Campobello is technically in Canada so you have to cross the border (ID required), but it’s designated an International Park - apparently that translates to no fee charged.  Arrived in time for the 1^st house tour and also the morning Tea with Eleanor program.  FDR and family spent many summers here but only 1 night in the house after he was elected president.  The secret service insisted he spend the 2 other nights on a Navy ship parked out in the bay.  Also, it’s believed he picked up the polio virus while visiting a nearby Boy Scout Jamboree.

Tea with Eleanor is limited to 24 and includes tea and cookies with an hour talk about this amazing lady.  Very shy, and would have been content to support FDR and raise their four children.  She’s also a great example in facing your fears – had to overcome her shyness and become FDR’s eyes and ears (he trusted her to give him the true facts) and overcame a terrible fear of water because of his love of sailing and the children’s involvement with water sports.  Face down a fear each day, was her mantra. She also held press conferences with one condition, the reporters attending had to be women.  Sent the editors scrambling to hire women reporters in that male dominated business. 

Back across the state to begin a huge U turn that took me for a ride up the Kennebec River, through the mountain area, a brief swing through part of Quebec (ID required) and back down into more mountains in Maine.  The US border guard seemed a bit put off when I

explained the reason for my crossings, especially when I said I didn’t know where I was going to stay. It’s a beautiful drive and found out Maine is second only to MN in the number of lakes with lots of beautiful pine islands scattered in them. It’s also the land of moose crossing signs.  Even had a couple with flashing lights which were activated by approaching cars.  Didn’t see any of the big guys tho.

On the way up, I stopped off to see the marker where Col. Benedict Arnold (when he was playing for our team) crossed the Kennebec with the intent of taking Quebec City.  Didn’t work out as planned but it did clear the way for the defeat of the British at Saratoga.

Next is New Hampshire where Patience was awarded her I Climbed Mt. Washington bumper sticker.  She’d climbed 12,000’ in the Rockies so wasn’t too nervous although there were plenty of warning signs that asked “Do you REALLY want to do this?”  The road lacked guard rails and in some

places, chunks of the pavement edge had fallen away so meeting cars could be a bit daunting.  One poor soul had straddled a side gully (luckily it was the interior lane and not off the outside edge). The weather was 80 and sunny when we started up but by the time we reached the top, it was a bit cloudy, windy and 50. The record wind speed for this 6200’ mound was 231 MPH set back in 1934. Too foggy for pictures of the Presidential range but got one of Washington from the ground.

Took a ride up the Crawford Notch Road to Bretton Woods where over 700 representatives from all 44 Allied nations met at the hotel in July, 1944 to hammer out the international monetary regulations and world financial order (IMF, GATT, etc.) Didn’t see anything marking the occasion but there was a large Appalachian Hikers Club compound for those who are tackling the trail.

From there it was over to the Flume Gorge and a 2 mile hike.  It’s a beautiful walk through a valley of fractured granite walls.  The mile thick Ice Age glacier had left behind some debris (huge boulders) and the Flume Brook. Stunning walk thru the crevice.

Stopped at a Shaker Village in Canterbury where a guide taught our group to sing and dance to the Shaker tune, Simple Gifts.  Then took a tour with a volunteer who had grown up in the village as his father was the administrator.  Said it was like having lots of Aunties. 

Another beautiful ride on the Kancamegus Highway where I met a family at an overlook who said not to miss Lost River Gorge.  The young boy was especially enthusiastic and I could see why.  There were eleven caves to crawl thru (and I do mean crawl).  One had an 18” wide gate to wiggle thru and if you couldn’t do it, don’t bother.

Couldn’t decide which side of the CT River to drive along so decided to do both.  Back and forth, across bridges I criss-crossed the NH/VT state lines along the CT river. Saw some interesting interesting buildings, a waterfall/dam in mid-town Bradbury VT and crossed a covered bridge.  The structures provided protection for the wooden bridges from the weather, especially the New England winters. 

Stopped off at NH’s only national park, the home of Augustus St. Gaudins, the most famous sculptor of the time The beautiful grounds in Cornish was the site of his home, studio and an art school where students came to study. One of his more famous works is the Shaw Memorial in Boston honoring the Massachusetts 54th Regiment of African American Volunteers