The Kancamagus Highway
I drove through the rain and through Maine into New Hampshire where I stopped in the unrecognizable town of North Conway. My mother had friends here when I was a kid and we used to visit in the summer but that was a much different town. It is so built up now with so many outlet stores and attarctions. I got a burger and did some quick shopping before heading out to the Kancamagus Highway to stop at Lower Falls; a swim hole I remember also from my youth.
The rain finally ended and the sun came out when I arrived at the parking lot which was empty due to the weather. I took advantage of the sun to dry my gear then I headed to the river for a swim.
The water was cold but I acclimated myself to it using a the technique of slowly wading in and waiting till I could stand the cold before going a little deeper. It takes about 15 minutes but it allows me to stay in the water much longer than if I just plunged right in and quickly exit the water because of the shock of the cold. It was fun to sit beneath the raging waterfalls and let the water pound my body
Here is my mom at the falls in the recent past
Same spot today
It was nice to enjoy the sun and the lack of a crowd.
I stayed until the sun went behind the ridge then I drove West until I found a trailhead parking lot I could park in and spend the night in the back of the truck. I woke the next morning early and continued West into and through Vermont along Rt 4 and into New York where I checked in to the Lake George Battlefield State Park campground where Colleen, Ambiana, Jakobi, Debbie, Hayden and Spencer are meeting me later today.
Lake George Battlefield State Park
I set up the tent and then decided to take a tour of Fort William Henry. We travel this way a lot on the way to Falcon Ridge and the Dance Flurry but turn South just South of Lake George and this was the first time I had been to the South end of Lake George.
I know the history of the area, of William Johnson and the battles of the French & Indian War and I was curious to take the tour and see the artifacts and catch up on the history.
I was disappointed to learn that the Fort is a corporate re-creation built by the hotel that adjoins it as a tourist attraction. Inside was the usual glorification of white men and manifest destiny and a lot of crap about freedom and liberty.
The tour included demonstrations of a musket and cannon firing
From the parapet was a god view of the lake and the tour boat that plies its waters
In the battleground park I found a statue that at least acknowledged the indigenous people who once lived in the area and were exterminated and displaced by the encroachment of the European invaders.
Six Flags: Great Escape
The family and friends all arrived by 6pm and we spent the night at the campground and then went to The Great Escape the next day.
We rode rides…
….splashed in the water park…
5 years ago
5 years ago
While Jakobi, Spencer and I rode the roller coasters Ambiana rode the cars. This was her favorite ride when we came here when she was little and it still is!
Jakobi & Spencer
After the park we found a small authentic Mexican restaurant and ate the best Mexican food ever before going down to the lakefront for Ice Cream!
