Chuck came out for a fall foliage visit 10/16/19. Denise and the boys had planned to come as well, but no one could get off of work. Sue had family concerns, and she thought it would be nice for just Chuck and me to have some time alone.

Though he flew into Boston Wednesday the 16th, it was a really rough flight. He decided to just grab a room near the airport, and drive up in the morning. He swung by here around 11:00 am on Thursday morning, and Sue was able to chat with him for awhile before he and I headed off on our trip up to Jackson, NH.

Almost all of the pictures from not only the trip up to Jackson, but then some of the entries after we got back until Chuck left on the 22nd were taken by him. He's got a great eye, and caught the spectacular fall colors we saw while he was out here.

Thursday 10/17/19
Chuck had rented a Jeep, and so he drove and I got to narrate the trip. We took Route 109 up along the west shore of Lake Winnipesaukee to Route 25 over to Route 16 where we stopped at Hobb's Tavern for lunch.

Though it was overcast and misting heavily, Chuck got this nice shot of the backyard out of our kitchen window.

Chuck running back to the jeep after locking up the breaks for a picture taking event, one of many, many such occurrences....

Chuck has a love for old tractors from his younger years, and when he spotted this one on the side of the road - in Tuftonboro I think it was - he locked up the breaks again.

Despite the mist, Route 109 was just spectacular with the foliage colors; something we'd see constantly throughout our trip.

Arriving at Hobb's Tavern in the Mt. Whittier area.

I had forgotten how beautiful it was inside; it's been probably 5 or 6 years since I had been here.

Chuck was taking a picture of his meatloaf sandwich, not me. He said it was the best meatloaf he'd ever had.

After lunch we scooted out Route 41 and onto 113 along the shore of Silver Lake and up through Madison into Conway. I directed him off onto West Side Road as, despite the weather, I thought he'd love to see Cathedral Ledge in the mist.

Hay bales along side River Road. We had pulled off the road to not only take a couple of pictures like this, but also of Cathedral Ledge through the fog.

Road approaching Cathedral Ledge, which you can see in the background through the trees.

Equipment check....

After leaving Cathedral Ledge, I showed Chuck the beautiful Stonehurst Manor in North Conway, and then we made a stop at the 1785 Inn to see my friend Charles.

Driving up to the Stonehurst Manor in North Conway.

Great views for the guests to enjoy, but probably not in this weather!

Stonehurst Manor lounge area.

A pan to the right in the lounge area. I've spent a lot of time in this lounge area on both black belt martial arts exams for students as well as many advanced disciple retreats.

This is the bar area at the 1785 Inn. The 1785 was my favorite restaurant that I've ever been too. I've been to the 1785 so many times over a 30 or so year period that I couldn't even tell you how many times. For at least 20 years, I'd bring my karate disciples here for Saturday night dinner. Everyone looked so forward to coming here.

Chuck got this nice picture of me with the Inn's owner, Charles. He's on crutches after blowing out his knee chasing around after grand kids. Though he still runs the in and lounge, he closed the restaurant several years ago to start to wind down after operating it for 33 years.

From the 1785 Inn, we continued up Route 16 to the Wildcat Mountain Ski Area. It was a beautiful ride up, and even though the mountain, as all mountains in the area, was closed, we still got out and walked around.

We drove over the Jackson Covered Bridge into town instead of continuing up Route 16 so I could show Chuck what it looked like coming in this way.

From Wildcat, we came back down Route 16, and entered Jackson from the north. We drove up the west loop of 16B along the cascading Wildcat River to the Eagle Mountain House where we were staying. The Eagle Mountain House is recognized as a Historic Hotel of America, and has been a favorite of mine for over 20 years, even before it underwent major renovations.

Wildcat River views....

The main salon and registration area of the Eagle Mountain House.

Chuck got this shot of me walking along the terrific and historic deck overlooking the golf course and mountains in the background.

Is this guy happy, or what!

Teaching Chuck the fine art of New England Porch Sitting.

He picked it up pretty quickly!

Views across the valley to the mountains in the distance.

As the sun began to drop to the tree line, it started to get a little chilly for the porch. We headed inside to one of the sitting areas, got hot apple cider from the bar, and played some relaxed backgammon until it was time to go in for dinner at 7:00 pm to their Highfields Restaurant.

The bar at Eagle Landing Tavern inside the hotel.

We had a wonderful bottle of Robert Mondavi Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon with dinner.

Friday 10/18/19
I climbed out of bed relatively early Friday morning, went down to the lobby to get a cup of hot coffee, and then sat outside on the porch taking in the beautiful views.

Although hard to tell from this and the next picture, a heavy, dense fog was creeping over the mountains to the north and east of us.

Fog in the distance to the east.

When Chuck joined me about 40 minutes later, he got this shot showing how the sun had broken through where we were, but with fog still across the mountains from us.

After having a great breakfast at the Inn, we headed off for North Conway, taking the really scenic Thorn Hill Road up across the mountain from Jackson down onto Route 16A, and then onto Route 16. Thorn Hill Road is so pretty, as is all along 16A.

Great foliage along Thorn Hill Road!

I had Chuck pull over at the Scenic View on 16 right across from where 16A drops you. Because it wasn't quite as overcast, you could just barely see the outline of Mt. Washington far in the distance through the clouds. Spectacular.

We were headed to North Conway for 2 reasons: First, Chuck had ripped a chuck of the sole of his boot out somewhere yesterday, and so we needed to find a place for him to get new ones. And Second, we were meeting Colin as he was driving up to spend the day with us.

We had just finished getting Chuck's boots when he arrived. So great to see him! I wanted to show Chuck the Cranmore Ski Area, and we thought that would be a good spot for Colin to leave his car so he could pack in with us.

The lodge at Mt. Cranmore.

Then we thought we'd take a drive out Route 302 to Fryeburg, ME. Along the way we stopped for a visit to the Melody Pines Condos where I once owned a condo. Colin was only about 9 months old when we had brought him out here to see it and then buy it. We all spent a lot of time there, summer and winter, so it was a nice, nostalgic visit.

We back-tracked from Fryeburg through Redstone, and then north on 16 to take River Road over to Cathedral Ledge. It was beautiful up on top, and the views were just awesome - and soooo much better than when Chuck and I had swung by in the rain the day before.

View of Cathedral Ledge from River Road.

Just a bit chilly up on top....

It was just after noon time when we drove down from Cathedral Ledge and into North Conway to have lunch at Hooligans. From there, we drove back out River Road to Diana's Baths, a series of small waterfalls located in the southeastern corner of Bartlett, NH. I stayed back in the car as I didn't want to push my body that much after just getting over that miserable bout of pneumonia.

The walk back through the woods to the waterfalls.

Though you certainly can't see it, while the guys were hiking back to the falls, it actually spit teeny-tiny snowflakes down on the parking area. Yup, it's true! Can't see it but that's what it did, and the guys confirmed that they saw the same thing back at the falls.

From Diana's Baths, I directed Chuck to continue out River Road to where it became the extension of West Side Road out onto Route 302 in Bartlett. I wanted to show Chuck another one of the Mount Washington Valley's ski areas, Attitash Mountain.

The Attitash Mountain ski area.

There isn't much to see in the off-season, so we just flipped around. It was getting to be mid afternoon, and Colin had some plans for later that evening back home. Because he had about an hour and a half drive, I thought we'd work our way back to Cranmore so he could get his car. On the way, I suggested that we stop and show Chuck the really neat Red Parka Pub.

Inside the Red Parka Pub, Bartlett, NH.

After dropping Colin off at Cranmore, Chuck and I drove back to Jackson over Thorn Hill Road, and then up the east loop of 16B past the Black Mountain Ski Area, which was another ski area to introduce Chuck to, and across the valley and down the other side to the Eagle Mountain House.

Chuck took this great picture of the Eagle Mountain House across the valley from the east loop of 16B.

I think the foliage colors along the top of the 16B loop were some of the most spectacular that we had seen the whole trip.

Dusk was just settling over the Eagle Mountain House as we pulled into the parking area.

By the time we came back down into the lobby area from freshing up, there was just time for a couple of games of backgammon before we headed into the restaurant for dinner.

A comfortable side room off of the main lobby area.

The Maggio Zinfandel we decided on was a perfect complement to our meals that night, with just enough left over to carry out into the lobby after dinner to finish.

I hadn't played pool in probably 30 years, and even then it was minimal with 3 balls being my all time big run.

Saturday 10/19/19
I came down around 8:00 am Saturday morning, and what a difference in the views! No fog or drizzle!

After a nice relaxing breakfast, we got packed up and headed out for our journey home. Chuck got some terrific pictures that really show the fall colors.

Town bandstand, Effingham, NH.

Province Lake

We got home around 1:30 pm, Chuck took some pictures around the house, and then drove down to Marissa and Gary's house for the rest of the day.

View across the valley from the top of the ridge. You can see a snow capped and cloud covered Mt. Washington way in the distance.

Sheep that I hope The Beau Dog never sees....

While at Marissa's, Chuck got some great pictures of them all together.

Saturday evening, Sue and I drove up to Ossipee to her brother Alan's wife Joann's funeral service, and get together. It was a beautiful service, and was good to see that so many folks came to pay their respects.

Sunday Marissa drove everyone over for a short get together with snacks before heading off for dinner to celebrate our anniversary at The Lodge At Smith Point in Alton Bay, NH. That was a great time!

When Chuck arrived late Monday morning Sue, and I took him and Beau for a hike up Pine Mountain, and then that evening I fixed a great birthday dinner for Sue.

Chuck had breakfast and lunch with us on Tuesday, and then headed off to the airport at 1:00 pm for his flight back home. It had been a wonderful visit, though too short. And it was so great that Colin got to join us for most of the day on Friday, and then Chuck had that time with Marissa and Gary Saturday. A wonderfully successful visit!

Chuck heading off to the airport Tuesday 10/22/19.