Day 27 – White Mountain Wonderland Part 2

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Day 27 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Outside of waking up in a house and going to bed in a house, today was like a bad day at the office when the task list remains untouched due to other challenges that arise throughout the day.  The good news:  an irritating day in the White Mountains is still better than a good day in the office!

From the outset, today entailed a significant amount of driving.  The end of yesterday’s drive took me to the northern part of New Hampshire which is how I scored the house in northwestern Maine.  But today, Reader’s Digest scenic drive through the White Mountains began in Littleton, NH around the middle of the state and headed east to Conway, NH.   From Conway, I turned southeast to stay with my stepdad’s cousin George in Prouts Neck, Maine, just south of Portland.  I basically completed a giant U-turn (albeit with the U on its side).

Franconia Notch State Park

After about 2 ½ hours of driving, I began the “scheduled” scenic tour in Franconia Notch State Park.  The Reader’s Digest Book suggested to ride the Aerial Tramway, the first of its kind in North America, across the highway at Cannon Mountain for a picturesque view of Echo Lake.  Since it was almost noon, and I hadn’t taken the dogs for their morning walk, I took a 1.5 mile loop hike instead.  Little did I know that the loop went up and over the mountain.  Parts of the path were so steep that I could have used the ropes the climbers were using to scale the above cliff!  At the top, I caught a glimpse of Echo Lake which included the parking lot behind it and tarnished the beauty in my opinion.

Russell-Colbath House in the White Mountains

I intended to make my next stop at Old Man of the Mountain, a rock ledge that resembles a human profile and dubbed Great Stone Face by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  Given it was the first sunny day of the last week and it was a holiday weekend, everyone in New England fit in their last outing for the summer.  Overflow parking for main park attractions lined the two lane highway for several hundred yards in each direction.  Additionally, a steady flow of traffic created a parking lot along Kancamagus Highway, one of the highest roadways in the Northeast.  According to Reader’s Digest, the corkscrewing route is also one of the prettiest.  Unfortunately, I arrived a day too late.  The leafless trees provided one of the most barren of all the drives I have taken thus far.

I plugged along, skipping Sabbaday Falls and dodging the cars pulling in and out of the scenic overlooks and trailhead parking areas until I climbed the pass and arrived at the Russell-Colbath House in White Mountain National Forest.  This house is the valley’s earliest remaining historic farmhouse.    The house was built in 1832 by Thomas Russell and his son Amzi after Russell purchased five 100 acre lots the previous year for $5.25.

Amzi and his wife Eliza raised five daughters in the home and lived off their garden crops and fruits of the surrounding forest and stream.  For the next 40 years, Amzi continued purchasing forest land nearby presuming the railroad would come to the valley.  Eventually, the railroad arrived, but not until after Amzi died, and the family had to sell most of its land to meet financial obligations.

In the 1880’s, Eliza deeded the property to her daughter Ruth, married to Thomas Colbath, who continued farming the land.  One day, Thomas left the house, telling Ruth he’d be back in a little while to never return during her lifetime.  It is said that Ruth placed a candle in the window each night awaiting his return.  Thomas finally returned 42 years after he left, 3 years after Ruth’s death.

Prouts Neck, Maine

After a quick visit to the house and cemetery as well as a walk around the surrounding nature trail in the White Mountains, Scout, Petey, and I traveled to Maine to meet Moxie, Arrow, and George.  Moxie and Arrow are George’s sweet dogs that were probably disappointed that Petey and Scout are so OLD! George and I chatted until about 10:30 when we finally sat down for a flank steak and broccoli dinner. 

His friend Pharibe came by too.  Pharibe and George have known each other since they were kids from spending summers in Maine.  Pharibe has three girls, all in boarding school at Miss Porter’s.  She recently sold her house in Massachusetts and plans on moving to a small town in Virginia.  Uniquely, her college roommate at Duke was from Highland Park, Texas…small world!

George, when not in Maine, spends his time in Denver.  He owns several rental properties that he leases to DU kids.  His house in Maine is seven bedrooms with a view of the ocean and sunset…fantastic!  We enjoyed an evening of good times, good food, and good spirits. While the day was a bust in terms of enjoying the nature, the night of good company made up for it! ETB

Map of My Road Trip Across the USA

For a summary about my road trip across the USA, click HERE. For the interactive map, see the below link.

Other Articles About New Hampshire You May Like

• Day 25 – New Hampshire Highlights
• Day 26 – White Mountain Wonderland

Shop

Check out the photographic note cards and key chains at my shop.  Each card has a travel story associated with it.  20% of proceeds are donated to charity.

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