets from two runners from Rhode Island whom I would drive down after the race, and headed up the mountain. Visibility quickly shrank in the fog, and by the time I got to the top, I really couldn’t see the car in front of me.

nc_fog.jpg

After an hour spent listening to Doves’ Lost Sides on repeat while reading the June Music Issue of The Believer, I got out of the car, got some chili at the mountain house, talked to Aimee, and waited for Dad to come up the last hill. I was getting some footage with the video camera and didn’t even see him in the fog until he was right up next to me. I cheered him on, and caught up with him at the top just as he crossed the line.

When we headed down the mountain, it was all sunshine and blue skies, a far cry from the fog, wind, and rain just a few miles up the mountain.

nc_start.jpg

As we left, we ran into the benevolent twin of the Laconia Biker Mob, Minis on Top 2004, which consisted of about a 100 Minis with various paint jobs and vanity plates, streaming up toward the mountain. Made me want to be a part of an owner’s group like that, one day.

nc_minis.jpg

We had a great meal and a relaxing evening out at the Swensons’ cottage on the lake in Maine, and they’d made some wonderful improvements since Aimee and I were there last summer. The whole place looks great, and the second floor and balcony make a great addition. We had fun throwing sticks and frisbees with Lily, and were treated to an incredibly windy storm that blew threw in the middle of the night.

nc_dad_cottage.jpg

Sunday morning, as Steve set off on a day-long bike trip with friends, Dad and I headed through Steep Falls, Goshen, and a bunch of other small towns in between Fryeburg and Portland.

nc_rock.jpg

We proceeded to hit all of the requisite antique and book stores in Wells and Ogunquit, with a stop for lunch at the Maine Diner, and then made a brief stop in the insane world that is Hampton Beach on a sunny Sunday afternoon. We took some Father’s Day photo booth shots in the three photo and four photo machines at Playland Arcade; their third photo booth was out of order. On the beach itself, we noted the presence of not one but two Reagan sand sculptures, among the other more abstract and strange creations on display.

nc_sand.jpg

We met Aimee once we were back in town and had a delicious meal at Tu Y Yo (mmm…. Tinga Poblana). It was a great visit. Dad took off this afternoon, but it’s nice to know we’ll see them both when Aimee and I head to Alaska in less than two weeks.

Tags: Travel