New England 2018 - Family, food and fall colors

I am not certain whose brilliant idea it was to fly to New Hampshire to see the fall colors, but I'm going to take a leap and take credit for it.  Then, I must give many thanks to Jeannie and George for being the most gracious hosts, and excellent tour guides. It could never have been as much fun to visit New England without them.


I would be remiss not to admit that enjoying some fresh New England seafood was part of the plan...

Our favorite restaurant "Casa Buzuvis" 

This magnificent lobster was presented to us with expert instructions from Katie so we would enjoy every scrumptious bite. Just writing about this and seeing these pictures is mouth watering.

An example of numerous seafood meals enjoyed as we toured New England

Fun Lobster Facts!

The State House in Concord, New Hampshire

Jim, hanging with "his President". 
Please, don't judge.

Jeannie and me, proudly hanging with Daniel Webster (former Secretary of State), our elementary school alma mater's namesake.

Blacksmith Shop Bridge

Dingleton Hill Covered Bridge

There is no shortage of covered bridges in New England. Just a few of Sullivan County's bridges.

Sisters! (on Mill Bridge)

The Cornish Windsor Bridge, one of the longest
covered bridges in the world!

Blow-me-down Covered Bridge

Our quest for colorful foliage took us upon the scenic 

Kancamagus Highway.

The Swift River

Our hosts, George and Jeannie

Leaf-peepers!

Click on the pictures to enlarge these videos of Avalanche Falls and Table Rock Falls.

             Hiking "The Flume"

The Flume Covered Bridge

 Mount Washington Resort

In 1944, the U.S. Government requested the use of this hotel for an international gathering of financiers from 44 countries and hosted the now-famous Bretton Woods International Monetary Conference. The Conference organized a World Bank and International Monetary Fund, setting the price of gold at $35 an ounce, and chose the American dollar as the standard of international exchange.

The conference room, where this all happened.

Yet another great road trip, viewing picturesque lighthouses and hiking the Marginal Way. 

The Nubble Lighthouse (under construction)

Portland Head Light @ Cape Elizabeth

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse at Fort Constitution

The Marginal Way

The "Bush Compound" in Kennebunkport, Maine

On board! For another perspective, we went on a boat tour of beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee.

Wrapping up a fun-filled visit with Jeannie and George.

It was time to visit more family, so we rented a car to drive to Rimersburg, Pennsylvania, and along the way found more covered bridges in Keen County, New Hampshire.

The Carlton Bridge

Slate Covered Bridge

Coombs Covered Bridge

The Thompson Bridge

Cresson Covered Bridge

Traveling through Ithaca, New York, we visited the Finger Lakes area to see these beautiful waterfalls.

Ithaca Falls

The Lower Falls at Taughannock Falls State Park

Taughannock Falls

Buttermilk Falls

The Lower Falls at Robert H Treman State Park

Just in case we had not seen enough bridges and waterfalls,
Mike and Kate took us to visit nearby
McConnells Mill State Park.

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The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park

During our stay in Holbrook, Arizona we visited Petrified Forest National Park and The Painted Desert.

Views of the Painted Desert.

The Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corp.

Painted glass ceiling tiles in the inn.

Petroglyphs viewed at Newspaper Rock.

Agate Bridge

Fossilized tree trunks viewed at Rainbow Forest Museum.

Old Faithful, almost 10 feet across it's base.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Halfway between Blanding, Utah and Holbrook, Arizona, we park our RV to tour the south rim of Canyon De Chelly.  Canyon De Chelly National Monument was established in 1931 to preserve a record of human history that has existed here for nearly 5,000 years. The Navajo Indians continue to live on this 84,000 acre reservation today.

Tunnel Overlook

White House Overlook

Junction Overlook

Face Rock Overlook

Spider Rock

Natural Bridges National Monument

Traveling from Halls Crossing to Blanding, Utah we pass by Natural Bridges National Monument. Although we have visited in the past, we pay one last visit to view three natural bridges that became the foundation of Utah's first national park in 1908.

Sipapu Bridge is 220 feet high and spans 268 feet.

Kachina Bridge is 210 feet high and spans 204 feet.

Owachomo Bridge is 106 feet high and spans 180 feet.

Lake Powell, Utah

Highway 95's scenic drive along our way to Lake Powell.

We are curious to see the Utah side of Lake Powell, and decide to camp in Halls Crossing, part of the Glen Canyon Recreation Area.

Just the smallest view of Lake Powell from our campground. Lake Powell is a reservoir on the Colorado River, that straddles the border between Utah and Arizona. Currently larger than Lake Mead, this beautiful lake has a shore line of 1,900 miles.

Feeling small as we search for Lost Eden Canyon.

Is that a buoy I see?

Yes!!

Press play for video of Lost Eden Canyon

Lost Eden Canyon

Goblin Valley State Park, Utah

Temple Mountain viewed from Goblin Valley.

Slot canyon, hiking Little Wild Horse Canyon.

Hiking through Goblin Valley State Park (also known as Mushroom Valley) is surreal!

The goblins are made of Entrada sandstone and show evidence of having been near an ancient sea.

Rare sighting of wildlife in the valley.

The Three Sisters, or one might call them Sharril, Jeanne, and Joyce and little brother Scott.