Tuesday we drove to Newfound Lake and had intended to take a walk through the Audubon Sanctuary but the lack of a spot a pot changed our plans. We drove to the nearest town and a country store where the sign on the door said "No Public Restrooms". Drove farther to another town where there was no restroom in the store but a spot a pot outside.
We didn't return to the Sanctuary but stopped at Wellington State Park instead and had our picnic lunch. Since I was still not feeling all that well we headed home from there, but because of the vagaries of our GPS, Miss Direction, we traveled lots of miles on unpaved roads some of which came to dead ends despite Miss Direction telling us that was the way to go.
Here are the scenes from the shore of Newfound Lake at Wellington State Park. Let your eyes forget that there are reflections in the water. It becomes an optical illusion.
In the foreground is the sandy beach. Judging by the size of the parking lot this is a popular swimming location in the summer.
The lake is ringed with vacation homes. Don't those look like alligators with their mouths opened?
Actually the docks are lifted from the water for the winter.
"Newfound Lake is a glacial lake that is noted for its depth, clarity, and purity. A deep river valley before the glaciers, the ice sheet scoured it deeper and then filled the valley with glacial debris. The debris damned the water to form a very deep lake -- even deeper that it is now -- and presently it reaches a depth of 180 feet." Source: pamphlet on the Newfound Lake Audubon Sanctuary.
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We made one other driving trip to Newfound Lake earlier this fall. We were in search of an inn that we had stayed at in 1983 when daughter Emily was just a toddler. It was in the fall, too. Going back in the photo albums I found the old name of the inn and a search of that name produced its current name, The Inn on Newfound Lake. Sure enough when we saw the Inn we remembered it. We didn't remember the lake though but then we spent our time at Mt. Washington and then climbing Mt. Cardigan. It's family lore now that Emily came to Dartmouth for college and stayed in this area because of this trip. After all she took a drink from one of the streams on our hike and got "the granite of New Hampshire" in her brain (so the Dartmouth song goes).
9 comments:
Those reflections are gorgeous, especially with the bright blue sky.
I am remn=inded that there is a Newfoundout just an hour or two from here. It is an abandoned pioneer area with rotting outbuilding.
...that is a huge problem these days. I'm glad that you were able to see and record these gorgeous scenes.
Took me a minute to realize what a spot a pot was! Looks like an incredible blue-sky day to be outside.
These are very special photographs!! Really wonderful.
We don't travel at all and haven't for months. Don't want to use any facilities or run into any people. And as you wrote, some facilities aren't open.
Newfound is really wonderful. I've been only a couple times, but I love the beach in the woods, and the water that doesn't get deep for a long time. Wonderful for children.
Wonderful still water making such clear reflections for your photos. I had never heard pot a lot, but now can link it to porta-potty, which is the name used in our area, or Port-a-jon. I agree, when our physical needs dictate our level of comfort in traveling, they just darn better be met. A friend with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) has voiced similar concerns. She was so happy to be able to go on a boat ride near Charleston SC, where there were no facilities...a big event for her concerns.
Lack of a restroom, portable or otherwise, is indeed becoming quite a challenge in this covid times. of course, men have an easier time when outdoors when the need arises. Despite the lack of facilities you had a lovely outing at Wellington State park, one we have never visited. Yes it did look like alligators with mouths open wide on Newfound Lake near those vacation places..
I looked at the photos again to see the optical illusion...I love that! It really does a trick on your mind! Love those gators with their mouths open! Don't get too close! lol And we are finding the same problem with day trips now...grocery stores are about the only stores with bathrooms. Shish! Makes is a bit of a challenge to get out on the back roads to enjoy the day. Love your photos!
That is a gorgeous area and the lake is breathtakingly lovely with the surface reflection.
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