Our backyard - The Contoocook River

What do you see?

Well, when our returning guest RC arrived he exclaimed “my fishing chair”.  He wasn’t talking about the one armed Victorian ladies chair on left.

When he was with us in 2011, RC bought a chair to sit in while he fished.  He didn’t think it was worth taking back to Arizona so he left it in our care.  He used it when he returned in 2014 and it was here waiting for him to use in this year’s fish chase.  We always refer to it as the RC Memorial Chair – as though it were a endowed chair in the classics department at an Ivy League College.

  

The chair isn’t exclusively a fishing chair.  It’s been to Tuesday night concerts in the Community Park in Henniker.  Last weekend it attended a rowing event in Lowell MA.  So you see - this chair gets around.

RC grew up in New England, had a professional career in the Bay Area and is now retired in Phoenix. Coming to Henniker in May is just the thing for his Yankee heart.  He favors the Balcony room where he can enjoy the apple blossoms from the deck.

We know there are fish in the Contoocook River out back.  I’ve seen fish & game wardens putting them in. 

We've seen otters and herons taking them out.  We even cooked one a guest caught. 

Most days there is someone out there trying to get their own.

We can set you up with Gerry and Jim who are the NH Rivers Guide Service (http://nhriversguide.com/) if you want to perfect your cast.  

Or, you’re welcome to come, use the RC Memorial Chair and just let the river soothe you.

Hillsborough's Stone Arch Bridges - a favorite wander

For 10 years I've sent guests over to Hillsborough to see the early 19^th century stone arch bridges.  Often I arm them with a brochure “Hillsborough’s Stone Arch Bridges” published by Hillsborough’s Chamber of Commerce years ago.   I fear I will soon run out of the brochure so I’m going to capture some of the highlights here.  I am not going to try to give you each turn and mile marker because the discovery process is part of the fun of this tour.  If it’s in quotes, it came from the brochure.  The tour is one of my personal favorite drives and I took some friends from Chicago on it in September.  Even before the leaves change, it’s a beautiful ride.

Jones Rd Bridge September 19th 2014

This week we hosted some enthusiastic leaf peepers – Ken and Dianne from Alberta.  Dianne bought the hat at her first stop in New Hampshire and proudly wore it through out her stay.  Her photos are testimony to the pursuit of colors and the joy of wandering.  Thank you for letting me share them Dianne!

Henniker Bridge Spring

Our stone arch bridge up river from Henniker House’s breakfast room (and seen in many Facebook photos https://www.facebook.com/Hennikerhousebnb?ref=hl) was first built in 1835 and rebuilt and widened in the late 20^th century.  The ones in Hillsborough are on smaller, often dirt roads and remain much as they were when they were first built. 

There are two ways to head out to Hillsborough from Henniker House.  One follows the Currier & Ives Byway (http://currierandivesbyway.org/) west from us and crosses the Contoocook River near the old paper mill site.  There are several opportunities to get out of the car and get close to the river.  The other ride is along the ridge on the south side of the Contoocook, past the Ocean Born Mary house (http://www.hennikerhistory.org/obmary.htm) and other 200+ year old center hall colonial homes.  Each route gives some insight to the way folks lived or the needs to have solid structures to cross our streams and rivers. 

“These bridges are registered as historical structures by the Historic American Building Survey, part of the National Park Service.  Most recently they have been recognized as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, the second in New Hampshire after the Cog Railway.

Stone arch bridges were a solution to the weakness of timber bridges and were especially suited for withstanding frequent flooding in the steeply sloping New Hampshire streams and rivers.”

So after wandering a bit, you’ll end up in Hillsborough’s “Bridge Village” – a late 19^th century Main St with German John’s Bakery (worth the stop – on the trip with Greg & Sue, we picked up pretzels to sustain us).  Then head out School St/Center Rd to “Hillsboro Center” historic district.  This is where the Hillsborough Artisans do their Summer Fair.   Settled in 1769, Hillsborough Center has over a dozen 18^th and 19^th century homes, two churches, a clubhouse and an intact one-room schoolhouse. 

With my friends from Chicago, we visited with Jon Gibson at Gibson Pewter (http://gibsonpewter.com) Sue found just the right charm for her granddaughter and I enjoyed the view of the valley from the big window in the barn.  Stop in just for the view if the open flag is waving.

Go north from Hillsboro Center and make a left onto Gleason Falls Rd.  Cross over Beard Rd and the brook.  Park in the wide spot and walk down to the brook to see an unusual twin bridge - the site of one of the town’s first grist mills.  “This bridge is shrouded in mystery as to when it was built and by whom.  The clever craftsman built a unique bridge which actually consists of a causeway and two bridges over Beard’s Brook.  The span to rise ratio of each arch is what makes this one unique.  While most conventional arches would be semi-circular with a span to rise ratio of 2.0, as it is with one arch, the ration of the other is a staggering 4.37!”  So it isn’t a funky angle of the photo; these arches don’t match.

 Now this is where we separate the wanderers from the architectural history hounds. 

Wanderers –go straight as long as there isn’t snow on the ground or deep mud.  When you come out the other end you will be on the Second NH Turnpike (Rt 31).  Franklin Peirce Homestead will be down the road to the left.  Turning right will open up miles of hills and views – one of our favorite motorcycle rides.

To see more bridges, turn around and go right on Beard Rd.  The first bridge you go over is very impressive after a rain or in the Spring.  This Autumn photo only gives you a suggestion of the rushing water.  Swimming hole anyone?

The next bridge is at Jones Rd.  This one is “known as the Old Carr Bridge, built by Captain Jonathan Carr in 1840, and allegedly paid for with counterfeit money.”  Cross the bridge and you’ll be in the fields used for the reenactments of Living History (http://livinghistoryeventnh.com/) held each August.

 If you continue straight on Beard Rd you will get back to the 21^st century.

Leafpeeper FAQ

As a New Hampshire Innkeeper, I try to be an expert on our state’s attractions.  In the upcoming months, I will blog about things to do and see in the state.  But today being the last one in September, I thought I’d attempt to address the most frequently asked question this time of year;

When is peak?

My stock answer is I wish I had a crystal ball and a dozen extra rooms for that week.

Seriously, it depends.

It depends on how wet the summer was.  A few years ago we hosted a couple of high school science teachers in August.  They declared it would be a long, colorful leaf season because there had been enough rain that summer; the leaves weren't dying yet.  And they were right.  That year there was some color in the trees until Halloween.

It depends on the type of tree (maple, oak, birch) and the stage in its life cycle.  Here are some resources about variety and color and the science of it all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn_leaf_color

http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html

http://www.usna.usda.gov/PhotoGallery/FallFoliage/FallColorList.html

What I mean about life cycle may just be my own theory based on observation, not scientific research.  Young trees tend to change and then drop their leaves in the slightest breeze.  Older trees don’t seem to want to let go; some branches have already changed and shed while others are still green.  Maybe it’s a bit like my body – my knees know my age but my mind holds fast to my 23 year old self.  Here’s an example taken today of the maple across the street at Quilted Threads.

It depends on your definition of peak and your appreciation of random surprise color.  Yesterday was a bright sunny day but I was in a hurry.  Today it is spitting rain but I remembered to bring my camera.  Here’s the tree whose color screamed “look at me” while its neighbors are still very green.

Is peak when a tree is at its fullest color?  When looking at the hillside you see more yellow, red and gold than you see green?  What about those evergreens?  And the Tamarack that Phil planted in our back yard?  Tamaracks (also known as larch) are the only deciduous conifer and turn gold after all the hardwoods have dropped their leaves.  So it depends on the make-up of the woods you’re looking at.

It also depends on where you’re looking.  Here’s a photo taken today, in a valley, near water, after driving along thinking maybe only 10% had changed so far.  Want more color? Go low and find water ringed by swamp maples.  Or go north where there have been more cool nights.  When the color has run out up there, travel south to find a little more.

 

All these photos were taken today.  The sesaon has just begun and there are stunning colors to enjoy.

There are web sites where leaf spotters report on their local conditions or algorithms forecast color changes.  Just remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it depends.