Day 11 - Mystic, CT - Avon, CT

Today was our last driving day and we ended like we began with colorful leaves on a beautiful drive.  After heading out of Mystic, we made a stop at Connecticut College in New London.  My niece Lena is considering going to school here so I drove around the campus to get a sense of the place, plus I made a stop at the bookstore for some presents.  We had an early lunch in Middletown at a great Irish gastropub and we were soon on our way to western and northwestern Connecticut.

"Litchfield Hills is the region in northwestern CT that contains everything that is quintessential New England: waterfalls, covered bridges, gently rolling hills, and picturesque New England villages."  It's very small-town and rural and the yellow trees were at peak color today.  After grabbing some cookies and coffee/tea in Kent, we headed north on scenic US Highway 7.  Our first stop was the Kent Falls State Park.  Here there are a "series of waterfalls on Falls Brook, a tributary of the Housatonic River which drop 250 feet in under a quarter mile. The largest cascade drops more than 70 feet into a reflecting pool, before traveling over the lesser falls."  

Further up the road, some red and orange peeked in as we traveled along the Housatonic River.  At Cornwall Bridge we happened upon resplendent Catholic church right along the river and we were able to see the bridge itself up-close.  The current bridge was built in 1994 following the original 1930 design of six open-spandrel arches spanning 674 feet. 

The Housatonic Meadows State Park was next on our journey; lots of fly fishermen were trying their luck at catching trout.  The Appalachian Trail also runs through the park, so we once again crossed paths with it.

A bit further north we came across what appeared to be an abandoned (maybe just for the season?) structure.  Its red color with bright yellow leaves as a background was just begging to be photographed.  The West Cornwall Covered Bridge was our next stop.  "It's a wooden-covered lattice truss bridge and records indicate that a bridge may have been in place in this location as early as 1762.  The current structure is the third one at this site and it was built in 1864, with modernization in 1968 and 1973."  The sun was beginning to get low in the sky and it created a really tranquil scene.

In Falls Village, we detoured to see the old part of town and happened upon the most picturesque farm we've seen on this entire trip.  The red bard buildings stood out against the yellow background foliage, with a beautiful reflection in a foreground pond, along with a wooden fence.  In the Historic District we discovered some amazing architecture, including the D. M. Hunt Library.  

Our time in New England has come to an end and we fly home tomorrow.  We've had a wonderful time and were able to enjoy some amazing sights.  The weather was fantastic (only one day/evening of drizzle) and the food was outstanding.  Travel is so good for my soul, and I am definitely better for having done this trip.

"We should come home from adventures, and perils,

and discoveries every day with new experience and character."

Henry David Thoreau

Day 4 - North Conway, NH - Waterville, ME

We arrived in North Conway after dark, so we altered our driving plans this morning as we wanted to make sure to see and experience the Kancamagus Highway.  Built in 1959, it connects Conway and Lincoln.  Our first stop on this 34.5 mile road was the Albany Covered Bridge; 120 feet long and built in 1858 over the Swift River.  When we arrived, the area had a few scattered people here and there, but by the time we left, a tour bus had arrived and it was swarming with folks.  I was able to get down to the riverbank pretty easily and was pleased with our luck in timing regarding the morning sun.

A bit further down the road, we came upon the Rocky Gorge, "a powerful narrow gorge where water is almost always rushing through, even during droughts. Carved by glaciers, it offers a 10 foot drop and rapids through the gorge."

A right turn onto the Bear Notch Road took us onto a less-traveled detour and we were rewarded with an amazing overlook.  "More than a century ago, the Bartlett and Albany Railroad brought supplies to a logging camp and departed with goods from the sawmill in Bartlett. The railroad is long gone, but the road passes through the unspoiled forest that reclaimed the land."

The Sugar Hill Scenic Vista was up next.  "Roughly in the middle of the Kancamagus, it provided beautiful views of Mount Tremont, Owl Cliff, Bear Mountain, and Sugar Hill."  There was even an artist doing some plein air painting.

We enjoyed a picnic in Lincoln along the Pemigewasset River before heading north to Highway 302 and Bretton Woods.  The Zealand Campground was resplendent with color around the Ammonoosuc River.  

After viewing the Mount Washington Hotel, we got back on the highway and made the turn towards Maine.  We were soon passing through Berlin and nearing Errol, NH.  At the Mollidgewock State Park the western sun allowed the trees to reflect perfectly along the slow-moving Androscoggin River.

After crossing into Maine, we crossed the Magalloway River near the Azischohos Dam.  This is known as a prime moose-spotting area of the state, but unfortunately, we didn't see any.

Our final stop of the day was Rangley Lake in northwest Maine.  I had planned to go to the state park here, but we found it was gated and closed.  A quick detour took us up the hill to the Shelton Noyes Overlook.  Again our timing was perfect as we were treated to an amazing sunset.

With just enough time, we got to the east side of the lake and watched the sun slip below the horizon at the Whipwillow Farm Overlook.  We enjoyed an amazing dinner at the Loon Lodge and then scooted our way into central Maine and Waterville.  Tomorrow, we see the Atlantic for the first time on this trip!