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2026 Fall New England Trip #5 – Castles, Historic Towns and Festivals

Castle in the Clouds

Part of the National Historic Landmark Lucknow Estate, the property is home to the 1913-1914 Lucknow Mansion, the premier historical museum in the beautiful Lakes Region of New Hampshire. The 6,300-acre estate provides one of the most stunning views of New Hampshire’s largest lake (Lake Winnipesaukee) and surrounding mountains. We enjoyed a self-guided tour of the mansion, learning about everything from the original furnishings and vintage clothing to innovative features that were unheard of at the time, such as a central vacuuming system, ammonia refrigeration, and needle showers. You can also spend time walking or hiking 28 miles of trails maintained by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, weaving along brooks, streams, and waterfalls. We hiked the Brook Walk with its 7 waterfalls.

The Brook Walk – 7 Waterfall Trail

East Wakefield NH

It’s a small, unincorporated community in the town of Wakefield in Carroll County, near the Maine border. It is known for its lakes and ponds, including Pine River Pond, Balch Pond, Ivanhoe Pond, and nearby Province Lake, making it a popular area for boating, fishing, and summer cottages. We spent several days visiting a relative who is a town selectman and a great tour guide.

Strawbery Banke Museum

In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Strawbery Banke Museum is one of the area’s best attractions. It’s a 10-acre history museum that preserves the historic Puddle Dock neighborhood and tells more than 350 years of local history through restored homes, gardens, exhibits, and costumed interpreters. Highlights include Historic houses from different time periods, many on their original sites; heirloom gardens and landscaped grounds; exhibits covering colonial life, the American Revolution, immigration, and 20th-century Portsmouth; and Interactive demonstrations and costumed role-players who bring the neighborhood’s history to life.

Deerfield Fair

The Deerfield Fair in Deerfield, New Hampshire, is one of New England’s premier agricultural fairs and promotes itself as New England’s Oldest Family Fair, with attendance of over 100,000. Highlights include Livestock and agricultural exhibits, Horse and oxen competitions, Carnival rides and midway games, Food vendors and traditional fair foods, Live entertainment and demonstrations, and Craft, photography, gardening, and baking competitions.

October 18, 2026 2

2026 Fall New England Trip #4 – Tracking Covered Bridges and Waterfalls – Continued

Bartlett Covered Bridge

The historic Bartlett Covered Bridge, which spans the Saco River. Built in 1850, the bridge is 183 feet long with single-span, paddleford-type construction. The span was strengthened for vehicular traffic by the addition of a pair of laminated wooden arches in the 1920’s. This bridge carried traffic travelling on Route 302 over the Saco River for more than 80 years until it was replaced by the steel bridge in 1939.

Jackson Bridge (Honeymoon Bridge)

Honeymoon Bridge is a wooden covered bridge in Jackson, New Hampshire, spanning the Ellis River in Jackson Village. Built in 1876 by Charles Austin Broughton and his son Frank, the 121-foot Paddleford truss structure is designated Covered Bridge No. 51 and earned its “Honeymoon” name from a local tradition of couples kissing beneath it.

Glen Ellis Falls

This stunning, 64′ waterfall is one not to miss. Located along the Ellis River in the White Mountain National Forest, this waterfall is only a hop, skip, and a jump from the parking lot on Route 16. The walk in is 0.4 miles along the wooded trail, with a few steps to navigate once you are at the falls.

Jackson Falls

Jackson Falls is an iconic series of broad Wildcat Brook ledges and small pools that cascade right through Jackson village on NH 16B. The main stop is at the roadside pull-offs along NH 16B just above Jackson Square.

Diana’s Baths

Diana’s Baths is a series of small waterfalls and pools located in the White Mountain National Forest off West Side Road in North Conway. Multiple spots let you wade on hot days and take inspiring photos. The falls’ appeal is even greater because they’re so accessible. One only has to hike a ½ mile on an ADA-approved gravel surface to see them. This is an iconic Mt. Washington Valley cascade.

Swift River Covered Bridge

Swift River Bridge is a 19th-century covered bridge in Conway, New Hampshire, spanning the Swift River on a bypassed section of West Side Road near Conway Village. Built in 1870 by Jacob E. Berry and his son Jacob H. Berry, the single-span structure uses a Paddleford truss with a supplemental arch and measures about 129 feet in length.

Saco River Covered Bridge

Saco River Covered Bridge is a 19th-century covered wooden bridge in Conway Village in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, spanning the Saco River just north of Route 16. Built in 1890 as a two-span Paddleford truss with arch reinforcement, the roughly 225-foot structure was rehabilitated in the late 1980s and is recognized among the state’s best historic covered bridges.

October 11, 2026 0

Europe 2026 – Day 2, Montreux, Switzerland

The tour company provided us with a free morning to get over jet lag – we got about 11 hours of sleep and were up for a 9:00 am breakfast overlooking the lake. We decided to tour old town Montreux, which was an uphill hike for an exhilarating start. We wandered through the winding streets enjoying the buildings, fountains, and views. At the top of our climb, we visited the church of St. Vincent with spectacular views across the lake. Walking downhill, we passed beautiful residences and hotels all with lake views. A stop at the must-see Freddie Mercury Experience at the Casino Barrière Montreux. The museum highlights his shows, music notes, and a recording studio.

In the afternoon, the tour restarted with a bus ride to Vevey to see the Chari Chapman statue and a lake cruise to the Chillon Castle. Chillon Castle is a medieval island castle located on Lake Geneva, south of Veytaux in the Swiss canton of Vaud. It is situated at the eastern end of the lake, on the narrow shore between Montreux and Villeneuve, which gives access to the Alpine valley of the Rhône. The rocky island on which the castle sits was both a form of natural protection and a strategic position to control passage from the north to the south of Europe. The castle took on the oval shape of the genuine island upon which it was built. It is approximately 100m long and 50m wide. It also took its name from the rock; the word ‘Chillon’ meant ‘rocky platform’ in an ancient language.

The history of the castle is marked by three great periods: those of the Savoy family, the Bernese bailiffs and the Canton of Vaud. (see https://www.chillon.ch/en/castle/) For more info.

Our local tour guide provided great background on the life cycle of the Castle, the dungeons, wine cellar, dining rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms.

We bused back to our hotel, refreshed, and headed out to dinner at All’ Angolo – a great outdoor dining experience – limoncello spritz, burratina salad and pinse – made of wheat, soy and rice flour (a lite flatbread). Of course, served with a Petit Verdot and a Limoncello aperitif. Then a pleasant walk back to our hotel just in time to miss a full sunset.

Chillon Castle

Vevey

Montreux Citi Views

August 8, 2026 1

Japan Tour 2025 Day #14

Started with a morning walk around Lake Kinrin a place of scenic beauty representative of the town of Yufuin. It’s a small lake with a perimeter of about 400 meters. With all the water gushing out from the bottom of the lake and mountains the lake is replaced 2 and a half times a day. It was a cloudy day but we did see some of the noted mist off the water but no reflections could be found. One complaint the town of Yufuin is quaint shopping town but the tour made a mistake having us here for 3 hours.

The hot springs system Hells of Beppu is a nationally designated “Place of Beauty” in the onsen town of Beppu. The “hells” or “jigoku” in Japanese are for viewing rather than bathing. Five of the 7 hells are centrally located. The boiling clay of (blood lake) and the blue lake ( sea hell) are beautiful. Can’t forget the mud pots – they’re clearly not as good as Yellowstone.

Takasakiyama Monkey Park – a monkey reserve at the base of Mt. Takasaki, a 628-meter-high mountain. The mountain is home to some 1500 wild. Japanese macaques that roam freely around its steep, forested slopes. The monkeys are divided into to troops of 700 to 800 individuals. The troops take turns coming down to the monkey park, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

April 6, 2025 0

February 2025 – A Good Hiking Month

I purchased a new camera and decide to do some hikes to try to learn it and hopefully improve my photography skills.

The Bluffton Interpretive Trail is a 1.2-mile loop located in the Lake George State Forest near Astor, Florida. It’s an easy trail, and is perfect for birding, camping, and fishing. The trail is open year-round and offers a peaceful experience with minimal crowds. However, dogs aren’t allowed on this trail. The trail features interpretive markers that provide insights into the area’s natural and historical significance. There’s also a boardwalk leading to a fishing pier.

De Leon Springs State Park, located in De Leon Springs, FL, is a destination with over 6,000 years of cultural and natural history. The park features a recreational swimming area with crystal-clear 72-degree spring water, trails through lush subtropical forests, and a fascinating history tied to the Mayaca Indians and early settlers. Unfortunately do to recent hurricanes the main trails were only partially open but still enjoyable. The park also offers a unique experience at the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House, where you can make your own pancakes at the table.

Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve is a natural area located in Port Orange, Florida. It spans over 1,600 acres and offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, kayaking, birdwatching, and fishing. The preserve is named after Doris Leeper, an artist and environmentalist who played a significant role in its conservation. One of the highlights of the park is the 536-foot-long boardwalk that leads to an observation tower, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding wetlands and Spruce Creek. There are also several trails, such as the Creekside Trail and the Spruce Creek Trail, which showcase the area’s diverse ecosystems.

Welaka State Forest, located in northeastern Florida along the east bank of the St. Johns River, is a beautiful natural area offering a variety of outdoor activities. It spans over 2,287 acres and features diverse ecosystems, including river swamps, pine flatwoods, and sandhills. Visitors can enjoy hiking, birdwatching, fishing, and even horseback riding, as the forest includes an equestrian campground with facilities. One of the highlights is Mud Spring, which flows clear spring water into a half-mile spring run that connects to the St. Johns River. The forest also has over four miles of river frontage, providing scenic views and opportunities for wildlife observation.

Looking forward to our next adventures in Richmond VA. and a tour of southern Japan.

March 12, 2025 11

2024 Cross Country Trip #11

Palo Duro Canyon State Park – The second largest canyon in the country lies in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. Palo Duro is a canyon system of the Caprock Escarpment. As one of the largest canyons in the United States, it is roughly 25–40 mi long and has an average width of 6 mi, but reaches a width of 20 mi at places. It was formed by millions of years of water erosion by the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River and the West Texas wind. With a descent of some 800 feet to the canyon floor and more than 16 miles of paved road, Palo Duro Canyon State Park offers fantastic scenic views, historic sites and markers, miles and miles of hiking and biking trails.

Cloudland Canyon State Park – Located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, this is one of the most scenic parks in Georgia, offering rugged geology and beautiful vistas. The park straddles a deep gorge cut into the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek, and elevation differs from 800 to 1,980 feet. The most spectacular view into the canyon is found along the West Rim Loop Trail a 5-mile hike which we took.

High Falls Waterfall – Just north of Cashiers, on the northern banks of Lake Glenville, the West Fork of the Tuckasegee River pours over a 100+ foot cliff, tumbling in a dramatic multi-tiered waterfall and plunging into a boulder-filled pool below. It’s one of North Carolina’s most beautiful falls.

We are now back in Florida and hope you enjoyed traveling with us. We visited 26 states and traversed over 11,000 miles visiting many new sights that we had missed on our 40 earlier trips across country. We still enjoy traveling the red and blue roads rather than Interstate highways. Stealing words from another traveler – keep on traveling – until next time be well.

October 6, 2024 12

2024 Cross Country Trip #10

City of Rocks gets its name from the volcanic rock formations found here. The park encompasses a one-square-mile area in the scenic Chihuahuan desert region of southwestern New Mexico at 5,200 feet. The “city” is a geologic formation of large, sculptured rock columns, or pinnacles, rising as high as 40 feet and separated by paths or lanes resembling city streets. These rocks were formed about 34.9 million years ago when a very large volcano erupted. Then, erosion over millions of years slowly formed the sculptured columns seen today, creating an otherworldly landscape. The rock formations at the park are so unique that they are only known to exist in six other places in the world.

Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument – For thousands of years, nomads used the caves above Cliff Dweller Creek as temporary shelter. In the late 1200s, people of the agricultural Mogollon (Southern Ancestral Pueblo) culture made it a home. They built rooms, crafted pottery, and raised children in the cliff dwellings for one or two generations. By approximately 1300, the Mogollon had moved on, leaving the walls behind. Five naturally eroded alcoves contain the homes of the Tularosa Mogollon. About 42 rooms were constructed from local stone. All wooden beams seen in the dwellings are the originals. Tree-ring dates range from the 1260’s through the 1280’s.

October 5, 2024 2

2024 Cross Country Trip #9

Heading east we spent two days traveling Arizona starting at Saguaro National Park. Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation’s largest cacti. The saguaro (suh-waa-row), the giant cactus, has been an iconic symbol of the American Southwest for ages. These majestic beings are easily recognized by their size and structure, sometimes reaching 50 feet tall.

Bisbee was once the largest city in Arizona, bolstered by a thriving mining economy. During almost a century of mining, 8 billion pounds of copper, 102 million ounces of silver, and 2.8 million ounces of gold along with millions of pounds of zinc, lead, and manganese were produced. By 1974 ore reserves had been depleted and December brought the announcement of the impending closure of mining operations in Bisbee. Phelps Dodge curtailed open pit operations that year and ceased underground operations in 1975.

Mosquitoes, flies and more can make a comfortable summer day very uncomfortable. Back in 1912, the community of Bisbee decided to gamify their bug response by offering rewards for the most avid flyswatters. After multiple outbreaks of typhoid, Bisbee, Arizona decided it was tired of these bugs showing up in significant numbers and making people sick. For the entire month of August 1912, the town encouraged residents to catch as many “advance agents of pestilence” end quote as they could. Whoever had smacked and/or caught the most flies at the end won a prize. That winner was Richard Phillips, who brought in around half a million former insects and won… ten bucks.

And if you are up for it the most unique physical fitness challenge (or friendly fitness walk) in the USA! Bisbee 1000 The Great Stair Climb is arguably one of the most unusual and challenging events in the world. The 4.5-mile course features nine staircases (over 1000 total steps) connected by winding roads.

Patagonia (the jewel of the Sonoita valley so says National Geographic Guide to Small Town Escapes —NOT) is a hamlet that rests between the Santa Rita Mountains and the Patagonia Mountains. Set among rich foothills, valleys, and towering trees, Patagonia has been called the “Jewel” because of its natural beauty. Since early days, Patagonia’s oak grasslands, at over 4,000 feet have provided excellent climate and terrain for cattle ranching, and the Patagonia Mountains, filled with rich ore bodies, have attracted miners. Too bad today it was a wasted 200-mile trip for us.

Tombstone AZ – otherwise known as the “Town too Tough to Die” is the home of the infamous Gunfight at the OK Corral, Boot Hill Graveyard, and the World’s Largest Rose Bush. Tombstone, AZ boasts of many shops, gunfight shows, re-enactments, and museums. Just a bad tourist attraction today.

Chiricahua National Monument is recognized for its rock gardens with pinnacles that reach hundreds of feet skyward. This is the homeland of the Chiricahua Apache, who relied on the natural resources in the area as far back as the 1400s. The stories of chiefs Mangas Coloradas and Cochise as well as medicine-man-turned-warrior Geronimo reverberate throughout the canyons here. Deer, bears, and mountain lions inhabit the area, and the annual sandhill crane migration is also impressive. The 8-mile Bonita Canyon Drive begins on the valley floor and rises into mountains where balanced rocks seem to defy gravity. The drive ends at Massai Point, the pinnacle of this amazing sky island with 360-degree views of the rock valleys below.

We hiked the Echo Canyon Loop starting at the Point –3.3-miles of connecting trails. The route winds through rock formations including the Grottoes and Wallstreet to the densely wooded Echo Park. Hailstone Trail is fairly level, and due to its southern exposure, hotter and dryer. You can see desert plants: yuccas, agave’s, prickly pear, and hedgehog cactus. Ed Riggs Trail takes you back to the trailhead among large pine trees.

September 30, 2024 0

2024 Cross Country Trip #8

We spent a week in California visiting with family and friends, but we still got some hiking and sightseeing.

Watson Lake – off the Tahoe Loop trail

Bodie Ghost Town – Bodie State Historic Park is a genuine California gold-mining ghost town. You can walk down the deserted streets of a city that once had around 2,000 structures and a population of roughly 8,000 people.

The town is named for W.S. Body (or Bodey), who had discovered small amounts of gold in the hills north of Mono Lake. In 1875, a mine cave-in revealed a rich vein of ore, which led to the buying of the mine by the Standard Company in 1877. People flocked to Bodie and transformed it from a town of a few dozen to a boomtown. In 1881, Bodie’s “bust” began and the town’s population declined drastically. The town’s population continued to decline until only a few remained. Mining officially ceased in Bodie in 1942, the final nail in the coffin for Bodie’s township. Two large fires in 1892 and 1932 reduced the town’s remaining structures down to less than 10% of the 2,000 structures that once stood.

Only a small part of the town survives. Interiors stayed as they were left and stocked with goods. Designated as a National Historic Site and a State Historic Park in 1962, the remains of Bodie are being preserved in a state of “arrested decay.”

Yosemite National Park – Yosemite National Park has the distinction of being the first scenic natural area to be set aside by the United States for public gain and appreciation of landscape beauty. Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove were the 1864 birthplace of the national park idea.

Shaver Lake – Shaver is hugged by pine forest in the granite-studded Sierra Nevada Mountains. Shaver is located up in the Western Sierra Mountains at about 5600 elevations outside Fresno California and is part of the Southern California Edison power project that feeds into the Big Creek power station.