THE LAST OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

We spent the last 2 days in New Hampshire riding around different parts of the area exploring new sites and trying to cram in sites we had heard about.

Monday, we went to Quechee Gorge.  It is actually in Vermont, but was closer to us while we were in New Hampshire.  The Quechee Gorge is located in Quechee, Vermont. The gorge is 165 feet deep and is the deepest gorge in Vermont. The Ottauquechee River flows through the bottom of the gorge and is a popular whitewater kayak run. You can stand on a bridge and view the gorge.  Frankly, it was pretty, but I was expecting a little more than what it was. That was my fault.

While we were in the town, we happened upon another covered bridge. It was really pretty. We met a young couple from Boston while taking pics of the bridge and they told us that we needed to go to Sugarbush Farms which was just down the road. They make their own cheeses, jellies and their own maple syrup.  It was an interesting place.

The barn at Sugarbush Farms

On Tuesday, we decided to ride over to the town of Conway. Mr. W had read that there was a waterfall on the way that was really pretty and had an easy hike.  So, we decided to stop on our way.

Sabbaday Falls is one of the most popular locations on the Kancamagus Scenic Byway and is accesed via an easy 15 minute walk on an evenly graded and gravel surfaced trail from a paved parking lot, with a stone staircase, wooden bridges and gravel walkway directly adjacent to the falls. The falls are a picturesque series of cascades in a narrow flume. Enterpretive panels explain the geology of the falls. Swimming is not allowed. There are rest rooms and picnic tables available in the parking lot. There are lots of benches and rocks along the trail for people to rest or just hang out and relax listening to the water.

The falls were once known as Church’s Falls, named after Frederic Church, who was a landscape painter.  The area is now known as Sabbaday Falls. The name was allegedly coined by some road builders who stashed their tools near the falls, so they wouldn’t have to carry them home at the end of the building season and could return to them the next year.  Before leaving on a Sunday morning they named the area for the “Sabbath Day” or shortened to “Sabbaday”.  

The leaves are starting to turn and we were starting to see more color as we drove around.  One of the ladies at Sugarbush Farms told us that the color should be really good by this next weekend.  I'm hoping that holds true in Vermont since that's where we will be.