BACK TO MANCHESTER
It was a short drive to the U.S. border where we flashed our passports and re-entered without incident. It was a spectacular, clear day so we decided to take a side trip to Lake Placid for lunch.
Lake Placid
The view of the lake was impressive from the restaurant's window. We could watch hearty souls swimming challenging distances, sail boats catching the afternoon breeze, and paddle boaters getting plenty of exercise. After lunch we found a confection shop and bought a box of chocolates for our nephew Tony and his family.
Saratoga Springs
It was almost evening (July 4th) when we pulled into The Inn at Saratoga, an historical hotel just north of the heart of town, away from the crowds of tourists waiting for the fireworks. After a short rest, we found the Navy housing and Tony, Heather and family.
Tony barbecued steak and shrimp while Heather prepared the fixings. Hunter, Aislynne, Parker, and Reese were jumping around playing Wii games. After dinner Tony led us to a favorite spot to see the fireworks. The streets were packed with tourists jockeying for the best spots. We had a great view of the entire spectacle. Once the fireworks were over, we said our good-byes, endured the crowds and traffic, and made our way back to the Inn.
The next morning we drove by the famous racetrack then turned southeast to Vermont.
Vermont
We wandered for hours through the hills and villages of Vermont
challenging ourselves to find a few covered bridges on the map.
Back in New Hampshire we relied on the gps to find Robert Frost's farm:
Derry
We watched an inspiring video by Robert Frost's sister then took a tour of the barn and home.
We saw the family kitchen, his favorite chair, and views from windows that inspired his poetry; also, various antiques, his bedroom, and the farm helpers' quarters in the attic. Looking at the surrounding trees and meadows, you were reminded of lines from his poems. A hundred years ago he sold this farm for a three-year adventure in England where he would find recognition for this poetic talents. Still, his years at the farm in Derry were some of the happiest of his life, and the farm and its New England grounds were the source of inspiration for some of his most famous poems.
Portsmouth
A trip to New England wouldn't be complete without a view of the Atlantic and a lobster dinner, so we drove further east to the New Hampshire coast. This was our first time to Portsmouth. Other trips had taken us to Kennebunkport and Perkins Cove in Ogunquit (see: http://semperaltius.com/new_england_in_october.htm) We found a restaurant on the waterfront which boasted of the best chowder in town. The chowder was great but the lobster tail sandwich was even better.
Manchester
We celebrated the next morning at breakfast with a St. Francis alumni, John Fahey. I realized he was living in Manchester when he inquired online about an upcoming reunion this summer at our high school. We exchanged stories of our lives in the past fifty or so years and shared memories of St. Francis High School and our seminary buddies of the 1960s. What a great way to end this 2011 summer reunion.
