Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! – Psalm 107:1
This is the day we drove through the White Mountains of New Hampshire and Green Mountains of Vermont. We were probably one week early for peak color, but it is also beautiful now. God granted us a beautiful sunny clear day to enjoy the wonders of His creation!
North Conway, New Hampshire
North Conway, New Hampshire is a ski resort town in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. This McDonald’s really gets into the ski resort theme! These ski lifts are booths.Saco River Valley, North Conway, New Hampshire
White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire
White Mountain National Forest entrance.We drove the length of the Kancamagus Highway, famed for its fall scenes.We saw many Moose Crossing signs all over Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and upstate New York. Do you think we saw any moose? Mooses?River scene. (No moose sighted.)New Albany River Covered Bridge. Lower Falls (No moose.)Highway scene. Colorful highway scene. (No moose.)Sugar Hill Overlook. (No moose.)Zoom in at Sugar Hill Overlook.Wider view of Sugar Hill Overlook.Lily Pond. Hmm. What’s that? Do I smell a moose?Ahh! A moose WAS here! But this is all we saw of a moose on our whole trip – moose scat! Pemigewasset Overlook.Another scene.Hancock Overlook.This is why New Hampshire is called “The Granite State”.Another example.Color in New Hampshire.More New Hampshire trees.
Littleton, New Hampshire
Renaissance Mills, Littleton, New Hampshire.Covered bridge, Littleton, New Hampshire.
Vermont
Vermont vista.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. –Psalm 19:1
Vermont lake
For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies. Christ, our Lord, to you we raise this, our hymn of grateful praise.
White River scene.
Vermont State House, Montpelier, Vermont
Vermont State House, Montpelier, Vermont I was not able to see the inside of the dome because this building has no rotunda – just wood supports inside the dome.Statue of Ethan Allen at the Vermont State House. Ethan Allen was an American Patriot. He was instrumental in helping American General Benedict Arnold (before Arnold turned traitor) capture Fort Ticonderoga in the Revolutionary War. He was also one of the founders of the state of Vermont. He was also a bit of a wild character – worth a little study if you have time!Vermont House Chamber.Vermont Senate Chamber.
Birthplace, Home and Grave of President Calvin Coolidge, Plymouth, Vermont
President Calvin Coolidge Historic Site, Plymouth, Vermont. Coolidge is one of my favorite presidents. He was our 30th president, and was the only president to be born on the 4th of July (1872). Coolidge was faithful to the US Constitution during his term; he refused to use government intervention to “correct” a downturn in the economy, much to the displeasure of the progressives. He was a very straight arrow, no-nonsense person. He was especially known to use an economy of words. It was reported that while at a Washington social event during Coolidge’s presidency (1923-1929), a news reporter approached the president and told him that he had bet another reporter that he would be able to get the president to say more than two words, to which Coolidge replied “You lose”.Calvin Coolidge was born here, in a back room of the General Store. This is the actual room where Calvin Coolidge was born.This was Calvin Coolidge’s bedroom. There are two pairs of his shoes next to the dresser on the far wall.Although he was a Vermont native, Coolidge went to college in Massachusetts and stayed there, eventually serving as Governor. He was President Warren Harding’s Vice President from 1921-1923, until Harding died. At the time Harding died, Coolidge was visiting his father here in Plymouth. His father, a notary public, administered the presidential oath of office to his son in this room, using the Bible on the table in the center of the room.Calvin’s father operated the Plymouth Cheese Corp. here. His father also was involved in just about every activity in this small village, which is mostly as it was when Calvin Coolidge was growing up here. Official portrait of President Calvin Coolidge. The Coolidge Home in Plymouth. The entire village of Plymouth was a tour – the general store, old school house, Coolidge home, the cheese company, and a few others. It was actually a much better tour than I expected. The self-guided tour of the Coolidge home was really neat. It is a well preserved example of the simple American rural life back in the late 1800s. There are more pictures in the Presidents page for Coolidge.President Coolidge used to relax on this front porch. Now, so have I!President Calvin Coolidge’s grave.Echo Lake, near PlymouthGreen Mountain Sugar House, Ludlow, Vermont There are “sugar houses” all over Vermont selling all varieties of maple syrup and all kinds of products that use maple. We sampled different varieties (light, medium and dark) of real maple syrup. The farm supplying this store is only a mile away.This is a Maple Creemee, and it is difficult to adequately describe how delicious this item is! Think Carl’s, with a strong maple flavor. Delicious!Vermont Green Mountain scene.On the road in Vermont.
Bennington, Vermont
Silk Road Covered Bridge, Bennington, Vermont.Bennington Battle MonumentStatue of Brigadier General John Stark, victorious commander of the Patriots in the Battle of Bennington, 1777. His famous quote to his soldiers: “There they are boys! We beat them today or Molly Stark sleeps a widow tonight!”Statue of Colonel Seth Warner, whose Green Mountain Boys turned back the British reinforcements in August 1777 after the first group had been defeated. His actions saved the Patriot stores at Bennington, crippling British General Burgoyne’s march, and established the turning point of the Revolutionary War. The victory denied Burgoyne much-needed supplies, and was a major contributing factor to the British surrender at the Battle of Saratoga a couple months later in October 1777. It also helped convince the French to join the war to help the Patriots. This victory reverberated throughout America, convincing the Patriots that they could indeed defeat the mighty British military.Well look here! Mary Jean finally found her moose! I don’t know what the deal is around here, but in Vermont and central New York, they have painted animals like this all over!Red in Bennington.
Dinner in Bennington, Vermont
Dinner in the beautiful Green Mountains.The Publyk HouseColorful pumpkinsThis is the view from the restaurant. The Green Mountains, and the Bennington Battle Monument.Sunset over the Green Mountains. Dining with a view indeed!Salad and bread, with Maple butter, of course!Steak Medallions for her.Steak Medallions for him.
